Private club help in Phoenix area

[Jimshaf921]

OK, after 52 years in Michigan, I've had enough! My wife's company has an office in Phoenix and I think I have her convinced to move. I am looking to join a club somewhere in the area. Here is my list.

 

1) Initiation fee $10k or less

2) Monthly dues of $500 or less

3) Nice course with fast greens. Nothing too tricked up or too tight. Something that is playable all the time, but still a good test.

4) Prefer to live in the same neighborhood as the course. I'm all about the golf, but my wife wants mountain views. Very important to her.

5) Great group of guys to play with. The guys I play with at my club range from a 1 to 9. Lots of laughs and we always play for a little something.

 

We can live anywhere within 45 minutes of downtown. I hope you guys can help me find a new home. We are going to be in the area at the end of February to check out some of the neighborhoods.

 

Thanks, Jim

[teejaywhy]

Here's the list:

[Jimshaf921]

Here's the list:

is that a joke?

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Here's the list:

 

Lol

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

OK, after 52 years in Michigan, I've had enough! My wife's company has an office in Phoenix and I think I have her convinced to move. I am looking to join a club somewhere in the area. Here is my list.

 

1) Initiation fee $10k or less

2) Monthly dues of $500 or less

3) Nice course with fast greens. Nothing too tricked up or too tight. Something that is playable all the time, but still a good test.

4) Prefer to live in the same neighborhood as the course. I'm all about the golf, but my wife wants mountain views. Very important to her.

5) Great group of guys to play with. The guys I play with at my club range from a 1 to 9. Lots of laughs and we always play for a little something.

 

We can live anywhere within 45 minutes of downtown. I hope you guys can help me find a new home. We are going to be in the area at the end of February to check out some of the neighborhoods.

 

Thanks, Jim

 

Maybe consider semi-private:

Wildfire

Grayhawk Black card

Camelback

 

Very tough to get something under 10k initiation in phx unless you want to look at an avg course like Tatum ranch or moon valley

[az2au]

I’m not sure Tatum or Moon Valley are that low for non junior memberships. They might be but I don’t think so. Of the two Tatum would be closer to his requirements.

 

The problem you (OP) just described is the mountain views and living in the same community as the course. I can’t come up with anything that really has great mountain views and is anywhere close to that cheap. I can think of a bunch off the top of my head that fit the criteria but are way more expensive. Actually, that might be slightly false too. 45 min to downtown guaranteed is going to be tough for many of the places that fit the mountain criteria too. With no traffic it can be easily met but with rush hour you might struggle to hit that from Tatum. I think Moon Valley might be back in the lead considering that one. My guess is that full membership is more than that there but I’m not sure. I can tell you that many clubs are actually raising initiation fees again, e.g., PCC goes from $25k to $40k in Feb for initiation.

[Jimshaf921]

The only place I can find so far is Arrowhead CC, but I have seen some bad reviews on this course. Does anyone have any 1st hand knowledge?

[az2au]

The only place I can find so far is Arrowhead CC, but I have seen some bad reviews on this course. Does anyone have any 1st hand knowledge?

Terrible course often in bad shape that I honestly thought was public. So, yeah, not great.

[vallygolf]

OK, after 52 years in Michigan, I've had enough! My wife's company has an office in Phoenix and I think I have her convinced to move. I am looking to join a club somewhere in the area. Here is my list.

 

1) Initiation fee $10k or less

2) Monthly dues of $500 or less

3) Nice course with fast greens. Nothing too tricked up or too tight. Something that is playable all the time, but still a good test.

4) Prefer to live in the same neighborhood as the course. I'm all about the golf, but my wife wants mountain views. Very important to her.

5) Great group of guys to play with. The guys I play with at my club range from a 1 to 9. Lots of laughs and we always play for a little something.

 

We can live anywhere within 45 minutes of downtown. I hope you guys can help me find a new home. We are going to be in the area at the end of February to check out some of the neighborhoods.

