Scottsdale, a Californian Refugee

[ebrasmus21]

Hello Fam - 

 

ebrasmus is taking political asylum via Scottsdale AZ these days.  As a new refugee, and one who’s accustomed to private club life, I could use a Beginner’s Guide to Private Clubs in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.  
 

Not sure how else to say it, just looking for general information and advice.  

[puttnforthe8]

1 hour ago, ebrasmus21 said:

Hello Fam - 

 

ebrasmus is taking political asylum via Scottsdale AZ these days.  As a new refugee, and one who’s accustomed to private club life, I could use a Beginner’s Guide to Private Clubs in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.  
 

Not sure how else to say it, just looking for general information and advice.  

 

 

[ebrasmus21]

2 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

 

I suppose I’m going to have to cough up some serious cash out here. 

[AdExec]

Entry level - under 30k initiation, dues 500-900 

tatum ranch

moon valley

mesa country club 

sterling grove

anthem 

Gainey Ranch 

 

mid level ~ 40-100k initiation - 1000-$1500 dues 

Phoenix cc 

desert forest 

Blackstone

troon cc 

Firerock 

bunch of neighborhood private clubs in this category as well 

 

Top level - 100k -300k initiation - dues 1600-2500+ 

Silverleaf

DC Ranch 

Estancia 

Mirabell 

Desert Mountain (cheaper initiation here, expensive dues) 

whisper rock - best bang for the buck if you can get in 

Scottsdale National 

 

 

 

 

[puttnforthe8]

17 hours ago, ebrasmus21 said:

I suppose I’m going to have to cough up some serious cash out here. 

Yup....as adexec outlines from his research.  AZ is not really price friendly.  

[fore_life]

go back to california< you guys are whats driving our prices up haha

[ebrasmus21]

12 hours ago, fore_life said:

go back to california< you guys are whats driving our prices up haha

I know I know.  For what it’s worth I’m not one of the bat shiiit crazy Californians.  I believe in things like common sense, for example.  Which is why I’m leaving CA in the first place.  

[jjr]

Norcal Bay Area private club member for 20+ years, left 16 years ago. Puttn knows his AZ courses and everywhere else too! 

 

I vote for Moon Valley played it several times in skins games very good track for all levels, I'm pretty sure Annika shot 59 in a LPGA event out there.

[MUNIGRIT]

What is the deal with Whisper Rock when you say best bang for the buck? I know you need an invite but what is Initiation and monthly?

[fore_life]

130,000 initiation 850 a month 

[ryder2015]

10 hours ago, fore_life said:

130,000 initiation 850 a month 

Per Person. Hope your spouse doesn't golf

[ebrasmus21]

13 hours ago, fore_life said:

130,000 initiation 850 a month 

After I join does that mean I get to play Jon Rahm straight up for a 100 bucks? 

[MUNIGRIT]

12 hours ago, ryder2015 said:

Per Person. Hope your spouse doesn't golf

She doesn't at the rock except maybe 1 day a week.

[SE Gamer]

On 5/28/2022 at 4:52 PM, ebrasmus21 said:

Hello Fam - 

 

ebrasmus is taking political asylum via Scottsdale AZ these days.  As a new refugee, and one who’s accustomed to private club life, I could use a Beginner’s Guide to Private Clubs in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.  
 

Not sure how else to say it, just looking for general information and advice.  

 

Congrats on your new found freedom and liberty. There's nothing on this earth that could convince me to live in c****fornia. 

[jatrain]

On 5/31/2022 at 9:22 AM, ebrasmus21 said:

I know I know.  For what it’s worth I’m not one of the bat shiiit crazy Californians.  I believe in things like common sense, for example.  Which is why I’m leaving CA in the first place.  

That’s what you all say.  

[ebrasmus21]

22 minutes ago, jatrain said:

That’s what you all say.  

Have a beer with me and you’ll figure it out in 15 minutes.  

[SE Gamer]

14 hours ago, ebrasmus21 said:

Have a beer with me and you’ll figure it out in 15 minutes.  

 

A worthy transplant should be able prove their merit by answering a couple of basic questions. If you need 15 minutes to plead your case, there's something wrong. 😆

 

My gut still says you're the kind of refugee other states would want. So congrats again on making your escape. 

[Shilgy]

On 5/31/2022 at 12:37 PM, jjr said:

Norcal Bay Area private club member for 20+ years, left 16 years ago. Puttn knows his AZ courses and everywhere else too! 

 

I vote for Moon Valley played it several times in skins games very good track for all levels, I'm pretty sure Annika shot 59 in a LPGA event out there.

Exactly when you played Moon Valley is important. Before or after approx 2010?

