Break80 does the PXG Xperience at Scottsdale National......
PXG Founder and Billionaire Bob Parsons' Scottsdale National was a Fantasyland
Scottsdale National has one rule and one rule only…… “No member shall impinge upon another member’s enjoyment of the club.” That’s it. As long as you aren’t negatively impacting anyone else’s enjoyment, do what you want. Don’t want to wear a collared shirt, fine. Don’t want to take off your hat in the clubhouse, or maybe you want to wear it backwards, fine. Want to blast music while you play, go for it! It’s really a freedom that other exclusive memberships don’t have, which sets it apart. In fact, we were there with former Browns/Steelers defensive back Joe Haden, and he was sporting gym shorts, a t-shirt, and a backwards hat living his best retired life! This is the culture that Bob Parsons envisioned when he bought the club for $600,000 back in 2013.
So what did we actually do?
Lets get into it…..
PXG Fitting
When we arrived on property, one of the first things we did was get fitted for PXG clubs. The three of us had our own fitter who gave us a quick interview to get a better idea of what type of golfers we were. While hitting on the trackman, our club fitters were able to get data on spin rates, carry numbers, and swing/ball speed. We tried a number of shafts and heads to find what fit our numbers the best. After we had a handle on what weapons we wanted in our bag (GEN 6’s), we got fitted for a putter. Putting has been a bit of an issue for me this year so I was excited to have something else to look at. I went with the Battle Ready All-Black Darkness mallet. So far so good! The next morning we had our full set ready to go waiting for us at the range by 8 am! They don’t mess around and l can see where the PXG saying “NOBODY MAKES CLUBS LIKE WE DO. PERIOD.” comes from.
Property Tour
Next it was time for a tour of the property from our guy Robert. This was low key one of my favorite things we did. Spanning a whopping 700 acres in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and just a quick drive from the Phoenix airport, the property sits north of the McDowell Mountain Range and provides uncontested 360-degree views while being protected on three sides by preservation wilderness.
One of the best parts? It’s more than just private. There are no homes lining the course, so stunning views from every angle you look. The property includes two clubhouses, 15 beautiful villas designed by Renee Parsons (Bob’s wife), a fitness center, and an abundance of challenging holes and layouts. Robert told us “anything that you see here under a roof is Renee’s doing; anything that you see under the stars is Mr. Parsons.”
The Golf
You don’t need tee times out at Scottsdale National. When you want to play, you go out and play (remember the one rule). There are two full 18 hole courses with one of the most unique par 3 courses that you’ll ever see. Each course is equipped with halfway houses that offer beverages and snacks and a crew of workers who come and replace your divots and rake the bunkers for you.
The Mine Shaft Course
One of the 18 hole courses at Scottsdale National is called “The Mine Shaft Course.” Arizona has extensive mining history and so a name like this makes sense, but that’s not entirely all. Sitting behind the 15th green is the infamous 13 foot deep bunker where getting up and down is nearly impossible. Its construction includes wood planking supporting the walls around a small surface of sand, bringing to mind the shaft entrances miners would enter in search of fortune. This course also offers the best views on the entire property. Sitting on the 16th tee you have an elevated image of a par 3 surrounded by mountain views. Compared to the Other Course, Mine Shaft is known to be a bit more difficult with tighter sight lines off the tee and many bunkers surrounding the greens.
The Other Course
Bob Parsons wanted his second course to stand out, he wanted distinctness, not duplication. With fantastic routing and an opportunity to hit a number of different shots while using a variety of clubs, the Other Course offers a different type of challenge. I found it to be fairly wide off the tee which allows you to have many opportunities for green in regulations. The greens were absolutely pure and some of the best I have ever played on. Shoutout to our caddie Adam who gave us some fantastic reads.
One of my favorite intricacies of this course is the suggestion box that is out in the middle of the massively deep manmade body of water that sits on the 9th hole. Parsons put a box out in the middle of it, for anyone who wants to make a suggestion. Needless to say, not many suggestions have been made I would imagine.
The Bad Little 9
Par 3 courses have really become a phenomenon. The big resorts are implementing them as they allow for a fun experience. Scottsdale National and The Bad Little 9 offer exactly that, but don’t get it twisted. ITS HARD! Think of it as a nine hole obstacle course where you are trying to navigate tricky terrain while having a wedge in your hand. Undulated greens, unique bunkering, narrow/small greens, and even mounds in the middle of the green as seen above offer enough challenges. We even had the opportunity to play it under the lights (see below), which was a whole different experience.
Yet despite its wildly difficult nature, The Bad Little Nine is an absolute thrill ride. Frustrating, sure, but a blast to play. You think you can get the best of it? Then tee it up on a Challenge Friday, when holes are cut in the most diabolical location on each green. Fair? Hell no. Navigating it skillfully and breaking par (few ever have) will earn you a $1,000 bar credit at PXG House courtesy of Scottsdale National owners Renee and Bob Parsons. Joel Dahman told us he came close but couldn’t quite get it done. We also heard that James Hahn broke par, but it was on his second time around.
Spa Treatments
Not hitting the ball well? Don’t sweat it. I’ll be the first to admit, I haven’t spent much time in the spas, in fact I’ve never had a real back massage before from what I can remember. The Xperience offers manicures, pedicures, massages, haircuts, facials, and all sorts of other opportunities to relax the body. I got a gentlemen’s facial and can see why people get these regularly. My wife told me I had a glow that she has never seen before. Between the 5 of us, let’s just say we took advantage of the services that were offered. This added to the the whole experience for sure.
Hospitality
One of the biggest takeaways of the Xperience, is how well you’re taken care of. The staff at SNGC is unbelievable. They strive to make you feel comfortable and will take care of anything you need with a smile on their face. The Villas are the on site stay accommodation and they contain three 4-bedroom suites. All of the tastefully appointed suites within each Villa have a common living room and an outdoor terrace. Some also have a separate entrance and access to a sitting room, enabling another level of privacy if so desired.
Inside the clubhouse, you will find some of the best bartenders and cooking staff that any golf club has to offer. The drink list alone was a sight to behold! From a food perspective, the menu was insane! I’m not sure I’ll ever eat as well as I did at SNGC. From the finest of meats to the exquisite appetizers, we found ourselves trying things that we have no business ordering. The hospitality was 5 STARS and it’s not even close.
Bob and Rene Parsons know how to not only host, but create a golf fantasy that I’m still not quite sure is real………
Check out Our Podcasts with Bob Parsons and our Xperience, links are below.
