Located along the eastern edge of the Valley, the Superstition Mountains have long been associated with mystery, romance and legend. The most quixotic tale of all involves Jacob Waltz – better known as the Lost Dutchman -- who purportedly found a large gold deposit therein and stashed most of the cache in an unknown mine shaft.

Since Waltz’s death in 1891, wanna-be prospectors have scoured the Superstitions in search of the Lost Dutchman’s Mine, with no luck. Too bad they didn’t wait until 1981 (notice how the 8 and the 9 change places), the year that Gold Canyon Golf Resort broke ground.

As it turns out, the treasure has been discovered, and it comes in the form of the Dinosaur and Sidewinder courses along with a 101-room resort and soothing spa. Had any of those misfortunate miners stumbled upon Gold Canyon Golf Resort earlier, they would have thought they hit the mother lode.

John Hooper, who operates American Golf Holiday tours out of London, England, is well aware of this East Valley golf hamlet. It’s why Hooper includes Gold Canyon on his itinerary each year, along with such noted layouts as Grayhawk, Troon North and We-Ko-Pa.

“Gold Canyon is the only course we play in Arizona that still feels a bit like the wild West,’’ said Hooper, who along with his wife, Alison, have been bringing Brits to the East Valley since 1994.

“The views are uninterrupted, and the scenery has that ‘wow’ factor. But what our clients think is so smashing is that authentic Arizona-cowboy feel, like you could tie your horse up right outside the clubhouse.’’

In fact, the bag drop at Gold Canyon is a hitching post. (For real!) The clincher, however, is the rusty-crusty mining carts that sit in the entry ways of abandoned shafts high on Gold Canyon’s rocky slopes. Not to be a spoil sport, but those relics in the rocks aren’t real; they’re for tourists.

Scott Scherger, the director of golf at Gold Canyon for the past nine years, knows why his golf courses never have been more popular.

“Nature plays such a big role out here,’’ he said, pointing to the mule deer, bobcat, javelina, roadrunners and ubiquitous jackrabbits that reside in the three separate canyons that make up this 400-acre property.

“The scenery, the views, the elevation changes all make for such a memorable experience. It’s one of the few courses in the Southwest where you really do interact with the desert.’’

Unforgettable certainly describes the Dinosaur, where a championship layout is laced with thrills and spills that rival Six Flags. Most golf courses have a signature hole -- Dinosaur boasts 10 of them: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16. And despite six picturesque par-3s in the mix, it plays a much longer than its 6,700 yards might indicate.

The Sidewinder, which snakes its way through the arroyos along the lower levels of the property, tends to be viewed as the red-headed stepsister. Oh, if only such a stereotype looked this good. Always in the same tip-top condition as its big sister, Sidewinder is a bargain at about half the green fee of the Dinosaur.

What is unusual about these two offerings is that they came along nine holes at a time, were mixed, and it worked out to a “T.’’ The original nine was built by Greg Nash and opened in 1982, with the second nine designed by Ken Kavanaugh in ’86. In 1997, Kavanaugh added nine more holes, which became No. 5-13 on the Dinosaur. A year later, Kavanaugh and Gold Canyon superintendent Stuart Penge completed the puzzle with nine holes that, basically, form the front nine of the Sidewinder.

“We’re one of the few 36-hole facilities in the Valley that offers two different price points,’’ said Scherger of the green fees that range from $40 to $105 on the Sidewinder, and $55 to $185 on the Dinosaur.

“What’s interesting is that, of the 70,000 rounds played out here each year, it’s pretty evenly split between the two courses.’’

Scherger and his courteous crew provide excellent support, which is a big part of the Gold Canyon experience. Or as Hooper put it: “It’s a bit of a hike to get out there, but it’s well worth it. They’re a friendly bunch at Gold Canyon – always genuinely glad to see you – and that means a lot when you come as far as we do.’’