Most fun courses to play in Phoenix Area

[jjtour]

Hey guys,

 

Travelling down to phoenix area in a few weeks for a few days of golf, been down there many times and played all the "must plays", ie. Southern Dunes, TPC, Troon North, Grayhawk, Estrella, Verrado, Quintero, Papgo etc. Planning to do We Ko Pa Seguaro, Mountain Shadows, GCU so far as those are all ones have never played but heard good things. Suprised at how expensive things are getting for rounds now in the valley, seeing Papago at $200 and Troon North at like $400 plus is quite the shock, I dunno if either of those examples is worth that kind of money, maybe thats just the rates these days. I see Wickenburg Ranch mentioned alot and also Aguila, looks like you can only book 7 days out though on those so maybe use them as backup rather than put hopes on getting a time there.

 

In your opinion, what are the hidden gems that are just fun tracks to play. Im a scratch but just looking for a place with a good vibe to play and have a good time, not looking to get whacked with some high priced course that is the same as everything else out there. 

 

Any standouts that I havent mentioned? 

[Notashank]

TPC stadium. 

[jjtour]

7 minutes ago, Notashank said:

TPC stadium. 

I have played the Stadium a few times already, with the grandstands up so that was a treat. More thinking value for money, probably not gonna go back to stadium at $500 a round, could think of better ways to blow that kind of cash.  Thanks for the reply though, appreciate it.

[Notashank]

Dobson ranch. Mesa Az public golf course. Fun course. Superstition springs also in Mesa. Both under $75 to play. Superstition held tour school first round there years ago. Az biltmore. Both courses are great to play. Very nice. Gold canyon not my favorite but has nice views of desert. 

Edited January 27, 2022 by Notashank

[Notashank]

Wickenburg ranch is awesome but you have to drive to wickenburg. 

[jjtour]

5 minutes ago, Notashank said:

Dobson ranch. Mesa Az public golf course. Fun course. Superstition springs also in Mesa. Both under $75 to play. Superstition held tour school first round there years ago. Az biltmore. Both courses are great to play. Very nice. Gold canyon not my favorite but has nice views of desert. 

Beauty! I'll take a look at those. Thanks!

[Socrates]

Longbow is worth the play.  You won't find any houses on it (at least when I was last there).  Depending on the day and the weather, you will find all manner of vintage aircraft flying around.  Falcon Field Airport is kiddie corner to the course and many fly out of there. 

[BirdieRoll]

Worth considering: Legacy, Aguila, and Longbow. TPC Champions is worth it if you can get a decent rate. 
 

Golf prices are insane right now in the Phoenix area.
 

 

[AzSuperHack76]

Wickenburg Ranch is well worth the drive, pair it up with Los Caballeros for 36. GCU is a good option for a Muni but for a visitor I would suggest Aguila, very playable, great conditions and a very fun course to play. Like another suggested Long Bow is a great option. 

 

If you don't want to drive to Wickenburg, make the drive to Surprise and play Sterling Grove, a great new course, I'd put it in the top 30 public play courses in Az. 

 

Enjoy your visit. 

[puttnforthe8]

4 hours ago, jjtour said:

Beauty! I'll take a look at those. Thanks!

 

Sorry - please don't listen to these courses. The suggestions are just a disservice. Superstition Springs is terrible these days, a really really bad course.  Biltmore is a brutally awful short course without a single redeeming quality.  Dobson Ranch is a decent muni, but you don't come to AZ to play it - but if you need to just play it will be ok, but POP will likely be awful.  Gold Canyon Dino is good for visitors but it is expensive.

 

The last 3 lads suggestions are good.  You can throw in Poston Butte, Southern Dunes is not only one of the best courses, it presents amazing value this time of year, especially if you pick up a deal.   Vistancia can be found inexpensively once and a while.  Underrated is Copper Canyon, but it is a bit far as out there.

Edited January 28, 2022 by puttnforthe8

[cbbaron]

Any deals at Legend Trail these days? Eagle Mountain IMO is fun course

[Howie]

What are the thoughts about Talking Stick?

[puttnforthe8]

11 minutes ago, Howie said:

What are the thoughts about Talking Stick?

South is a resortish course, not the greatest.  North is a good course, a little cramped in, but good and somewhat tough.  They however will be expensive this time of year.   There are better options, but it all depends on what you want.  

[Howie]

9 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

South is a resortish course, not the greatest.  North is a good course, a little cramped in, but good and somewhat tough.  They however will be expensive this time of year.   There are better options, but it all depends on what you want.  

 

Given the relative lack of play as of late, wide open fairways, limited water hazards, and, ideally not a five hour round. Any chance of finding a "hidden gem" as the OP requested which ticks these boxes?

[AzSuperHack76]

10 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Sorry - please don't listen to these courses. The suggestions are just a disservice. Superstition Springs is terrible these days, a really really bad course.  Biltmore is a brutally awful short course without a single redeeming quality.  Dobson Ranch is a decent muni, but you don't come to AZ to play it - but if you need to just play it will be ok, but POP will likely be awful.  Gold Canyon Dino is good for visitors but it is expensive.

 

The last 3 lads suggestions are good.  You can throw in Poston Butte, Southern Dunes is not only one of the best courses, it presents amazing value this time of year, especially if you pick up a deal.   Vistancia can be found inexpensively once and a while.  Underrated is Copper Canyon, but it is a bit far as out there.

Agree, not sure why anyone would suggest Superstition Springs as a “hidden gem”, it’s not good, it’s down right awful. At least Biltmore Links has some views. Biltmore Adobe may be one of the most forgettable courses in the valley. 