 

On 5/29/2022 at 7:52 AM, AdExec said:

Entry level - under 30k initiation, dues 500-900 

tatum ranch

moon valley

mesa country club 

sterling grove

anthem 

Gainey Ranch 

 

mid level ~ 40-100k initiation - 1000-$1500 dues 

Phoenix cc 

desert forest 

Blackstone

troon cc 

Firerock 

bunch of neighborhood private clubs in this category as well 

 

Top level - 100k -300k initiation - dues 1600-2500+ 

Silverleaf

DC Ranch 

Estancia 

Mirabell 

Desert Mountain (cheaper initiation here, expensive dues) 

whisper rock - best bang for the buck if you can get in 

Scottsdale National 

 

 

 

 

Good recap!  For pricing Tatum Ranch is near the high mark of that tier as you have it listed.

[jjr]

21 hours ago, Shilgy said:

Exactly when you played Moon Valley is important. Before or after approx 2010?

 

I'm not positive, guessing pre 2010, either way I enjoyed it and won some cash 🙂

 

Ralph Ammaccapane set the games up and we all retreated to his bar for some water after.

Edited June 11, 2022 by jjr

[Shilgy]

46 minutes ago, jjr said:

 

I'm not positive, guessing pre 2010, either way I enjoyed it and won some cash 🙂

 

Ralph Ammaccapane set the games up and we all retreated to his bar for some water after.

If Ralph was around most likely before.  Ping owned I until 2004 when they sold it back to the members. All went well until the ‘08 or so recession hit. Then water rates went up and downhill from there.  It was nearly lost entirely and the current owner, along with the neighborhood community, saved it from bankruptcy.  They do seem to be on the road to recovery and conditions are much improved.

[whatsupwithgolf]

Alta Mesa is a club I didn't see on the list. It is member owned, joining info is online, and a great little golf club, although they might have stopped taking names for the wait list

On 5/29/2022 at 10:52 AM, AdExec said:

Entry level - under 30k initiation, dues 500-900 

tatum ranch

moon valley

mesa country club 

sterling grove

anthem 

Gainey Ranch 

 

mid level ~ 40-100k initiation - 1000-$1500 dues 

Phoenix cc 

desert forest 

Blackstone

troon cc 

Firerock 

bunch of neighborhood private clubs in this category as well 

 

Top level - 100k -300k initiation - dues 1600-2500+ 

Silverleaf

DC Ranch 

Estancia 

Mirabell 

Desert Mountain (cheaper initiation here, expensive dues) 

whisper rock - best bang for the buck if you can get in 

Scottsdale National 

 

 

 

 

I'd add Alta Mesa to the entry list, 15k to join, around $700 a month with no food minimums and unlimited carts. It is a golf club only and only has a 30 deep waiting list,

[MUNIGRIT]

On 6/11/2022 at 2:35 PM, jjr said:

 

I'm not positive, guessing pre 2010, either way I enjoyed it and won some cash 🙂

 

Ralph Ammaccapane set the games up and we all retreated to his bar for some water after.

He had an old school bar tender there that used to tell some funny jokes. 

[Qwiklap]

Do all of these courses have waitlists?

 

I am on the DC Ranch waitlist -- but the wait is literally forever. 

[puttnforthe8]

4 hours ago, Qwiklap said:

Do all of these courses have waitlists?

 

I am on the DC Ranch waitlist -- but the wait is literally forever. 

From every member I have spoke with, yes.

 

Desert Mtn may be the exception.

[Qwiklap]

On 7/19/2022 at 3:46 PM, puttnforthe8 said:

From every member I have spoke with, yes.

 

Desert Mtn may be the exception.

with all this demand - you would think more clubs/courses would be getting built.

[DrSchteeve]

7 hours ago, Qwiklap said:

with all this demand - you would think more clubs/courses would be getting built.

Until 2020 the golf business was not exactly booming. It takes years of business planning, permitting, etc to build a course. Then here in the Southwest (and California) there's the water issue.

[whatsupwithgolf]

Alta Mesa just is now 25k to join but they trimmed the wait list considerably 

[vallygolf]

On 7/21/2022 at 8:25 AM, Qwiklap said:

with all this demand - you would think more clubs/courses would be getting built.

Tough to get the water to do it.  Most likely candidates are Native American operations, where water has not been as much of an issue.  Megadrought is all over the news now days, I think new courses in the valley are an uphill climb.

[puttnforthe8]

1 hour ago, vallygolf said:

Tough to get the water to do it.  Most likely candidates are Native American operations, where water has not been as much of an issue.  Megadrought is all over the news now days, I think new courses in the valley are an uphill climb.

 

Good read on the status of golf.  Does AZ have any planned - who knows?

 

https://s0pno1pj97bo3pq3h9pa311t-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021-Golf-Around-the-World-Report-RA.pdf

 

 

Edited July 27, 2022 by puttnforthe8

[FlashNoonan]

Of course I can't find the article to back this up. But I could have sworn I read something a few months back about a new housing development that will be built on the south side of Carefree Highway around 51st ave and it will have a new golf course with it.