I have been fortunate to play golf in the Swiss Alps during the course of reporting on the European Masters only to be left in awe at the stunning snow-capped backdrop to the host Crans-sur-Sierre course at Crans Montana.

There was also the experience of tackling the Alice Springs Golf Club in the very heart of Australia with the golf course surrounded by the ancient yet majestic McDonnell Ranges.

Then in taking a day off from reporting on the Waste Management Phoenix Open I ventured a few hours north on the I-17 past a town named McGuireville, and a must stop for obvious reasons, before being again left in awe of  the Red Rock Mountains at Sedona.

The ancient Red Rock formations surrounding Sedona stand guard over the 18th green at the Oakcreek CC (Photo – Oakcreek CC)

Practice putting green at clubhouse at Oackcreek CC. (Photo – Oackcreek CC)

Like a sentinel, the Red Rock formations stand watch over the Oakcreek CC (Photo -Oackcreek CC)

The mountains are Sedona’s landscape-dominating attractions and they’re an array of red sandstone formations.

There is individual names also to many of the various formations that make-up the ranges and who gave them names is unknown but the name of each major formation resembles its shape.

For example, there is a mountain named Snoopy from the popular Peanuts comic strip lies on top of his doghouse. Another is Lucy, also from the Peanuts comic strip.

Then there are Coffeepot Rock, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Chimney Rock, Courthouse Butte,  The Mittens, The Cow Pies, and the Rabbit Ears.

From the front door of Chapel of the Holy Cross you admire Eagle Head Rock as well as the Twin Nuns and Mother and Child Rock buttes. The Three Golden Chiefs and Capitol Butte can be seen from Coffee Pot.

The formations appear to glow in brilliant orange and red when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. The red rocks form a popular backdrop for many activities, ranging from spiritual pursuits to the hundreds of hiking and mountain biking trails.

As you drive into Sedona it would easy to miss two golf courses to the left of the main town road.

Looking down the 1st hole Oak Creek CC, Sedona, AZ

Looking down the ninth fairway at Oakcreek CC (Photo – www.goflbytourmiss.com)

The ninth green at Oakcreek CC. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

First there is the Sedona Country Club and then there is the oldest club in Sedona – the Oakcreek Country Club.

The course was designed by both Robert Trent Jones Sr, and Robert Trent Jones Jr. and with nine-holes opened to play in 1968 and with the second nine opened in 1971.

The course winds its’ way through tree lined fairways and takes full advantage of the majestic Sedona red rock scenery.

Oakcreek boasts five tees – Black, Blue, White. Gold and Teal – and measuring 6,824-yards off the Black, 6,353-yards off the Blue and 5,965-yards off the White.

The hardest or No. 1 index hole is the par-4 third hole ranging from 450-yards, 425-yards and 415-yards off the White and with the No. 18 index hole being the par-3 13th tee shots of 185-yards off the Black, 155-yards off the Blue and a very manageable 125-yards if playing off the White tee.

The 13th is also the furthermost point of the course where the inward half runs virtually side-by-side while the outward nine is pretty much the same.

What is difficult in playing Oakcreek is not getting distracted by the view of the stunning red rock formations that stand watch over the tiny township like huge sentinels.

• Thank you to Oakcreek CC for the use of photographs