Photographer Andrew Penner shares some of his favorite golf course images throughout in Arizona
Unquestionably, photographing the beautiful desert golf courses in Arizona has been a highlight of my dozen years, give or take, working as a writer and golf course photographer. As so many fellow Canadians know, the state is blessed with many outstanding golf destinations and hundreds of courses. Indeed, for the hard-luck golfers (and photographers) of the North, there really isn't a better place to hunker down and play.
From the Saguaro-studded hills of Scottsdale to the riveting red rocks of Sedona, each destination has a vibe, a character, a beauty, that is all its own. This always adds plenty of spice to the experience -- both from a playing standpoint and an image-making standpoint!
And, speaking of "spice," what I've encountered on many of my trips to Arizona to photograph the many great golf holes are the dangers that always seem to be lurking in the desert. From jumping cholla cacti (I accidentally backed into one at Dove Mountain in Tucson and had to beg for help from a nearby hiker to remove the barbs out of my back!) to a charging javelina (think wild boar) in Sedona, I've definitely had some "fun" photographing in Arizona.
But, regardless of those challenges, when the Great White North freezes hockey-puck solid -- as it always does -- my mind always drifts off to Arizona. To the cacti, the critters, and the photogenic golf holes that slide through the stunning Sonoran landscape.