Chandler, AZ Courses

[KJLarry]

Moving day is almost here! I will be moving to Chandler, AZ the first week in June. I have been looking online for courses in the area to join. I'm not a nomad golfer. I like to have a home course that I play regularly and venture out occasionally. Right now I belong to a course with a decent range/practice area, that has men's association tournaments and a weekly league night. I'm looking for the same type of setup in Chandler. It can be private, semi private or public as long as it meets the criteria above.

 

Proximity to the home is also key to help sneak out as often as possible to practice. Our house is near the intersection of S Cooper Rd and E Ocotillo Rd. The courses closest appear to be:

 

Bear Creek Golf Complex

Lone Tree Golf Club

Seville Golf & Country Club

San Marcos (Which it seems is owned by Crown Plaza so not sure this is an option)

Trilogy Golf Club at Power Ranch

Ocotillo Golf Resort

 

Any feedback on these tracks would be great. I can find rates for all of the them with the exception of Seville so if any of you have initiation/ dues information that would also be most helpful. Finally, if you have any other clubs in the area to suggest please let me know what I missed.

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Arizonalefty59]

If money isn't an issue, Whirlwind is your best bet. Has everything you're looking for and one of the best practice facilities in Arizona. Has two awesome course also.

[FyteOn]

I got married at Ocotillo and had a hole in one with our comped round so I'm a little biased. But it's a nice, non desert course with lots of grass and water. Not a huge test but fun. I think they have three 9s.

From Chandler, Whirlwind and Southern Dunes will be the best courses.

[That Bob Guy]

I like Ocotillo. Plenty of character. Water plays a huge factor there. Very nice facility as well. 27 holes. Whirlwind's 2 courses are great as well.
I can't comment on the others because I've never played any of them. They were never on our radar for our boys trips.

[Arizonalefty59]

I played out at LoneTree a couple weeks ago in the AZ Stroke Play Champ. It was my first time playing out there and I thought it was a very fun course.

Bear Creek - Nothing special and usually in rough shape.
Seville - Very fun, awesome practice facilities and mens locker room just way to expensive.
San Marcos - Don't waste your time.
Trilogy- Never played it.
Ocotillo - Always well maintained but it has to much water for my liking.

Southern Dunes would be a pretty long commute. Only one way in and one way out from Chandler.

[KJLarry]

Thanks to everyone for the info. AZLefty a few follow up questions:

[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1398556551' post='9177615']
If money isn't an issue, Whirlwind is your best bet. Has everything you're looking for and one of the best practice facilities in Arizona. Has two awesome course also.
[/quote]


I didn't see anything on their website about membership info or a men's association. Do you know if they have either? It looks like its part of the Troon group of which I'm not familiar. The Troon website lists it as a Resort and Daily fee facility but not Private or Semi Private.


[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1398562280' post='9178257']
I played out at LoneTree a couple weeks ago in the AZ Stroke Play Champ. It was my first time playing out there and I thought it was a very fun course.

Bear Creek - Nothing special and usually in rough shape.
Seville - Very fun, awesome practice facilities and mens locker room just way to expensive.
San Marcos - Don't waste your time.
Trilogy- Never played it.
Ocotillo - Always well maintained but it has to much water for my liking.

Southern Dunes would be a pretty long commute. Only one way in and one way out from Chandler.
[/quote]

Glad to here that Lone Tree was a fun track. It seems to have an active Men's Association from the info on their website and was one of the more promising options because of that. Did you spend anytime at their practice facility and if so how was it?

Do you have a ballpark price on Seville? It would appear to be a non equity club from what I gather which would be fine. I can be pretty flexible with yearly dues now that I can reallocate my Sabres season ticket money into the golf expense column ?. I just don't want to come up with a huge nut for an initiation.

Thanks again everyone and keep the info coming, I really appreciate it!

[Arizonalefty59]

[quote name='KJLarry' timestamp='1398568245' post='9178849']
Thanks to everyone for the info. AZLefty a few follow up questions:

[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1398556551' post='9177615']
If money isn't an issue, Whirlwind is your best bet. Has everything you're looking for and one of the best practice facilities in Arizona. Has two awesome course also.
[/quote]


I didn't see anything on their website about membership info or a men's association. Do you know if they have either? It looks like its part of the Troon group of which I'm not familiar. The Troon website lists it as a Resort and Daily fee facility but not Private or Semi Private.


[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1398562280' post='9178257']
I played out at LoneTree a couple weeks ago in the AZ Stroke Play Champ. It was my first time playing out there and I thought it was a very fun course.

Bear Creek - Nothing special and usually in rough shape.
Seville - Very fun, awesome practice facilities and mens locker room just way to expensive.
San Marcos - Don't waste your time.
Trilogy- Never played it.
Ocotillo - Always well maintained but it has to much water for my liking.

Southern Dunes would be a pretty long commute. Only one way in and one way out from Chandler.
[/quote]

Glad to here that Lone Tree was a fun track. It seems to have an active Men's Association from the info on their website and was one of the more promising options because of that. Did you spend anytime at their practice facility and if so how was it?

Do you have a ballpark price on Seville? It would appear to be a non equity club from what I gather which would be fine. I can be pretty flexible with yearly dues now that I can reallocate my Sabres season ticket money into the golf expense column ��. I just don't want to come up with a huge nut for an initiation.

Thanks again everyone and keep the info coming, I really appreciate it!
[/quote]
I really don't venture out to many other courses other than my home club unless I have tournaments.

