Member Only Golf Course
Meadow Course
Designed by Tom Weiskopf in the late 1990s. Picturesque, inviting, and surrounded by stately pines, the Meadow Course is a more traditional walking course, rated #8 in Arizona by Golf Digest. The Meadow is over 7,200 yards.
“This is a remarkable piece of property. It has magnificent views and a very unique terrain, which gave us a chance to design a traditional golf course that is easily walkable. There are 10 holes that surround and traverse a large meadow that includes wildflower areas and scenic wetlands. With no homes in this core, it creates a park-like setting reminiscent of great golf courses built around the turn of the century. ” ~ Tom Weiskopf
Member Stories
What Sets Us Apart
“Golf facilities are second to none. Convenience of getting back and forth to Flagstaff from Phoenix can’t be understated.”
-David
“Best golf and conditions in the state.”
-Ron
“Helpful staff Great course!”
-Tom
“20 years of outstanding pleasure on first the Canyon course followed by double pleasure after the Meadow was built.”
-Barbara
Meadow Course Questions
Is the Meadow open to the public?
No, we are only open to members.
Who designed the Meadow Course?
Tom Weiskopf
When did the Meadow Course open?
The Meadow opened in 1999.
What is the total length of the Meadow Course?
7340 yards
What is the par of the Meadow Course?
72
What is the Course record at the Meadow?
64 for men and 65 for women.
Has the Meadow hosted any major championships?
Yes, the 2006 USGA Mid-Amateur, 2014 US Girls Junior, 2019 USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur.
Is the Meadow course ranked in the state?
Yes, the Meadow is currently ranked #8 in the state of Arizona.
How much water is on the Meadow Course?
Holes 5,7,8 and 14 have water on the course.
How many tee boxes are on the Meadow Course?
There are options to play up to 10 different tee sets of varying lengths.
Meadow Course Hole Descriptions:
Hole #1
“Trailhead”
Wide-open off the tee, this hole is long enough to let you get loose and realize the Meadow is going to be a long, strong test of golf. Your approach shot to the green needs to be accurate or you may find yourself behind the green with a difficult up and down. Short of the green may find the large bunker guarding the right side of the green, which is almost bowl-shaped. That doesn’t mean your putt will funnel to the hole, just that most putts will seem downhill.
Hole #2
“Mistletoe”
This par 3 is most often into the wind, meaning a long iron is the club to play from the tee. Deep bunkers in front and left of the green pinch the left side of the hole, forcing your focus to the right side of the green. A shot hit too long means a long downhill chip or putt that will be quick. This hole is a solid one-shotter where par is a good score.
Hole #3
“Lupine”
This par 5 has a unique target off the tee. Left of the middle fairway bunkers is a “speed slot”, contours designed to swing your tee ball around the corner. Hit this off the tee and you may want to try and reach the green in two. A large bunker in the left side of the fairway can be carried with the second shot, but it looks intimidating. The green here is large, but framed with Pine trees left and a large bunkered mound on the right. If you miss the green in two, it is best to miss front left and chip straight up the gut. Stay below the hole if possible, downhill putts are slippery and can have a lot of break.
Hole #4
“Fremont”
This hole heads toward the San Francisco Peaks, which is where the six highest individual peaks in Arizona are found, one of which is Fremont Peak. Let’s get back to golf. This downhill par 4 may feel like the easiest hole on the course, if you have found the fairway off the tee. The approach to the green is markedly downhill and fires toward a green sloped back to front, sounds easy right? Distinct sections of this green make putting difficult, so hit the right section and make a birdie!
Hole #5
“Osprey”
A par 5 that is all green light from tee to green. Avoid the lake off the tee, hit it over the drainage between the fairways and miss the fairway bunker and you are ready to conquer the green complex. A very long, three-tiered green with a slope pulling your ball off the green to the left gives you a lot to contemplate. Flop shots from left of the green are common, as is putting from the wrong tier. This hole is bombs away, until the green and its surroundings force some delicate shot-making.
Hole #6
“Barranca”
The first of the famous Weiskopf drivable par 4 holes on the Meadow. Risk/reward is visible from the tee as it is immediately known which is the shortest route to the green. Play to the left fairway if you want to be safe, or hit it hard straight over the junk for the shortest path to the green. Playing safe still means a short iron into the green, so birdie is still in play. The straight route could get you on the green, or into the bunkers guarding the area. The green has one ridge bisecting the surface that can really swing some putts, so pay attention on the front half of this green. This is a legitimate birdie hole if your tee shot finds the short grass.
Hole #7
“Narrows”
This hole is a beast, just like #7 on the Canyon course. A right to left shot off the tee sets you up for a difficult and long second shot. A creek in front of this green must be carried to reach the putting surface, but the carry is long and the green is narrow and moves left to right. The putting surface is not particularly difficult, but getting to the green is. Once you have putter in your hand, plan on most putts being slightly downhill, so a lag putt might be best. Par is a good score on this long and demanding hole.
