A Twist: Worst courses list in Phoenix Metro!

[puttnforthe8]

Figured I would put this list together since we have plenty of lists on what to play.

 

Obviously this list is harder to put together, because some people may value certain things more than others.

 

My list is my personal take....I would go out of my way to dissuade someone from playing at any of these courses.

1. Arizona Grand - Had free golf and passed
   
2. Southern Ridge(formerly Bouganvillea, formerly something else) - Had free golf and passed
   
3. Western Skies - Just miserable playing condition
   
4. ASU Karsten - Obviously controversial here, but I cannot stand the course!
   
5. Foothills - What a waste...should/could be really good.
   
6. Arrowhead(Legend) - Seems always bad condition: rock hard and mud at the same time. Hate the greens.
   
7. Sidewinder - Just un-likeable to me.
   
8. Apache Creek - Plain and blah and ugly.
   
9. Orange Tree - Just really dislike this course for multiple reasons.
   
10. Falcon Golf Club - Bad conditions, hard and muddy spots like #6.
    

I exclude a lot of the shorties like Silverado, Starfire, Augusta Ranch, etc....because there are a lot of those that are just not good too. I have not played any of the Sun City/West or Goodyear retirement community courses out that way...so some of those may hit someones list.

[AzSuperHack76]

Throw Legend of Arrowhead in just based on the crap conditions. While were at it throw Arrowhead CC into the mix, a good percentage of the members are just turds, miserable turds. Hillcrest, used to be a great course with great conditions 20 plus years ago, just a shell of itself now.

Just a quick few off the top of my head.

#7, call me crazy but I enjoy Sidewinder, I'd play Sidewinder over Dino Mt, anytime, and it's not even close. My disdain for Dino Mt has no boundaries, haha ;-). Not like I'd make the drive to play Sidewinder over anything else but we play in an annual tourney on both courses, so that's my reasoning.

[LouieLouie]

[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1450115567' post='12719094']
Figured I would put this list together since we have plenty of lists on what to play.

Obviously this list is harder to put together, because some people may value certain things more than others.

My list is my personal take....I would go out of my way to dissuade someone from playing at any of these courses.[list=1]
[*]Arizona Grand - Had free golf and passed
[*]Southern Ridge(formerly Bouganvillea, formerly something else) - Had free golf and passed
[*]Western Skies - Just miserable playing condition
[*]ASU Karsten - Obviously controversial here, but I cannot stand the course!
[*]Foothills - What a waste...should/could be really good.
[*]Arrowhead(Legend) - Seems always bad condition: rock hard and mud at the same time. Hate the greens.
[*]Sidewinder - Just un-likeable to me.
[*]Apache Creek - Plain and blah and ugly.
[*]Orange Tree - Just really dislike this course for multiple reasons.
[*]Falcon Golf Club - Bad conditions, hard and muddy spots like #6.
[/list]
I exclude a lot of the shorties like Silverado, Starfire, Augusta Ranch, etc....because there are a lot of those that are just not good too. I have not played any of the Sun City/West or Goodyear retirement community courses out that way...so some of those may hit someones list.
[/quote]

"1. Arizona Grand - Had free golf and passed" LOL that says alot if you pass on free golf!
I actually think this is a lot like the Foothills Group, it has potential to be a nice solid course, but is so poorly managed that it makes the list of absolute worsts in the valley!

"2. ASU Karsten - Obviously controversial here, but I cannot stand the course!"
I agree here. I won't miss this course when it's gone.

"3. Foothills - What a waste...should/could be really good."
You could say this about any of their properties. High potential worst management!

[golfandfishing]

Links at Queen Creek, Apache Creek, Tres Rios, Starfire, AZ Golf Resort, etc.

Many more I haven't had the displeasure of playing that I'm sure are also awful like Desert Sands, Pueblo el Mirage and more.

[YMark]

Add Arizona Golf Resort and San Marcos. Two dumps. And Desert Canyon isn't too far behind with its gimmick holes.