I know a guy who used to be a member at my old home club who just recently became a member at Whirlwind and said it wasn't much more than what he was paying at my club ($300) a month. So Whirlwind is definitely affordable, I just think it's expensive because I'm a broke kid haha. The only other thing I know you can do at Whirlwind is since it's a resort you can bundle all of the features you would like (spa, healthclub etc.). Can't really speak on the mens club. Whirlwind has two sides to their range one I'm assuming is for the members. The chipping green on the back side (members side?) of the range is just unbelievable.

Lone Tree has a decent range with plenty of grass but the chipping green is terrible, it's very small and you can't work on many shots. Definitely one of the worst chipping greens I've seen.

I have no idea what the membership rate for Seville is, but I do know it has come down a substantial amount. A girl who used to go to my old swing coach used to be a member out there and I play out there about 4-5 times when it was private I believe. Neat course but nothing amazing.


If I could afford it Whirlwind would be my dream course to be a member at and I think you'll have a hard time finding a course better than it factoring in the commute as well. With two different courses it would never get old out there IMO.

[BigSky59]

I would go with Lone Tree of these, maybe Ocotillo. As some have said, stay away from San Marcos. Power Ranch is good, but out there a ways, just as Southern Dunes is. Western Skies is also in the area as a cheaper option.

[OspreyCI]

First, welcome to Chandler. You will live it here. I am sad to be moving away, but an amazing job opportunity has come up for me.
Anyway..IMHO
Not a fan of Ocotillo unless you like 5 hour rounds.
Southern Dunes WELL worth the 25 min drive.
Whirlwind is one of my favorites around.
Bear Creek is a course if you just want to play golf.
Lone Tree is fun.
San Marcos - forget it.

You will just love Chandler, at least we do. Haha

[90isagoodday]

Power Ranch is pretty uninspiring and boring for the prices they want to charge.

[fore_life]

Avoid western skies like the plague haha. Also, San Marcos golf course will be closed this summer for renovations.

Whirlwind is pretty darn good, but Seville had some of the best greens I've ever putted on. Plus it's a true private club, so if that's something that appeals to you, then that's an added perk. I forgot the initiation and monthly dues, but I do know that back when I was pricing out jr exec memberships (I'm 32), it was higher than some other easy valley clubs.

You're going to be in an area where you can make pretty stress free drives to a few different courses, try to play a bunch when you get in town and see what you like, what they offer, and what you want to drive to.

May I ask how old you are? Just wondering if Sun Lakes would be a consideration?

Also, if you are looking at joining somewhere vs just playing, I would not join bear creek or lone tree, bear creek had the dumbest restrictions I've seen for paying members and lone tree is way overpriced ($12 to play it in July with cart). Whirlwind is right by firebird lake, where they race jetboats etc. might get annoying hearing that on the course, especially when I can hear it at my house several miles away haha!

I always sound like a tightwad on here, but if you're not concerned about $$ and want a membership, join Seville. Otherwise maybe check into a men's league or bounce around the area. Or play with the wrx guys! I play 99.9% of my rounds with the crew, it's like a mini club haha.

[KJLarry]

[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1398606859' post='9180137']
Avoid western skies like the plague haha. Also, San Marcos golf course will be closed this summer for renovations.

Whirlwind is pretty darn good, but Seville had some of the best greens I've ever putted on. Plus it's a true private club, so if that's something that appeals to you, then that's an added perk. I forgot the initiation and monthly dues, but I do know that back when I was pricing out jr exec memberships (I'm 32), it was higher than some other easy valley clubs.

You're going to be in an area where you can make pretty stress free drives to a few different courses, try to play a bunch when you get in town and see what you like, what they offer, and what you want to drive to.

May I ask how old you are? Just wondering if Sun Lakes would be a consideration?

Also, if you are looking at joining somewhere vs just playing, I would not join bear creek or lone tree, bear creek had the dumbest restrictions I've seen for paying members and lone tree is way overpriced ($12 to play it in July with cart). Whirlwind is right by firebird lake, where they race jetboats etc. might get annoying hearing that on the course, especially when I can hear it at my house several miles away haha!

I always sound like a tightwad on here, but if you're not concerned about $$ and want a membership, join Seville. Otherwise maybe check into a men's league or bounce around the area. Or play with the wrx guys! I play 99.9% of my rounds with the crew, it's like a mini club haha.
[/quote]

I'm 39, few more months anyways. Lone Tree did seem a little high at $4,500 per year for a public course membership but it did appeal to me because it appears as though they have a fairly active Men's association looking at the number of participants in their events. Other than my wife and kids I will know only one other person when we get out there and that's my real estate agent! So that's why I like the idea of a strong men's association or league to get to know a few guys until I can fall into a regular game.

Bouncing around the area doesn't really appeal to me at this point because I need to have a solid golf date on the calendar in order to play regularly and I like to have a spot to call home for practice. For example, I currently belong to a semi private course. I have a regular Tuesday afternoon game followed by a Tuesday evening league. In addition to that I get out about once every 2-3 weekends for a morning round. It's the evenings where I get out once or twice a week to either play a few holes or practice for a bit that makes me want to have a home course. Also the kids are getting to the point where I'm starting to get them playing. My oldest daughters will be 6 soon and last year we used to go hit balls, putt and grab lunch once a week and they thought it was the greatest thing ever and keep asking to do it again this year.

I'm going to look further into Saville. I just hope they don't have some crazy initiation fee.

Thanks for the detailed response and info.