Surprise, Sun City West, Peoria Area Golf Courses

[gradyb]

Hopefully someone can help me out. Seven of us are coming out to Surprise the 3rd week of February to play five rounds of golf. In previous years we have been going to Mesa and thought we would play Surprise this year. The problem is we know nothing about the courses and that's where we hope y'all can help. Our handicaps range from 8 to 28 and we'd like to keep the costs between $50 and $100 per round(and not limit ourselves to twilight rates).

 

 

 

 

Would like to hear from some locals who can recommend courses that we would enjoy playing. We're not interested in Executive courses and are willing to travel up to 20 miles to play. We will be staying at Pueblo El Mirage and 303 and Deer Valley vicinity.

 

 

[az2au]

Raven at Verrado, Copper Canyon, Golf Club of Estrella, Wigwam and Trilogy are are good courses/complexes and in that general area. They might not all be within 20 miles but I'm honestly not sure what is within 20 miles of there. The Valley is very spread out and while I've been over there to play the courses it is 1:00-1:30 from my house to the area you're in so it is not a regular trip. There are a few guys here who will be able to provide better suggestions.

[kadillackountry]

You can also sneak up to Quintero from Surprise relatively easily. Verrado is a great track as well.

 

Oh...and another thread told me to head to Wickenburg Ranch...I haven't played personally, but probably only a 45 min drive north to hit that track from where you are located.

[teejaywhy]

There are four Greg Nash courses in Sun City Grand. While not destination courses per se, they are decent layouts and should be reasonably priced. Can't speak to current conditions though.

 

Granite Falls N & S

Cimmaron

Desert Springs

 

[wjdpar1]

There are four Greg Nash courses in Sun City Grand. While not destination courses per se, they are decent layouts and should be reasonably priced. Can't speak to current conditions though.

 

Granite Falls N & S

Cimmaron

Desert Springs

 

You won't like it. You will like Wickenburg Ranch.

[cduff]

The sun city grand courses are decent courses that are usually in good shape but this time of year I think they're $75 plus and for that price you can do better.

[sikoram]

Have done the Verrado, Copper Canyon and Estrella circuit with Wigwam Gold thrown in for a parkland course. Loved them all, especially Verrado. We stayed in Goodyear, so all were within 40 mins.

[Sun Devil]

The sun city grand courses are decent courses that are usually in good shape but this time of year I think they're $75 plus and for that price you can do better.

 

Probably not as nice as Elmendorf gc, O'Malleys,

[ferrispgm]

Trilogy for sure is pretty solid, the only other ones up in that area that I have liked are Quintero and Wickenburg, not sure how far they are from you though....Agree with Verrado as well

[cduff]

The sun city grand courses are decent courses that are usually in good shape but this time of year I think they're $75 plus and for that price you can do better.

 

Probably not as nice as Elmendorf gc, O'Malleys,

I'd say anywhere in Phoenix is nicer than golf in anchorage right now

[Clark_Griswold]

Just returned from Surprise, Az. Here is my take:

 

Traffic lights makes every drive 40% slower. Good Jesus, why so many traffic lights???

 

Anyway...we arrived on Friday night to rain. Not wanting to waste any time, we played 9 at Palmbrook Country club. For the $ and in the rain I couldn't complain.

 

Saturday morning we played Aquila. Arrived to a steady wind that turned into an effing wind. Was 3 clubs at times. The course seem aight, but didn't blow my mind. $43 spent for an average experience.

 

Sunday we played Coldwater in the am. Ok course, crappy ambiance. Really noisy on almost every hole. Dogs. Planes. People. Music. No gunshots so we had that going for us. It was also warm enough to shed one of our layers.

 

Sunday afternoon we played Golf Club of Estrella. That was a great course with awesome views and was nearly empty(except for the fore some in the restaurant who confused which Johnson is banging Paulina and doing blow...)

 

Would put Estrella on any list of places to play in the valley. Loved a couple holes and 18 could be really cool...I just didn't play it particularly well

 

Monday we played Wigwam Gold. In the rain again. And froze to death. And we were miserable. And the course feels very...plain. Wouldn't bother there again, ever. Oh, if you are walking off the green at 9 and see a big gash in the grass coming down to the cart path, that's where the gold doubled as a slip and slide and I fell on my a**. Also where I walked off the course... the attendant in the locker room seemed unmoved by my plight and request for a towel or two. Oh well.