 

Thanks, Jim

 

 

To get in that price range you will most likely have to look in the SE valley. It has its pros and cons. Really only one course that fits your price point (Seville) although their monthly may be a bit over 500 now, Im not certain. It has its own community and sits at the base of the san tan mountains. Solid course very playable, and the greens in winter are very very good. Cons: it is in a neighborhood and the course is lined by houses, it is in an area of town that is suburbia. No night life to speak of and not the best selection of great restaurants. Nearby Encanterra is a better course, a little farther out and more retirement geared, and probably out of the price range you mention. Great layout though, less pinched in by houses. Phoenix has such a diverse demographic, it is wise to find where you want to live, and then find the golf. As a native I have seen many people find the wrong spot in the valley and be miserable, but a 20 minute move made all the difference. Seville is about 45 mins from downtown.

[fore_life]

Seville is more than 500 last I checked.

 

Alta Mesa and Mesa Cc fit the price but no Mountain View’s

 

 

How much is superstition mountain?

[ferrispgm]

Mesa CC isn't bad but personally, I would rather join a public or semi private track first....The course is a little too tricked up for my liking with the major elevation drops and awkward holes. I can't remember the number but one has a weird tiered landing area...a couple others you have to hit over a private road. It's ok to play once in a while but I couldn't play it every week. Also, their practice area is pretty small too.

 

I would probably do the Black Card or check into Camelback before Mesa....That's just me though, i know others really like it.

[Jimshaf921]

What about Moon Valley? Neighborhood wise, I think it would work, but what about the course and membership costs?

[Jimshaf921]

I'm not totally opposed to that, but I really love all the club events, member/member, club championship, invitational, etc.

 

Mesa CC isn't bad but personally, I would rather join a public or semi private track first....The course is a little too tricked up for my liking with the major elevation drops and awkward holes. I can't remember the number but one has a weird tiered landing area...a couple others you have to hit over a private road. It's ok to play once in a while but I couldn't play it every week. Also, their practice area is pretty small too.

 

I would probably do the Black Card or check into Camelback before Mesa....That's just me though, i know others really like it.

[ferrispgm]

I'm not totally opposed to that, but I really love all the club events, member/member, club championship, invitational, etc.

 

Mesa CC isn't bad but personally, I would rather join a public or semi private track first....The course is a little too tricked up for my liking with the major elevation drops and awkward holes. I can't remember the number but one has a weird tiered landing area...a couple others you have to hit over a private road. It's ok to play once in a while but I couldn't play it every week. Also, their practice area is pretty small too.

 

I would probably do the Black Card or check into Camelback before Mesa....That's just me though, i know others really like it.

 

Understandable...Nice to see another Michigander moving down here....been here for 4.5 years and love it. Moved from Mt. Clemens/Port Huron area.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

I'm not totally opposed to that, but I really love all the club events, member/member, club championship, invitational, etc.

 

Mesa CC isn't bad but personally, I would rather join a public or semi private track first....The course is a little too tricked up for my liking with the major elevation drops and awkward holes. I can't remember the number but one has a weird tiered landing area...a couple others you have to hit over a private road. It's ok to play once in a while but I couldn't play it every week. Also, their practice area is pretty small too.

 

I would probably do the Black Card or check into Camelback before Mesa....That's just me though, i know others really like it.

 

If it is camaraderie and events you are looking for I would highly suggest the NSMGA and forego the private option. http://www.nsmga.org/cgi-bin/htmlos/index.html

 

Non equity at Ancala might be <10k and around $500. Checks all boxes including mountain views only thing is most would considered it tricked up stereotypical Dye design (Perry not Pete) at its worst.

Housing in area not cheap either.

 

There really is not a lot of good options in that range. Grayhawk has the black card around $7k 1st year and $6k a year for renewals, basically turning Grayhawk into a semi private. Downside multiple big events throughout the year which may close the course at times. Also housing in area not cheap.

[Jimshaf921]

We are supposed to get 5-9 inches of snow today! I am so ready

[dtm6582]

What about Moon Valley? Neighborhood wise, I think it would work, but what about the course and membership costs?