[cbbaron]

[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1450115567' post='12719094']
Figured I would put this list together since we have plenty of lists on what to play.

Obviously this list is harder to put together, because some people may value certain things more than others.

My list is my personal take....I would go out of my way to dissuade someone from playing at any of these courses.[list=1]
[*]Arizona Grand - Had free golf and passed
[*]Southern Ridge(formerly Bouganvillea, formerly something else) - Had free golf and passed
[*]Western Skies - Just miserable playing condition
[*]ASU Karsten - Obviously controversial here, but I cannot stand the course!
[*]Foothills - What a waste...should/could be really good.
[*]Arrowhead(Legend) - Seems always bad condition: rock hard and mud at the same time. Hate the greens.
[*]Sidewinder - Just un-likeable to me.
[*]Apache Creek - Plain and blah and ugly.
[*]Orange Tree - Just really dislike this course for multiple reasons.
[*]Falcon Golf Club - Bad conditions, hard and muddy spots like #6.
[/list]
I exclude a lot of the shorties like Silverado, Starfire, Augusta Ranch, etc....because there are a lot of those that are just not good too. I have not played any of the Sun City/West or Goodyear retirement community courses out that way...so some of those may hit someones list.
[/quote]
On my multiple trips to AZ I've stayed at Orange Tree like 10 times plus another stay in January never played the course thank you for reaffirming my decision. Although I would recommend the rooms there there 700 sq feet and each has a hot tub and centrally located.

[az2au]

2 used to be Cotton Fields (and maybe something like Pohl Cat too) and used to have 36 indistinguishable holes (I think it was 36 anyway). Just horrible in every way.

I won a tournament once at Apache Creek and still think it is horrible

[Double K]

Western Skies is in pretty decent shape this year.

I would replace that with Arizona Golf Resort.

[drake47]

Arizona Golf Resort has to be on this list!

[wcb231]

I will defend Arizona Golf Resort until the day I die! $8 greens fees in the summer time and the greens were really good at one point this summer. The par 3's are stout, and they have a couple of par 4's that will test your game. You leave it alone!

[mikedejong]

I will throw in Superstition Springs as my least favorite. This course is always in the worst shape, its extremely busy and slow, and those couple of holes are some of the worst designed holes I have played. It seems you have nowhere to hit it off the tee, and the ball will bounce 10 feet in the air when you hit the green and over the back. Not to mention you almost have to wear a helmet out there with all the balls flying in from every direction. Not my favorite.

[fore_life]

Yeah superstition is stupid, some really wonky holes.

I'm with Wally, I thought golf resort was fun for what it is. How about coyote lakes in surprise? Hated that course, some really bad holes!

[drake47]

[quote name='mikedejong' timestamp='1450192980' post='12723072']
I will throw in Superstition Springs as my least favorite. This course is always in the worst shape, its extremely busy and slow, and those couple of holes are some of the worst designed holes I have played. It seems you have nowhere to hit it off the tee, and the ball will bounce 10 feet in the air when you hit the green and over the back. Not to mention you almost have to wear a helmet out there with all the balls flying in from every direction. Not my favorite.
[/quote]

I haven't played there in a while, but I definitely remember going for cover a few times. Also the I remember the fairways being very wet.

[az2au]

Fiesta Lakes in Mesa is special if you visit the range. It is like hitting out of an unkempt yard. I'm assuming it still exists but I haven't been there in at least 15 years.

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

I played Aguila for free. Not much desire to ever play it again. Desert Canyon & McCormick Ranch Palm are lousy also.

[puttnforthe8]

[quote name='BUCKEYERBALL88' timestamp='1450232319' post='12725724']
I played Aguila for free. Not much desire to ever play it again. Desert Canyon & McCormick Ranch Palm are lousy also.
[/quote]

ouch...Aguila...sorry, I think you are way off on that one. It is an excellent mix of holes. Strong par 3's. Greens that require you hit the right spots on most. Condition is always pretty good; it is excellent value for the price; good facilities.