 

Monday morning we headed up to Wickenburg. The plan was Wickenburg Ranch at 8:20 and the Los Cabelleros at 13:30. Got to Wickenburg Ranch and found a significant frost delay. Now we had decisions to make. We weren't going to make the Los Cab time if we got stuck behind slow groups and there was at least one foresome in front of us and a couple looked to be DJ wannabes...oh, great. We canceled the Los Cab time and booked a second 18 at WR hoping it would be worth a second time around. Man, it was! An absolutely fabulous course. We flew past the "tour pros" in front of us on the first par 3 as one of them hit a cold top shank into the bush and never looked back. Turned in 3:22. Had a quick and delicious sandwich at the turn and played the back in 3:10 even throwing in a stop for a drink at the bar on LiL Wick, the stupid fun par 3 course. The whole WR experience was fantastic. Service, conditions, amenities, views. We even had some sleet and saw snow in the mountains to round of the weather smorgasbord we had all week. I cannot overstate my love for WR.

 

We were crunched for time before our flight on wed and against all advice played Coyote Lake as it was 1 mile from the house. Not nearly as bad as advertised. And I enjoyed it more than Wigwam, FOR SURE. Of course, wed was the first day of actual great weather so that might have had some influence.

 

We didn't bother heading east of Aguila to play and stayed far away from the Scottsdale courses...we get enough tour wannabe vibe elsewhere. I like the west valley minus all the traffic lights.

[gradyb]

Ok, here is what we've ended up with.

Sunday - Coyote Lakes

Monday - Wigwam Gold

Tuesday - Corte Bella

Thursday - Wickenburg Ranch

Friday - Golf Club @ Estrella

 

Hope the others enjoy playing them as much as I enjoyed selecting them. Thanks to everyone and your suggestions.

[AzSuperHack76]

Ok, here is what we've ended up with.

Sunday - Coyote Lakes

Monday - Wigwam Gold

Tuesday - Corte Bella

Thursday - Wickenburg Ranch

Friday - Golf Club @ Estrella

 

Hope the others enjoy playing them as much as I enjoyed selecting them. Thanks to everyone and your suggestions.

 

Be prepared for Coyote Lakes, a bit a of a goat track squeezed in between houses. No driving range, but they have a practice green. Usually three different types of grass in the greens, bermuda, winter rye and poa. Very tight front nine, back nine a little less cramped. I will play it during the summer for a good rate usually $15 or less only.

 

Wigwam gold is a solid Parkland course that can test you from the tips.

 

Corte Bella is a decent housing track type of course, usually in very good shape with good greens, but nothing special.

 

Wickenburg Ranch is a Jewel. You will absolutely love it.

 

Estrella is a solid track that will be in great shape. Not WR but very well worth the drive.

[toypor]

 

"Wigwam gold is a solid Parkland course that can test you from the tips."

 

Handicaps of the group range from 8 - 28. So they need to play the tips at 7,400 yards to be tested? LMAO. Gold is a great design that is a bit tougher than it appears. Elevated greens that are well protected. Most holes have preferred lines and angles that will keep you thinking.

 

Have fun on your trip. You picked a real nice line up. Sounds like you have played CL prior and had a good time. It will be a good warm up. No reason you won't have fun there again!

 

 

 

[AzSuperHack76]

"Wigwam gold is a solid Parkland course that can test you from the tips."

 

Handicaps of the group range from 8 - 28. So they need to play the tips at 7,400 yards to be tested? LMAO. Gold is a great design that is a bit tougher than it appears. Elevated greens that are well protected. Most holes have preferred lines and angles that will keep you thinking.

 

Have fun on your trip. You picked a real nice line up. Sounds like you have played CL prior and had a good time. It will be a good warm up. No reason you won't have fun there again!

 

Calm down bruh....

 

I said that Wigwam Gold is a solid parkland course.

 

It is definitely a test from the tips.

 

7400 yards is a test, especially for this 13 'cap.

 

Did I say OP or any member of a 8-28 handicap group had to play the tips????

 

Nope, I sure didn't.

