Red rocks rule Seven Canyons golf course in Sedona, Arizona

SEDONA, Ariz. -- For the first half of its life, the Seven Canyons golf course was as coveted a tee time as any private club in Arizona. Golfers loved getting lost in the desert surrounded by mesmerizing red rocks at every turn of the narrow fairways designed by Tom Weiskopf in 2003.

The bankruptcy of the original developer derailed Seven Canyons during the recession, opening the 6,746-yard par-70 course to the public as conditions deteriorated. A new owner and new synergy with the nearby Enchantment Resort has created a second chance.

Once the greens recapture their speed, Seven Canyons will return to its former glory. The driving range and performance center sits in a canyon so beautiful and secluded, it's called a "practice park."

The round introduces an endless supply of signature visual moments as well. The tee of the par-3 fourth hole overlooks several fairways atop a rocky outcropping. Water encroaches upon the par-4 sixth and par-3 seventh holes. The hallmark of every great Weiskopf design -- a risk-reward short par 4 -- provides the chance to drive the 12th green in one powerful 305-yard blast.

Construction of a grand clubhouse has begun on a hillside, a project scheduled to finish in 2015.