[Soloman1]

Biltmore Adobe may be one of the most forgettable courses in the valley Milky Way Galaxy.

If you like Newark, NJ, you'll love the area around Aguila.

 

 

[jjtour]

14 hours ago, AzSuperHack76 said:

Wickenburg Ranch is well worth the drive, pair it up with Los Caballeros for 36. GCU is a good option for a Muni but for a visitor I would suggest Aguila, very playable, great conditions and a very fun course to play. Like another suggested Long Bow is a great option. 

 

If you don't want to drive to Wickenburg, make the drive to Surprise and play Sterling Grove, a great new course, I'd put it in the top 30 public play courses in Az. 

 

Enjoy your visit. 

Booked in at Sterling Grove, I didnt even know this course existed, looks like something new to try. Will look at a few others from these suggestions. Thanks a bunch!

[puttnforthe8]

7 minutes ago, jjtour said:

Booked in at Sterling Grove, I didnt even know this course existed, looks like something new to try. Will look at a few others from these suggestions. Thanks a bunch!

Good call there.  Brand new course. Nicklaus design.  Not a desert course, will give the feel of midwest maybe, but a super fun course with multiple design features.

[puttnforthe8]

1 hour ago, Howie said:

 

Given the relative lack of play as of late, wide open fairways, limited water hazards, and, ideally not a five hour round. Any chance of finding a "hidden gem" as the OP requested which ticks these boxes?

 

While there are no hidden gems that really meet that criteria, the closest suggestions would probably be Sterling Grove or Vistancia to give you that combo.  In reality, I would still put Southern Dunes at the top of your list for that criteria - just play from the Blue tees and you will really enjoy it.  Other than those you get into courses like Whirlwind (either), Longbow and Eagle Mountain. 

 

POP is all relative to when you come, day and time you play.  For the next few months, good POP becomes a crapshoot on a lot of courses.

Edited January 28, 2022 by puttnforthe8

[Double K]

1 hour ago, AzSuperHack76 said:

Agree, not sure why anyone would suggest Superstition Springs as a “hidden gem”, it’s not good, it’s down right awful. 

Superstition springs might be the only course in the valley that is worse than Las Sendas. 

[Notashank]

I put superstition springs as years ago it did hold the first round of pga tour qualifying school.  Measures over 7000 yards and has a 130 slope rating. I can think of worse places to play. AZ biltmore is a staple in the Phoenix area. Byron Nelson and Ben hogan played and filmed many instructional movies from there back in the day. The amenities at the resort are world class. Dobson gets the most play of any course in AZ in a calendar year. The greens are always perfect. The practice facility is huge with a lighted driving range. Plus the price if definitely cheaper than anything anybody has named. 

Edited January 28, 2022 by Notashank

[puttnforthe8]

6 hours ago, Notashank said:

I put superstition springs as years ago it did hold the first round of pga tour qualifying school.  Measures over 7000 yards and has a 130 slope rating. I can think of worse places to play. AZ biltmore is a staple in the Phoenix area. Byron Nelson and Ben hogan played and filmed many instructional movies from there back in the day. The amenities at the resort are world class. Dobson gets the most play of any course in AZ in a calendar year. The greens are always perfect. The practice facility is huge with a lighted driving range. Plus the price if definitely cheaper than anything anybody has named. 

 

[Notashank]

32 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

I’m a member at silver leaf and I still play every course I mentioned. I like them. 

[puttnforthe8]

1 hour ago, Notashank said:

I’m a member at silver leaf and I still play every course I mentioned. I like them. 

 

[Notashank]

11 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Im not a course snob. I golf. Public private executive. 

[Socrates]

When I travel to places, I look for better courses to play or ones that are significant for historical reasons.  I likely pass on a lot of courses that are just fine to play, but nothing spectacular.  If I were to compare the average, run of the mill, courses in place like Phoenix to many of the courses I play around my home, I would likely say that they are better than anything I play at home. 

 

If I were living in the Phoenix area for an extended period, I would likely be playing a number of courses that are less expensive or ones that some might consider as mundane or boring.  A course can be a decent track as long as they have good greens and a decent/fun layout.  I can ignore the rest if what I'm interested in is just golf.

 

What I can't do is play the same course every time.  I'd lose my freakin' mind.

[RJ_MJ_JJ]

Victory at Verrado is a good track. Haven't played Founders at Verrado, but I imagine it's comparable.

[StudentGolfer4]

As a non local, definitely pass on Dobson Ranch. Seems like a popular course for locals and I was happy to see a lot of walkers. It’s just nothing special and as a visitor I would say it’s probably worth it to spend a bit more and play Longbow or something similar on the lower end of the cost spectrum. I will say, the staff was fantastic and cities need more courses like Dobson. Just not a course to play when on a trip. 
 

Sterling Grove is a very good course. When you consider the price compared to other similar courses it’s a fantastic deal. I’m sure there are more houses now than a year ago but it didn’t feel crammed in a neighborhood and was enjoyable. It’s a drive, but you can’t beat the rates. It’s one of the few public AZ courses that I would enjoy playing 3-4 times a week. More of a traditional layout for sure. Has some wild greens. A few may be over the top for public play but work great if they ever go full private. It was nice to find my ball a few yards off the green and actually have to think about what type of shot would be best. Nicklaus clearly learned some things from Doak when they did Sebonack together.

[tcbringhurst]

11 hours ago, StudentGolfer4 said:

A few may be over the top for public play but work great if they ever go full private.

They eventually will go private in 2-3 years once they have enough members.

[puttnforthe8]

1 hour ago, tcbringhurst said:

They eventually will go private in 2-3 years once they have enough members.

 

Maybe sooner - I just recently saw multiple advertisements for memberships.