Hole #8
“Crosswind”
This picturesque par 3 requires precise distance control off the tee in order to avoid all the surrounding dangers. Water surrounds this green in front, to the left also behind, with the right side being defended by a large bunker. The left side of this green extends out into the water, making hole locations on this left side almost inaccessible. Best to aim for the right center of the green and take your chances with a lengthy putt.
Hole #9
“Crowsfoot”
This hole rises out of the meadow and heads uphill to the clubhouse. Uphill is the key feature here, so take an extra club or two when hitting your approach to the green. Two other difficult features are the dogleg left fairway and a green that is surrounded by deep bunkers. The putting surface here is mostly flat and has subtle movement, making it the easiest part of this hole. This is a demanding par 4.
Hole #10
“Railroad”
A little less demanding than the previous hole, #10 gives you a chance to enjoy your beverage and snack after making the turn. A good drive leaves you a mid to short iron to a green sloped back to front that is receptive. Bunkers guard the green both left and right, but an opening in front allows the ball to run up to the hole if your approach lands short. This is a fun hole where a good score is possible.
Hole #11
“Jackpine”
This par 3 has a bunker short of the green that catches your eye, which makes you think to take more club than is needed. That bunker does not really come into play, but the two left of the green can grab your ball. A fairway height apron cut surrounds this green front and right, making a tight lie chip shot an adventure if the green is missed. Not an easy par 3, just like all the others at Forest Highlands.
Hole #12
“Coues Deer”
This short par 4 may be drivable when the tees are up, but if not, an approach with a short iron or wedge gets you thinking birdie. There are bunkers to avoid off the tee, and bunkers on either side of the green will require a straight approach shot. This large green has more movement than most, with a center ridge moving the ball to all sides. This can be a difficult green to read so look closely before making your stroke.
Hole #13
“Side By Side”
This par 4 plays downwind and still seems long. Deep mounding on the left side of the fairway collects any tee ball hit left, while a fairway bunker guards any ball hit down the right side. The approach shot is a mid to long iron to an apron and green sloping right to left. The slope can help your ball get on the green, but it can also put it into a collection area left of the green. The front of this green is accessible, while the back half is perched on a tier that makes it difficult to get your ball all the way up. This is a hole where everything has to go perfect from tee to green in order to score well.
Hole #14
“Whipsaw”
Possibly the signature hole on the Meadow because of the stunning views of the San Francisco Peaks. This par 5 has everything; Scenery, length, water, forced carries, strategic bunkering and a great putting surface. Long hitters may go for the green in two, but it is a long carry over the lake. Regular hitters need to position their lay-up to the right distance, due to the water on the right of the green and a big, deep bunker left which can swallow any third shot hit offline. Remember, this is a par 5, so good tee shot, safe lay-up and a short iron on the green gives you a chance.
Hole #15
“Hidden Hollow”
A long and straight tee ball leaves a second shot that is one of the prettier shots at Forest Highlands. Downhill to a large green perched against a rocky hillside, your mid to short iron second shot needs to clear the guarding front bunker and find the correct section of the green. This green has substantial right to left movement which can leave you a quick bending putt that can easily run past the hole. Front hole locations are the easiest, but will bring that front bunker into play.
Hole #16
“Hillside”
The tee shot on this hole can be played aggressively over the corner, or conservatively down the middle. Shortening the hole by being aggressive brings two fairway bunkers into play, or worse, the neighboring forest. The second shot can use the contours of the hole and let the ball roll onto the green from right to left. The green has a section back left that can be hard to get to, but once back there, the ball can get close if the hole is cut there. Using the contours here is a great way to play the hole.
Hole #17
“Cattail”
A beast of a par three, this hole looks long, plays long and is long. At 238 yards from the back tee, this is the longest of ten par three holes at both Forest Highlands courses combined. The front of this green is slightly raised, so balls ending up on the green are hidden from view. The green is, in fact, nestled in a bowl that should feed all shots toward the center. Bunkers on the right can come into play, and because of the length of this hole, so can chip shots. Length makes this a difficult hole, but so do the myriad of recovery shots you will probably need in order to make an up and down.
Hole #18
“Lone Pine”
The closing hole on the Meadow rises sharply uphill to the clubhouse. The Ponderosa Pine in the middle of the fairway can be missed off the tee, but aiming right or left of it is a good idea. The next shots up the hill need to avoid fairway bunkers and be positioned in a way to approach the green at the correct angle and yardage. Bunkers guard this green both left and right, and a false front can bring your ball back when trying to get close to a front hole location. The putting surface here is long and deep, leading to some long birdie putts and many knee-knocking five footers for par. Shake hands with your playing partners and go have a beverage, you’ve earned it.