Weiskopf Carves a Gem Into Sedona’s Red Rock — Plus a Putting Challenge You Can’t Beat

Happy Sunday OOB fam! Last week’s trip to Wisconsin is officially one of my all-time favorites. Sand Valley feels like a true extension of Bandon Dunes - pure golf, great vibe, and I’m 100% going back. Erin Hills absolutely surprised me. The property has major aura, and the course is way more fun to play than I expected. It’s in my top seven for sure and I’m def going back.

We also teed it up at The Bull at Pinehurst Farms — a locals’ and caddies’ favorite. At $89, it was an epic challenge for the price. On 18 I pulled off a ridiculous flop shot from a steep lie to an impossible pin, and drained it for par. The best part was I called the shot about 10 fee from the hole and went bananas when it went in! My buddy Jeff caught the whole thing on his Meta glasses (sorry in advance for the language, blame the Red Bull vodkas). That shot won the match and $10 - maybe the best $10 I’ve ever made ha.

Then we hit Pine Hills CC in Plymouth, my buddy Tom’s club. Built in 1929, it’s a 6,500-yard classic that will beat you up if you miss on the wrong side of the green. The greens have so much slope - doubles come quick if you’re not precise. If you happen to know a member at Pine Hills it’s a MUST play. The layout is absurd and it’s a beautiful course with tons of elevation changes.

The crew flew home Saturday, but I stayed an extra day and played Whistling Straits on Sunday. Let me tell you - I didn’t want to leave. I could play that course every day and never get bored. Every shot demands your full attention. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt a course test me like that. I doubled 9 and 18 and still posted 79 in 20 mph winds - it’s one of those rounds I’ll always remember.

If you’re planning a Wisconsin golf trip, hit reply and I’ll send you my recommendations.

💰 Green fees $345 | Replay Rate $32

⛳ Par 71 | 6,858 yards

📍 Sedona, Arizona

TL;DR — Why Seven Canyons is Worth Your Time
Seven Canyons blends pure challenge with pure scenery. Risk/reward par 4s, a brutal 500-yard par 4, a dramatic drop-shot par 3, and all of it surrounded by Sedona’s red rock canyons.

You’ll never see me hyping up a course you can’t play. That’s not what OOB is about. But every now and then a private club opens the door to non-members, and when that happens, I’ll show you exactly how to get on.

I’ve been playing Seven Canyons for nearly 20 years (thanks, RJ!), and it’s freaking STUNNING. It’s 18 holes painted across one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world - Sedona’s towering red rocks.

The first attempt at a course on this property came in the 1960s, when Jack Snyder built a layout that never gained traction and closed after a few years. Nearly 40 years later, Tom Weiskopf came in, explored the land on horseback, and in just two weeks designed the routing that became Seven Canyons. At 4,600 feet, the ball flies forever, but it will still eat your lunch. Tee shots often look tight before releasing into wide fairways - that compression-and-release design that keeps you on edge. The bentgrass greens are pure but punishing if you miss on the wrong tier or above the hole.

That mix of beauty and bite shows up all over the place. Take hole 10, a 500-yard par 4 that plays uphill and most days into the wind. The fairway is pinched by bunkers, and even if you find the short grass you’re staring at a long, demanding approach into a two-tiered green. It’s the kind of hole where a bogey can sometimes feel like a birdie.

Then there’s hole 14 - the signature hole. The tee sits atop Rachel’s Knoll, and you’re looking down more than 80 feet to a small, bunkered green below. It’s dramatic, it’s intimidating, and it’s flat-out gorgeous. The kind of shot where you have to pause for a second just to soak it in before pulling a club.

Seven Canyons has a way of putting things in perspective. I finish the round more relaxed than when I started and always grateful I get to play it.

Highlight Hole: No. 4, Par 4, 305 Yards
Weiskopf loved drivable par 4s, and this one is a treat. From the tee you get one of the best views on the course and a decision: Hit 3-wood/driver right at the pin but if you miss it’s a double or worse. Lay back with an iron and you have a delicate 50 yard wedge shot into the smallest, most tiered green out here. It’s equal parts postcard and punishment, and it’s where the fun begins if you’ve got a money game going.

How to get access:

Seven Canyons is private, but there are two ways to get on:

Luxury Townhomes at Seven Canyon – Best for buddy trips
Stay right on property in one of the 3-bed, 3-bath luxury townhomes overlooking the course and Sedona’s canyons. They’re spacious (2,800 sq. ft), sleep up to eight, and come with full kitchens, fireplaces, and outdoor patios. Rates run $500–$1,500 per night depending on the season. Best part - you’re a short walk to the clubhouse and have full access to the club while you’re there. You can book a reservation at sedona.org or search Townhomes at Seven Canyons on VRBO.

Enchantment Resort – Best for couples
If you’re planning a romantic getaway, Enchantment Resort is tough to beat. Set right in Boynton Canyon, it’s one of the most stunning resorts in the Southwest - full-service spa, fine dining, pools, and hiking trails framed by Sedona’s red rock cliffs. And yes, you can add golf at Seven Canyons to the mix. You can book a stay-and-play package with golf included or simply book your room and pay for golf à la carte - either way, the experience is unforgettable.

Whether you stay at the townhomes or Enchantment Resort, the green fee is $345 including cart, range balls and full access to the club. And if you’re up for a full day of golf, the replay rate is just $32. Playing 36 here is a no-brainer - the risk/reward holes are even better the second time around.

And if you want to squeeze in more golf while in Sedona, both Sedona Golf Resort and Oakcreek Country Club are public, affordable, and deliver more of those classic red rock views that make this region so unforgettable.

30 Putt Challenge

As you can probably tell, I love drills that mimic on-course pressure. Being competitive and measuring your practice shows you whether you’re actually improving or what needs more work.

This drill is designed to help you practice the exact putts you’ll face to save par or roll in a birdie. Pick six spots on the practice green with varying breaks — one each from at 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, and 25 feet. 

From each spot, hit five putts for a total of 30 putts.

The goal: make 9 out of 30 putts (30%). Sounds easy enough, right? I’ve run this drill 20+ times and my best score is eight. Putting is so freaking hard. 

Why it works: these mid-range putts are the difference between posting a number and losing shots you shouldn’t. Training under this kind of pressure builds confidence and sharpens your read, stroke, and speed control. If you can survive this drill, you’ll feel way more comfortable standing over those must-make par savers on the course.

Huge congrats to @BigChick3nDinna getting his first ace at Galloping Hills, Learning Course, Hole #7, 165 yards with a 7 iron!

And I’m not surprised but Charlie Woods got his first ace during the Jr Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, hole number three. Congrats kid but F-OFFFFFF.

Have you made your first hole-in-one, or know someone who did? Tag me on X @kevinLcurry or IG @outofboundsgolfer and I’ll feature it.

If you made it this far, thanks for reading and for all the support. I love putting this together each week and hearing from you guys. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening and if you’ve got a public track I need to check out, hit reply and let me know.

If you’re a fan of OOB, please share with all of your golf buddies. Thanks so much!