TOUR LIFE TRAVEL

Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, a Starwood Hotel

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May. 20, 2008

Whirlwind Golf Club at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa in Chandler, Ariz., is a premier golf destination offering 36 holes of championship Troon®-managed golf along with an endless array of resort caliber amenities. Located on the Gila River Indian Community, the two courses, Cattail and Devil's Claw, feature pristine and uncluttered views of the Sierra Estrella Mountains and surrounding Sonoran Desert.

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Spectacular views await at Whirlwind Golf Club.

The experience at Whirlwind is unlike that of any other course in Arizona. Designed by famed golf course architect Gary Panks, the courses' most stunning feature is the artful blend of the natural terrain and culture of the Gila River's Pima and Maricopa People. Named for the prominent design feature of the hand-woven basketry of the Tribe, each aspect of the par 72 courses is sensitively designed to preserve the Community's rich cultural heritage. Plants indigenous to the people are utilized to celebrate a time when the storied river flowed freely throughout the land. Palo Verde, Mesquite and Cottonwood trees, native grasses and rolling terrain are found along the 242 acres of desert landscaping and lush greens.

Panks' design is "challenging but fair" for players of various handicaps. Each of the 36 holes is named after a significant legend or landmark of the community's culture. The Golf Club also boasts the honor of hosting past Nationwide Tour events such as the Arizona Desert Championship and Gila River Golf Classic. The Devil's Claw course design features sweeping elevation changes, dramatic bunkering and multi-tiered greens. While the more challenging Cattail course complements the Devil's Claw, it lends a whole new flavor to the masterpiece course, with its rolling fairways accented by striking water features and deep canyons.

An additional standout attribute possessed by Whirlwind Golf Club is The Bird Golf Academy, an on-site golf instructional team offering a wide array of services including one-on-one training with the finest PGA and LPGA professionals including; National Head Professional, Sharon Miller, the LPGA's national Teacher of the Year in 1989 and founding editor of Golf For Women magazine; Mary Mills, US Open and two-time LPGA Championship-winner; and Jim Samsing, a PGA Professional for 30 years, among many other notable professionals. The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa is the home base of the academy touted as the "Ultimate Golf Learning Experience®," by its creator, Jay Ewing. The individualized training coupled with unique accompaniments such as yoga has quickly moved The Bird Golf Academy to the forefront of the golf instruction arena.

Whirlwind is also home to a 9,000-square-foot clubhouse featuring dining at the Sivlik Grill. The unique restaurant offers creative cuisine along with breathtaking desert and mountain views and the opportunity to enjoy a boat cruise from the restaurant to the Resort along the Gila River. This award-winning facility features top of the line practice facilities, one of the "Top 100 Golf Shops" according to Golf World Business magazine and an unparalleled dedication to customer service.

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Test your skills against a challenging golf course.

Named for the more than 1,500 wild horses roaming free in the Gila River Indian Community, the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa further tells the story of the Pima and Maricopa people. From the 500 elegantly and culturally appointed guest rooms, to the Native-American inspired treatments at the Aji Spa, the only luxury spa located on Native land in Arizona, to the on-site equestrian center providing horseback adventures along the ancient Tribal lands, the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa provides an unmatched Arizona experience.

One of the most luxurious resort destinations in the Greater Phoenix area, the Resort is home to signature restaurant Kai, one of only three AAA Five-Diamond Award winning restaurants in the state. Conveniently located 11 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the architecture, design, art and legends of the Pima and Maricopa tribes are celebrated in every detail imaginable, indoors and out.

To reserve your escape call 602-225-0100 or visit http://www.wildhorsepassresort.com/. For course information and tee times call 480-940-1500 or visit http://www.whirlwindgolf.com/.

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