 

I was going to say, with your financial expectations and the mountain views requirement that's going to be your best bet since it backs against the mountain preserve. I just got their membership fees list and their dues and initiation would meet your requirements (I'm a former member there so feel free to PM me if you want more info). They're still struggling to fill their membership.

 

The course is okay. Nothing special. Like a lot of neighborhood courses it's house lined and in some spots the houses feel really tight to the course. It's pretty much always "playable" but over the year I was there conditions were rarely great and frequently not so great. There was a period of several months where the greens were terrible. They had them in good shape and fast for about 1/4 of the time I was a member there. Hopefully they have that situation worked out. They also had an excess of outside play, a situation that they appeared to be halfheartedly addressing when I left. The single biggest benefit to being a member there was the pace of play. I don't think I played a round that took more than 4 hours.

 

You wouldn't have any trouble finding a great group to play with. They have several out there that have weekly games.

 

As others have said, if you're looking for a good private club in Phoenix plan to open up your wallet a great deal more than you would in Michigan. However... You really don't need to join a club here. There are several solid municipal courses (Papago, Aguila, GCU) and they all have a men's club, and they're cheap. OPB mentioned the NSMGA, another great group that plays a bunch of solid courses throughout the Valley. A good number of the locals (and I'm sure many on this board) play the city courses during the winter when rates are high and the better places during the summer when they're cheap. There are so many courses here than unless I was playing 5 days a week I don't think I would join a club again.

[golfandfishing]

The only place I can find so far is Arrowhead CC, but I have seen some bad reviews on this course. Does anyone have any 1st hand knowledge?

Terrible course often in bad shape that I honestly thought was public. So, yeah, not great.

 

This is actually the most complimentary thing I have read about Arrowhead CC.

[DrSchteeve]

I would suggest looking at McDowell Mountain Ranch. Great location, homes with views are available in a variety of price ranges ($500K to $1M plus), very family oriented. The course has great practice facilities that you don't have to be a member to use. It's semi-private, and I know nothing about groups to play with, but where it is located you are close to a lot of other really great courses - Wekopa, Grayhawk, and Troon North, Camelback. I don't have personal knowledge, but from what I have heard I think the North Scottsdale Men's Golf League (NSMGA) would give you what you are looking for with games and such, the opportunity to play a lot of really great courses, and probably meet guys that have games going outside of the league events.

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

I’m not sure Tatum or Moon Valley are that low for non junior memberships. They might be but I don’t think so. Of the two Tatum would be closer to his requirements.

 

The problem you (OP) just described is the mountain views and living in the same community as the course. I can’t come up with anything that really has great mountain views and is anywhere close to that cheap. I can think of a bunch off the top of my head that fit the criteria but are way more expensive. Actually, that might be slightly false too. 45 min to downtown guaranteed is going to be tough for many of the places that fit the mountain criteria too. With no traffic it can be easily met but with rush hour you might struggle to hit that from Tatum. I think Moon Valley might be back in the lead considering that one. My guess is that full membership is more than that there but I’m not sure. I can tell you that many clubs are actually raising initiation fees again, e.g., PCC goes from $25k to $40k in Feb for initiation.

 

Well said. I’ve played moon valley once. It’s not a bad golf course, good greens but I’d get bored with it quickly.

[Chomper]

Does GC Estrella or Blackstone fit his criteria? I have no idea but I would think those are worth a look.

[Shilgy]

I would think the dues of under $500 would be the difficult part. Tatum Ranch is closer to $600 a month. Some of the best conditions in the area but most don't know that.

But az2au is correct. During rush hour expecting 45 minutes is pushing it.

[AzSuperHack76]

The only place I can find so far is Arrowhead CC, but I have seen some bad reviews on this course. Does anyone have any 1st hand knowledge?

 

Course is below average at best. Usually it was in terrible shape. I had a buddy that was a member and he had nothing but terrible experiences secondary to other members, he ended up dropping his membership.

[Jimshaf921]

I've been looking at a couple of the semi private courses that have an annual membership for around $5-$6k. Courses like Boulders or Lookout Mtn. Does anyone have any thoughts on those or similar options.

