Name Recognition - We-Ko

LODCING NEAR
WE-KO-PA COLF
CLUB 15 REBRANDED
FOR CLOSER TIES TO
THE COURSE AND
NATIVE LANDSCAPE.
By Al Petersen
Golf Club, a 36-hole faciiiq,
annually voted as one ofthe
best golf sites in Arizona
and the country.
Incorporating the
We-Ko-Paname, meaning "Four Peaks" in the
natir.'e Yavapai language,
One ofthe better golfcourses
in the Phoenix-Scottsdale
area is spreading out and
spreading the *-ord about
its Iocation with the opening of the We-Ko-Pa Resort
& Conference Center.
The center, formerll.- the
Radisson Fort McDorvell
Resort, is just a fern hundred 1'ards fro'r We-Ko-Pa
complemenl.s lhe mouniain
scenery and Verde River
surrounding the resort.
While not much physically
has changed rvith the structure, the rebranding allows
We.Ko-Pa to pay tribute to
the Yavapai tribet heritage
whiie enabling the Fort McDowell Nation to manage
the entire enterprise.
"This ties everything
togetheq so to speak," said
Craig Beneil, acting general
manager of the resort. "We
chose to become an independent golf resort because
it gives us more flexibility
to fuIfill and respond to our
guests'needs, as u.'ell as to
implement new programs,
promotions and resoit
enhancements."
The Bill Coore and Ben
Crenshar,v-designed Saguaro course and the Scott
Miller-designed Cholia
course har.,e some of the
longest and most jaw-dropping lievvs in the region.
'lhe J,225-7,ard Cholla is the
essence of desert-sq,]e
as
golf
the layout flows across
washes and atop ridges that
biend into greens tucked
into hillsides and arrovos.
The 6,966-yard Saguaro
has more in common lvith
traditional courses
r,r,here
greens are close to tees
and the Iayout foilows the
movement of the 1and.
"We're excited about the
rebranding and independence of the resort,"
said We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
general manager Matt Barr.
"Resofi guests will have
easier access to our two golf
courses as well as stayandplay packages."
The resort has 211,6
g'uestrooms and suites
designed with Native
American traditions, a spa,
salon, pooi and Ahnala Res-
taurant that specializes in
Southrvestern cuisine. The
resort also abuts the Fort
McDowell Casino and is a
couple miles from Fort McDr.xvell Adventures, a rustic
outdoor spot for Jeep tours,
horseback riding, business
functions or special e\€nts.
SOUTHLANDGOLFMAGAZINE.COM
/
FEBRUARY 2015
I 39