
Sidewinder Course
Gold Canyon Golf Resort
About this course
The Sidewinder course at Gold Canyon Golf Resort opened in 1999 as the property's second eighteen, designed by Ken Kavanaugh to complement the resort's original Dinosaur Mountain layout. Situated in the Superstition Mountains foothills east of Phoenix, the course occupies lower-elevation terrain than its companion, offering a different playing experience within the same dramatic desert landscape. Kavanaugh routed the holes through relatively flatter ground with generous fairways and more forgiving sight lines, making Sidewinder the more accessible of Gold Canyon's two courses. The design incorporates native Sonoran Desert vegetation—saguaro cacti, ocotillo, and palo verde—as natural hazards and visual framing, while strategic bunkering and water features on several holes add definition to the layout. The course takes advantage of mountain views throughout, particularly toward the Superstitions to the north. Elevation changes are moderate compared to Dinosaur Mountain, though several holes feature enough movement to create varied stances and approach angles. Gold Canyon Golf Resort operates as a daily-fee facility serving both resort guests and local golfers from the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Sidewinder course functions as a complementary option for players seeking a less demanding round or those new to desert golf, while still providing legitimate challenge from the back tees. The routing returns to the clubhouse at the turn, and the property's setting amid protected wilderness areas ensures the desert character remains intact around the golf corridors.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in AZ
Quick facts
- Location
- Gold Canyon, AZ, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1997
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Ken Kavanaugh
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,533 yards
- Difficulty
- 71.4/112
- Course Vaults score
- 7.4
Getting there
The journey to Gold Canyon Golf Resort begins at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), roughly forty miles to the west, where the urban sprawl of the Valley quickly gives way to open desert as you head east along US-60. The drive - just under an hour in clear conditions - traces the gradual rise toward the Superstition Mountains, their jagged, rust-colored ridges growing more dramatic with each mile. As the highway narrows and the saguaro-studded landscape takes hold, you'll turn south into Gold Canyon itself, a quiet enclave pressed against the mountain's western flank, where the resort unfolds in a setting of raw Sonoran beauty and geologic grandeur.

FAQ
Common questions about Sidewinder at Gold Canyon Golf Resort
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Sidewinder at Gold Canyon Golf Resort has a Course Vaults score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 25 logged golfers.
Sidewinder was designed by Ken Kavanaugh.
Yes. Sidewinder at Gold Canyon Golf Resort is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Sidewinder is 71.
Sidewinder plays 6,533 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Sidewinder is 112.