 

Thanks,

[az2au]

I've been looking at a couple of the semi private courses that have an annual membership for around $5-$6k. Courses like Boulders or Lookout Mtn. Does anyone have any thoughts on those or similar options.

 

Thanks,

Grayhawk is significantly better than either for a similar price. Lookout Mountain is terrible IMO but others view it as "ok". Boulders is in a very pretty area but a long way from down town. The courses have progressively been more and more hemmed in by houses over the years and it has lost a lot of the charm due to that. Still, not bad though. Just not as nice as Grayhawk.

[vallygolf]

+1 on Grayhawk

 

There really is so much good, to very good, public golf that unless you are looking at a higher tier private it doesnt make much sense to join. Most of the affordable (lower end) private clubs will feel and play more like public golf anyway, but without any real value benefit. Mostly practice savings if you are looking for value and practice a ton. None of the lower end clubs around that I am aware of are so open you can show up any time and play at your own pace. Mornings in the winter will always be packed, and most will have huge amounts of outside play and events.

[ferrispgm]

Grayhawk for sure over lookout....LM is not a very good course in my opinion and that goes for both layout and conditioning. Grayhawk is solid all around and has a nice clubhouse if you are the lingering type

[puttnforthe8]

Another option is TPC Scottsdale:

Our annual pass program is based on a calendar year (Jan-Dec) and is $6300 plus tax per person. We prorate the pass each month. As of April 1 the prorated fee is $4725. With a 5-day booking window, this pass allows play on both the Stadium and Champions courses any day for a cart fee only with no restriction to time of day. Cart fees are $27/$35. We also have a walking rate on the Champions course for about $2. There are also practice privileges at both courses. However, with the Waste Management Phoenix Open, there are restrictions to the Stadium practice facility post over-seeding in October until the end of the event.

Additionally, the pass holder receives a locker in the Players Locker Room along with some other benefits such as reduced guests fees, merchandise discounts, restaurant discounts, and four tickets per day for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. We do not have a men’s club. But we do frequently coordinate pass holder tournaments with various formats.

The Premier pass is $11,000 (+ tax) a year and offers the same green fee benefits with a 30-day booking window. Also included are 20 pre-paid guest rounds to be used anytime and unrestricted practice privileges at both courses. Guests who do not use a pre-paid round can pay the reduced guest fee. Premier pass holders may bring up to 7 guests at a time while regular annual pass holders may bring 3 guests at a time. The only time a Premier pass holder is not allowed to practice is when the course is closed for maintenance. All other benefits are the same as the regular annual pass.

We sell a weekday Annual Pass for $3500 plus tax, which offers a cart fee rate Monday through Thursday anytime and Friday through Sunday after 2:30 pm. There are no practice privileges or locker with the weekday program, but you do receive a bag of practice balls with each round.

[Chomper]

If you are looking at Grayhawk, and are looking to spend a bit of money, check out the Black Tee card. While certainly not a perfect replacement for a private cc, it sure comes close for your cost desires.

[jhoppmann]

I’m not sure Tatum or Moon Valley are that low for non junior memberships. They might be but I don’t think so. Of the two Tatum would be closer to his requirements.

 

The problem you (OP) just described is the mountain views and living in the same community as the course. I can’t come up with anything that really has great mountain views and is anywhere close to that cheap. I can think of a bunch off the top of my head that fit the criteria but are way more expensive. Actually, that might be slightly false too. 45 min to downtown guaranteed is going to be tough for many of the places that fit the mountain criteria too. With no traffic it can be easily met but with rush hour you might struggle to hit that from Tatum. I think Moon Valley might be back in the lead considering that one. My guess is that full membership is more than that there but I’m not sure. I can tell you that many clubs are actually raising initiation fees again, e.g., PCC goes from $25k to $40k in Feb for initiation.

 

Tatum Ranch:

Initiation Fee: $10,000 Monthly Dues (Family): $585*

Monthly Dues (Single): $492*

Bi-Annual Food & Beverage Minimum: $450.00 Family; $225.00 Single

They were having a half-off initiation special when I checked into it.