HomeTravel & LeisureGolf › Playability By Design at Encanterra
 
 
 

Situated in the Southeast Valley, Encanterra has quietly flourished into a master-planned community with above-par luxuries punctuated by a unique golf experience at a very attractive price point.

Those who have enjoyed a round at Encanterra can attest to the fact that the course doesn’t resemble a typical desert design. While the course is encircled by views of mountain ranges, dotted with desert vegetation and blessed with the climate of the region, that is where its desert connection begins and ends. Atypical to courses in the Southwest, golfers on Encanterra’s fairways spend most of their time just there—on the fairways. By design, the core, parklands-style layout is generous off the tee and penal around the greens, making it playable for golfers for the novice while still challenging the accomplished player.

This accommodating design style is reflected in the membership, which includes both low handicap players and those still somewhat new to the game. In addition to regular Member play, the club hosts some of the state’s most prestigious events, including the Gateway Tour Tour Championship, U.S. Open Sectional qualifying, and AGA Mid-amateur events. Rave reviews from participants in these events have quickly earned Encanterra a place among the Valley’s top tees.

I, personally, have witnessed Encanterra’s growth over the past few years. My first introduction to Encanterra was during its golf course opening in early 2008. A selected few, myself included, were afforded the opportunity to play the course alongside Encanterra’s course architect, Tom Lehman, and his design partner, Chris Brands. Lehman and Brands had spent months designing a course that inevitably became a standout amongst its peers. Since the opening, Encanterra’s championship golf course has secured accolades and designations that are more than well deserved.

Back then, it was apparent that no other golf experience in the Valley could contend with Encanterra’s wall-to-wall greenery. This fact is still clear upon entry through the community’s private gates, which open to a view of several golf holes and Encanterra’s expansive clubhouse, La Casa, in the distance.

Fast forward two years and the course has matured beautifully. The greens are firm, the fairways impeccable and the grass around the bunkers has grown in just as Lehman promised it would. One of Lehman’s design premises was to prevent golfers from being penalized for playing the ball low. While the course offers up challenges in the form of water features, strategic bunker placement and precision-commanding approach shots, golfers can rest assured that a miss-hit will likely not mean the end of a particular hole. The beauty of the course lies in several opportunities for recovery on most holes.

In a day and age where golf should be an escape from the everyday, Encanterra provides a course where par is possible and the journey there is inspiring.

The community’s design further enhances the golf experience with homes only surrounding the perimeter of this core golf course, not dissecting it at every turn. Since opening for sales, Encanterra has become a favorite of local and international golf enthusiasts, and anyone who values a luxurious lifestyle at a surprisingly affordable price. With the opening of the club, La Casa, this spring, the full breadth of activity and all out fun is in play for lucky owners. More on that later as our journey through Encanterra continues.

To Learn More 

Encanterra, 480.677.8148, Click here for more info.