 

 

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

OP, fwiw I'd play Sun City South course everyday of the week and twice on Sunday over Coyote Lakes.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

http://www.arizonagolf.com/courses/sun-city/sun-city-south-golf-course/

 

it's a classic old layout and IMO would be a perfect warmup round for your trip.

[gradyb]

Ok, here is what we've ended up with.

Sunday - Coyote Lakes

Monday - Wigwam Gold

Tuesday - Corte Bella

Thursday - Wickenburg Ranch

Friday - Golf Club @ Estrella

 

Hope the others enjoy playing them as much as I enjoyed selecting them. Thanks to everyone and your suggestions.

 

We're coming back. This year we will probably have 9 players. Handicaps range from around 5(1 golfer) to 30(1 golfer) and the rest of us probably 15 to 20. Only low handicap player is real serious, high handicap player probably plays less than 6 times year, and the rest of us enjoy the game and play 2 to 6 times per month. Everyone enjoyed the courses last year, so here are my choices for this year. I would welcome any and all suggestions.

 

I thought about The 500 Club on the first day. Kind of a warm up course. After that, in no particular sequence, Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia, Granite Falls North Course, Wigwam Heritage, and Los Caballeros.

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Ok, here is what we've ended up with.

Sunday - Coyote Lakes

Monday - Wigwam Gold

Tuesday - Corte Bella

Thursday - Wickenburg Ranch

Friday - Golf Club @ Estrella

 

Hope the others enjoy playing them as much as I enjoyed selecting them. Thanks to everyone and your suggestions.

 

We're coming back. This year we will probably have 9 players. Handicaps range from around 5(1 golfer) to 30(1 golfer) and the rest of us probably 15 to 20. Only low handicap player is real serious, high handicap player probably plays less than 6 times year, and the rest of us enjoy the game and play 2 to 6 times per month. Everyone enjoyed the courses last year, so here are my choices for this year. I would welcome any and all suggestions.

 

I thought about The 500 Club on the first day. Kind of a warm up course. After that, in no particular sequence, Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia, Granite Falls North Course, Wigwam Heritage, and Los Caballeros.

 

I like vistancia & Los cab. The rest aren’t worth it if you’re on vacation. Wickenburg ranch is close to Los cab

[gradyb]

The rest aren’t worth it if you’re on vacation.

 

We played Wickenburg Ranch last year and I try to not play same course more than once.

If the others aren't worth playing (please remember we are all seniors, on vacation, looking for reasonable priced courses), please provide other alternatives in the west, northwest Phoenix area.

[AzSuperHack76]

The rest aren’t worth it if you’re on vacation.

 

We played Wickenburg Ranch last year and I try to not play same course more than once.

If the others aren't worth playing (please remember we are all seniors, on vacation, looking for reasonable priced courses), please provide other alternatives in the west, northwest Phoenix area.

 

Hey Grady, where area are you guys staying in?

 

Granite Falls North is a decent course, nothing special, set in a retirement community, usually in above average condition, you would enjoy it, but there are better courses in terms of value. If you're staying in the Surprise area I'd look into Verrado, while not in the NW valley its a straight shot down the 303, quick drive from Surprise, 20 minutes or so. 2 courses, their rate would be a little more than one of the Sun City Grand Courses but it would be worth it. Another option would be Copper Canyon, just west of Surprise.

[kcowgolf]

I live in Surprise and mostly play Sun City West (Grandview & Deer Valley $59) & Sun City Grand ( Cimarron & Desert Springs are the best there IMO) but Verrado & Vistancia are nice and not too much of a drive. Quintero (if you can float the cost) & don't mind a 35 minute drive is worth the trip, amazing views and a nice track. There are others around but those are where I would recommend. There are quite a few cheaper courses in the area but not worth the cheap prices, you will be disappointed IMO.

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

The rest aren’t worth it if you’re on vacation.

 

We played Wickenburg Ranch last year and I try to not play same course more than once.

If the others aren't worth playing (please remember we are all seniors, on vacation, looking for reasonable priced courses), please provide other alternatives in the west, northwest Phoenix area.

 

I like verrado (Founders is better) & copper canyon

[kcowgolf]

Agreed Founders is better and Copper Canyon is solid.

[gradyb]

Hey Grady, where area are you guys staying in?

 

Some of us are staying at Pueblo El Mirage and the others are staying further north, I believe in Peoria.