Lesser known PHX area course suggestions wanted

sabram · January 17, 2015

After a two year hiatus, I'll be visiting the Valley of the Sun next month. I've got rounds scheduled at Talking Stick, We-Ko-Pa and Vista Verde (now Tegavah). They are among my favorites, and I've played most of the "big name" courses in all directions around Phoenix. I'd like to add two public access courses , less than an hour drive of Sky Harbor airport that I haven't played before. Are there two hidden gems out there that you'd recommend? What say ye locals? Three that are on my radar that I haven't played are Ambiante, Legacy and Faldo at Wildfire. I haven't seen many comments on those. Any thoughts and suggestions will be appreciated.

Double K · January 17, 2015

Go play some of the munis. Aguila and Papago.

fore_life · January 17, 2015

[quote name='Double K' timestamp='1421510999' post='10763975']
Go play some of the munis. Aguila and Papago.
[/quote]

I'd agree with those two plus ambiente, but I haven't played Faldo so I can't comment on that.

Legacy, Raven, and Aguila are all the same course designer, and I prefer the layout of Aguila over all of them, though the conditions might not be at the level of legacy. Then again, neither will the price.

fore_life · January 17, 2015

Also Sabram, I know you want something within an hour, but being the course aficionado that you are, have you considered playing Apache Stronghold out in the Globe area? Some say it's the best layout in the state

sabram · January 17, 2015

[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1421511908' post='10764083']
Also Sabram, I know you want something within an hour, but being the course aficionado that you are, have you considered playing Apache Stronghold out in the Globe area? Some say it's the best layout in the state
[/quote]

I've given that a[b] lot [/b]of thought to Apache Stronghold but it's further than I'm looking to drive on this trip.

puttnforthe8 · January 18, 2015

Raven at Verrado or Estrella Mountain

Ancala offers open play most Mondays.

Also, Anthem, if you can get on.

Corte Bella.

Either course at Tonto Verde(the other Verde courses).

One_Putt_Blunder · January 20, 2015

Trilogy at Vistancia or Los Caballeros are probably pushing the 60 min requirement but both are very good tracks and ones I forget about and I live here.

sabram · January 24, 2015

[quote name='One_Putt_Blunder' timestamp='1421812350' post='10788089']
Trilogy at Vistancia or Los Caballeros are probably pushing the 60 min requirement but both are very good tracks and ones I forget about and I live here.
[/quote]

Los Caballeros is about 75 minutes so that's out as I'll be pushed to get in 18 by dark. Trilogy is about 45 minutes, so that's an option.

What are your thoughts on these choices?

Trilogy @ Vistancia
Papago
Aguila
Camelback Ambiante
Wildfire Faldo

Also, I'm staying in Chandler one day for business and may try to get in an early morning or late twilight round there. Any thoughts on San Marcos? Is it worth a shot for the history, or should I just go to Whirlwind, where I know what I'm getting? They are both near where I'll be that day.

sabram · January 24, 2015

[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1421624311' post='10772243']
Raven at Verrado or Estrella Mountain

Ancala offers open play most Mondays.

Also, Anthem, if you can get on.

Corte Bella.

Either course at Tonto Verde(the other Verde courses).
[/quote]

I've played all of those except Ancala and Corte Bella. What can you tell me about the style of those two courses? It's hard to tell anything from Google Earth, except that there's a lot of housing.

One_Putt_Blunder · January 24, 2015

I really like ambiente that would be choice one of that list vistancia 2 papago 3

fore_life · January 24, 2015

Ancala is Pete dye, so that pretty much sums that one up haha!

I had a buddy who worked there and we played it quite a bit a few summers ago, it's not a place that I miss being able to play, if that makes sense. Just has Pete dye all over it.

I'd pick whirlwind unless you are dead set on San marcos for nostalgia and beer at San tan after the round.

The other courses you mention, I've only played ambiente twice and love it, and Papago/Aguila are where I play the majority of my golf.

Papago would be so much better if they would just bulldoze 3 of the 4 par 3's and start over haha. Aguila is gonna be on the bottom conditions wise(not bad just not perfect) but imo is the funnest track to play and by far the best value out here. I think that Papago is over priced for what they are charging non-card holders this time of year, and I don't even bother looking at ambiente's rates until summer haha