[StarFleetGolfer]

Superstition Springs- my buddy loves it, I think the short 4's are horrible
Las Sendas- Stupid par 5 followed by a stupid par 3
Apache Creek- some grass in a desert
Johnson Ranch- just because they think 6 hour rounds are acceptable
McCormick Ranch- same as above pace of play.

[teejaywhy]

We cant forget Rauncho Manana.

[AzSuperHack76]

[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1450291757' post='12728036']
We cant forget Rauncho Manana.
[/quote]

Totally agree, not quite as Mickey Mouse as Dino but pretty dang Mickey Mouse.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='az2au' timestamp='1450220696' post='12725004']
Fiesta Lakes in Mesa is special if you visit the range. It is like hitting out of an unkempt yard. I'm assuming it still exists but I haven't been there in at least 15 years.
[/quote]

Played it once when it first opened. Shot even par. Never went back. Why spoil the memory? haha

[az2au]

[quote name='AzSuperHack76' timestamp='1450296040' post='12728362']
[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1450291757' post='12728036']
We cant forget Rauncho Manana.
[/quote]

Totally agree, not quite as Mickey Mouse as Dino but pretty dang Mickey Mouse.
[/quote]
I don't think Dinosaur Mountain is a great course by any means. It isn't. It is about 1,000 times better of a golf course than RM though. That's probably off by an order of magnitude. Let's say 10,000 instead of 1,000.

[AzSuperHack76]

[quote name='az2au' timestamp='1450299556' post='12728638']
[quote name='AzSuperHack76' timestamp='1450296040' post='12728362']
[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1450291757' post='12728036']
We cant forget Rauncho Manana.
[/quote]

Totally agree, not quite as Mickey Mouse as Dino but pretty dang Mickey Mouse.
[/quote]
I don't think Dinosaur Mountain is a great course by any means. It isn't. It is about 1,000 times better of a golf course than RM though. That's probably off by an order of magnitude. Let's say 10,000 instead of 1,000.
[/quote]

I'm just speaking in terms of ridiculous tricked up Mickey Mouse holes only.

[jewofgolf]

I was recommended to play Rancho Manana by some guys at work. I played it...nice views but the course is plain stupid. Just fit some holes into a neighborhood.

I can't believe they charge what they do to play there. Obviously some people like it. I could see ladies and seniors who ride enjoying it.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='az2au' timestamp='1450120563' post='12719508']
2 used to be Cotton Fields (and maybe something like Pohl Cat too) and used to have 36 indistinguishable holes (I think it was 36 anyway). Just horrible in every way.
[/quote]

Cottonfields was a most appropriately descriptive name.

One of those courses that changes names every few years to trick you in to playing it again.

[Enzogorlami]

san Marcos used to be a bad course, but after the renovations, it is actually decent. Green fairways, short rough, true greens. Tree lines fairways and fluffy bunkers and small greens mAke it a decent course now, esp for the money.

[YMark]

[quote name='Enzogorlami' timestamp='1450379818' post='12732334']
san Marcos [b][color=#ff0000]IS[/color] [/b][s]used to be[/s] a bad course, [b][color=#ff0000]even [/color][/b][s]but [/s]after the renovations[s], it is actually decent[/s]. Green fairways, short rough, true greens. Tree lines fairways and fluffy bunkers and small greens mAke it a decent course now, esp for the money.
[/quote]

Fixed that for you. Not sure what they spent money on, but SM is still a terrible track, even for the money. Besides the fact that it is boring, all holes the same. Bunkers are nice though.

[FyteOn]

When I first saw this thread the only thing that popped in my mind was Rancho Manana. Glad to see there is a consensus.

[Enzogorlami]

Haha I suppose, I'm prob partial bc I'm a chef in the hotel so I get super discounted golf. I just like it bc it's cheap and decent. It's about as short as could be unless you play from the tips. I played there before I worked there and got discounts so that's what I based it off of.