Getting To Know: ASU Karsten Golf Course

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Daryl Crawford who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Home to one of the strongest collegiate golf programs in the country, the ASU Karsten Golf Course is a classic Pete Dye, links-style championship course set in the shadows of ASU's Sun Devil Stadium. Awarded 4½ stars by the prestigious Golf Digest Rating Panel and rated as one of the "TOP 30" Best Collegiate golf courses in America by Golfweek Magazine, this well maintained and challenging design features Dye's signature mounding and creative bunkering - making proper club selection essential for low scoring.

Inside the 21,000 square- foot Sun Angel Clubhouse, golfers can choose between Southwestern and American favorites in the Trophy Room grill. Popular for breakfast, lunch and special events, the Trophy room and large outside Sun Devil patio overlooking the lush fairways of the golf course, are special places to entertain or to relax after a round of golf. Private dining and meeting rooms are available.

The award-winning ASU Karsten Golf Shop offers everything expected in a fine retail store and more! Catering to the public and "Maroon and Gold" fans, the golf shop is a unique display of both stylish golf apparel and Sun Devil merchandise. During your visit, you will see why the ASU Karsten Golf Shop is one of America's "Best 100 Golf Shops," as selected by Golf World Business Magazine.

The PGA professionals at the PING Learning Center offer instruction within a patient atmosphere. A private lesson tee, expansive putting green and short game practice area allow for each shot to be taught under ideal learning conditions. A state-of-the-art video analysis system offers effective visual instruction and comprehensive club fittings that tailor a new or current set of clubs to an individual's stature and style of play. Instruction is available for all levels - from beginners learning the fundamentals to experienced players seeking to lower their handicap - and programs include private lessons, group clinics or corporate training.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
This Pete Dye championship layout is provides a fair and formidable test for golfers of all skill levels with its four sets of tees ranging from 7,002 yards to 4,765 yards. The links style design provides a unique and playable difference to the many "desert golf" courses in the area. Golfers will enjoy testing their shot-making ability where champions like Phil Mickelson, Billy Mayfair, Chez Reavie, Anna Nordqvist, and Azahara Munoz have all sharpened their skills.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
"Keep it between the mounds" is easier said than done. This will allow shots to the green to be hit from level playing surfaces. Also, proper club selection is essential... many greens have hidden bunkers.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
4 1/2 stars (out of 5) by the prestigious Golf Digest Rating Panel "TOP 30" Best Collegiate golf courses in America by Golfweek Magazine

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
There are actually two... both the 9th and 18th holes, reaching lengths of 446 yards and 471 yards respectively, are arduous par 4's that each dogleg around a lake that is in play from tee shot to green approach. This huge lake diverts your vision from a modestly wide fairway. Large mounds guard wayward tee shots away from the water. You have to make a confident swing to find the fairway... and that's only the beginning to making a hard-fought par 4!

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It? Hole #2 is a wonderful 323 yard risk/reward par 4. Bunkers guard the left and middle of the fairway on your tee shot. Big hitters can attempt to carry the center bunkers at 280 yards or you can lay up short of them with a long iron or hybrid. Your tee shot will leave you with either short iron second shot or pitch shot to large two-tiered green sloping from left to right. Don't miss the green... 4 is almost impossible to achieve from the large, deep grass and sand bunkers that sit nearly 5 feet below the greens surface.

Hitting the fairway off the tee is key if you want to make a 3... lay-up short of the bunkers to have full short iron second shot.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
The Boss Burger is a must try... 1/2 pound angus burger, roasted poblano pepper, guacamole, pulled pork, jalapeno bacon, corona lime bbq, pepperjack cheese, topped with a fried egg, and served on a pretzel bun!

Our signature drink is the Loaded Palmer... house infused lemon vodka mixed with freshly brewed iced tea and simple syrup.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
61 by Peter Tomasulo during the ASU Thunderbird Collegiate Invitational.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 70
Yardage: 7002
Slope: 131
Rating: 73.8

More Information
ASU Karsten Golf Course
1125 E. Rio Salado Pkwy.
Tempe, AZ, 85281
480.921.8070
www.asukarsten.com