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PHOENIX -- A golf trip is a worthy-vacation any time of year. But after a brutal winter in Milwaukee, the best time to hit the links in Arizona has to be late March.

It's not hard to imagine why: Nothing but golf in the morning, Brewers spring training games in the afternoon and NCAA basketball tournament games in the evening. Paul and I quickly learned this is the ultimate dudes' vacation.

Obviously, there is a vast variety of golf in the area. The Robb Report has described Phoenix as "Americas Best Place to Live for Golf " and picking just a couple courses to play is a bit like deciding which Kopps custard flavor is the best. After doing a little research we chose four courses in the area: Vistal Golf Club, The Raven at South Mountain, The Westin Kierland Golf Club and the TPC Scottsdale.

Vistal Golf Club, vistalgolfclub.com
701 E. Thunderbird Trail, Phoenix
(602) 305-7755

Vistal Golf Club is situated about as far south in Phoenix as you can get. This course bumps up against the South Mountains and is exactly what I thought Arizona golf would be like. Very firm fairways nestled in between lots of sand, cactus and rocks. It looks like the desert courses on Golden Tee.

The par 71 Vistal is a relatively average 6,625 yard course from the Championship tees, but it is heavily bunkered and it will bite you if are unable to control your ball. We were warned more that once about looking for lost balls in the desert areas because of rattlesnakes. Spectacular views of the entire Phoenix metro area abound on the back nine, which climb up steadily into the foothills. Though we both played rusty and poorly, we really liked this interesting and very affordable course.

The Raven at South Mountain, ravengolf.com
3636 E. Baseline Rd., Phoenix
(602) 243-3636

The Raven at South Mountain is located not far from Vistal, but is decidedly more upscale.

I was reminded of a Spanish Mission as we drove up to the terra cotta roofed clubhouse. Huge church style windows look out from the pro shop and bar onto the practice range, which surprisingly pipes in rock music through in ground speakers.

With its rolling green topography, this track would not look out of place in Wisconsin. It is very lush and has an abundance of non-native trees. We discovered later that the Raven planted 6,000 pine trees to distinguish itself from the multitude of desert golf courses available in Phoenix.

There is a definite sense of solitude on the Raven. Development along the course is minimal, which is a refreshing change of pace from most resort golf, so you are able to enjoy your round and your friends. The course was designed by Gary Panks and David Graham, but is similar in style to a Pete Dye layout. There is an abundance of water lined with buttressed railroad ties, as well as a number of fiendishly placed bunkers on most holes.

From the tips it plays a brawny 7028 yards. The greens are invitingly large but most are multi-tiered, so it demands much from your wedge play. The upshot of this is that landing a green at the Raven doesn't necessarily guarantee that you are going to two putt.

The course finishes up at the beautiful par four 18th surrounded by multi-tiered pools of water, which serenely fall into each lower adjacent hazard. The one regret we had was that it wasn't yet hot enough out to get the signature iced mango towels that they pass out to help keep you cool during the blistering summer months.

As a little parting bonus, the clubhouse attendant provided us with very cool Raven bag tags after we finished our round. Though this course is not a budget course by any means, greens fee deals can be found by the shrewd golfer.

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