SW state tour

[Skeeter]

Wife and I are on a quest to play in all 50 states.

Thinking of grabbing one course in AZ, UT, NM, NV in one swoop.

 

Probably fly onto Phoenix and just drive like crazy.

 

Any ideas on decent courses near the respective border of each state?

[toypor]

AZ- Take your pick in Phoenix since you are landing there... Best option IMHO is We-Ko-Pa Saguaro

NV- Take your pick in Las Vegas area since you have to drive through to get to UT... Reflection Bay would be good unless you want to spring for Shadow Creek

UT- Sand Hollow

NM- Piñon Hills

[SilverBullets]

Seems like you would be better off flying into SLC and starting in Utah. Play in Utah, Drive to NV and play in Vegas, then Phoenix, then NM. Logistically that would likely save you a ton of miles and time in the car. Vegas is kind of smack in the middle of route from SLC to Phoenix. I have a feeling if you start in Phoenix you will have to double back to get to NM. Or you can start in NM and work the opposite way (NM to Phx to LV to SLC)

[ManBearPig98]

I agree with We-Ko-Pa for AZ.

 

I would play the Paiute Wolf course in vegas.

[vallygolf]

Great idea, just a little perspective:

 

Phoenix to Las Vegas to Mesquite/St George to Albuquerque back to Phoenix is close to the same distance as driving from Montreal Canada to Miami Florida. If possible take your time and play a lot of golf, tons of gems in those respective areas, and some great value as well. Just a thought. Not implying that this is the case for you, but living back east for awhile it was clear that many of my friends didnt have a great sens of "scale" when it came to western states.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Depends on what your ultimate goal is. If you are just trying to tick boxes and play golf in each state regardless of the course you could do Salt Lake -Vegas-Flagstaff-Albuquerque(or the reverse of that) That seems like the most direct way to check off 4 states. Or start by flying into Vegas and drive to St George.

 

If you are looking for an Alternate option Denver-Albuquerque-Flagstaff-Vegas-St George and fly home from Vegas. You get one more state in and only add about 5-6 hours of drive time from Denver to NM Could even stay in Denver a couple nights and drive up to Cheyenne or Laramie Wyo and check that state box easily.

 

If looking for the best golf in each state Salt Lake-St George-Vegas-Scottsdale-Albuquerque would add a a fair amount of drive time vs passing through Flagstaff directly to NM but not nearly as much as starting in PHX and doubling back from NM or Vegas

 

 

 

 

Salt Lake -Vegas-Flagstaff-Albuquerque

[quarterskins]

Not sure if Colorado is a factor, but...

 

Phoenix. Papago is near the airport.

Laughlin, NV. Mojave Resort Gold Club

Monticello, UT. The Hideout

Cortez, CO. Conquistador

Farmington, NM. Pinon Hills

Then back to Phoenix or on to Albuquerque.

 

Or

 

Phoenix. Papago

Henderson, NV. Reflection Bay

St. George, UT. Sand Hollow

Cortez, CO. Conquistador

Farmington, NM. Pinon Hills

Then back to Phoenix or on to Albuquerque.

 

Or drop Cortez and go from St. George all the way to Albuquerque for the shortest option.

 

Not sure if it matters to you, but going through St. George you can go through Zion Canyon, and depending on what time of year you do it you could hit the north rim of the Grand Canyon. The Hideout in Monticello is a great course, and you drive through Monument Valley to get there. Or if you played Utah in St. George and wanted to hit CO you go through Monument Valley to get to Cortez. Of course, if you depart out of Albuquerque you have some options to play there vs Farmington.

[DrSchteeve]

Blunder said it best, as he often does: what is the goal? If it is just to tick boxes, and do it as fast and efficiently as possible, that's a very different trip from trying to play really great courses and enjoy the entire experience.

 

Me, personally, can't imagine being a "tick box" experience. Not saying you have to play the best courses in each state, but why wouldn't you try to play really, really good or great courses whenever you can? How do you want to spend your time, both pretrip and during the trip: looking at the interstates for the best routes or looking for the best courses (available to you within price and availability parameters)? I'd rather look for and play the best courses, not look for and drive the best routes. But that's just me, and it's your trip.

[Skeeter]

Wife is a planner. Looking at flying into Vegas and staying there a few nights. One morning drive to UT and play Sand Hollow. The the next day play Reflection Bay.

 

We're then planning on driving to Phoenix for a few nights and playing We Ko Pa Saguaro.

 

Finally driving to Albuquerque and playing Pa Ko.

 

We already have played in Colorado.

[bradski]

Wife is a planner. Looking at flying into Vegas and staying there a few nights. One morning drive to UT and play Sand Hollow. The the next day play Reflection Bay.

 

We're then planning on driving to Phoenix for a few nights and playing We Ko Pa Saguaro.

 

Finally driving to Albuquerque and playing Pa Ko.

 

We already have played in Colorado.

 

Very good plans. you might also consider playing in mesquite nv, but reflection is a solid choice and Sand hollow is a must play layout.