The Rim - one of the best golf courses I have ever played. Fantastic layout, lots of different shots, and very tough but fair. Wasnt in the greatest shape yet, still a bit brown and the greens were kind of slow and spongy, but the views and the layout were phenominal. Some unbelievable houses on that golf course too. Played really well to top off a great day.

It's definitely a regret that I have yet to play The Rim. I've only ever had a couple of chances since it's private, and it's always been pricey (like $130 or so guest fee). But I've heard great things.

Played Papago yesterday. The Thunderbirds were putting on a jr. event which occupied most of the course (and which made me regret my screaming f-bombs all the more) and the pace was horrible. Over five hours to finish. They said the kids were turning in two hours but that's a bunch of crap. We were a couple of groups behind and turned in 2:40. I fear they have been infected with the slow play from watching pros, but it didn't help that they were playing foursomes, which seems a bit much for tournament golf but they had to fit all age groups out there. Today and tomorrow they have some sort of mini-tour or community college event.

Condition was very meh. Divots weren't growing back in particularly well, greens were dotted with weeds which may or may not have been poa annua. They still rolled fairly good though all things considered but it's not in great shape.

SKIP PAPAGO AND PLAY AGUILA..........it's cheaper, nicer conditions and better pace of play

There's no question that value-wise Aguila is currently better. But Papago is a fair amount closer to where I live and it's a fantastic layout, save for one or two lolbad changes.

Pace of play though, disagree. My lone round at Aguila was a five hour affair on a weekday, whereas Papago has been really close to four hours including weekends since the remodel. They stagger their tee times nine minutes apart whereas I think Aguila is still spaced closer together. My slow round at Aguila may have been an anomaly but it's doubtful that it's much faster.

just the conditions alone make aguila the better play.....aren't you playing on dormant hardpan greens at papago for $50 bucks a person?

Aguilia is like $18 to walk after 1 PM....can't beat it

Last weekend, played a couple of rounds up in Prescott.

Prescott Lakes - once one of my two or three favorite courses in the state, I am still a big fan but not quite as much. The houses built around the course are loud and ugly and bear no resemblance to each other, the OB encroaches way too close on a lot of holes - sometimes it's just off the rough, which isn't far from the fairway, and a lot of the areas which aren't OB are extremely punitive. I suppose I'm grading this course too harshly because I played it on a very off day for me and got killed, but it should lose points for being so encroaching. It also wasn't in fantastic shape - grass was a little spotty and the greens has a lot of poa annua growing in. Nonetheless, probably the best set of par-5s in the state, and the par-3s are all fantastic too.

Talking Rock - where I came away less enamored with Prescott Lakes, my appreciation for Talking Rock has grown. It's a more spacious course which is somewhat less punitive on misses, was in very good shape as it has been every time I've been up there, and the houses were set back a comfortable distance and were clearly designed by the same homebuilder as they fit the landscape and each other nicely. It's weakness is the front nine - not a strong layout and the par-4s all basically mimic each other with bunkers pinching at about 270-320. Not very imaginative. The back nine is far superior, basically every hole is unique and there are some good views to be had.

kinda disappointing to hear about the greens at prescott lakes. The few times I played it (2002), the greens were easily the best I've ever played anywhere. Just the smoothest, fastest, best-looking greens ever.

I've played Talking Rock twice I think and conditionswise that place is in the top 6-7 courses I have ever played. I played it in the spring and it was unreal.

I definitely agree on Talking Rock having room to hit it and I love the houses being 50 yards or so off the grass.

also talking rock has the best drainage system of any course I've seen....we got stuck in a brutal afternoon shower turned hail storm. It poured for 30 minutes and then was clear and you could literally just hear all the water rushing off to the drains and the course was perfect 2-3 holes after the storm. we were completely shocked it worked that well

Yeah, when Prescott Lakes first opened those were the best greens I had ever seen or putted on. Ever. They're still really good though - they held well and rolled smooth but were a little hairy, not quite as fast as in the past, and splotchy looking.

We should work on getting a golf meetup going for the summer. Although there are plenty of courses to choose from, the Troon pass rates drop around mid-May to pretty good prices. Here is the weekend rate for some of them (weekday rate is often $5-10 lower):

Whirlwind $40
Kierland $49
Troon North $60 (end of May)
Talking Stick $40
Southern Dunes $30
Poston Butte $25
Ocotillo $39
Estrella $20

I'd play any of those but would prefer something near scottsdale. Also I suck 95-105 average score so be forwarned.
Kierland and Troon are really that cheap in the summer?

Those are the prices with the pass, yes. Pretty much from mid-May until mid-September.

I used to play Kierland all the time before the hotel was built and enjoyed it. Then they put the resort in and BAM the rates doubled or worse, so I've played there like once the last five years. I'd be open to going back out this summer.

Talking Stick (South) was in great shape tee to green today. Which is pretty much always the case there regardless of time of year. I suppose having unlimited free water doesn't hurt but they do a good job.

I should also add that the value of the Troon Pass is largely negated by the fact that like most courses they are affiliated with golfnow, which offers very similar rates. If it comes time to renew at the end of the year I'm going to bring this up and see if they can cite any value add that I'm missing.

played at silverado and orangetree this weekend. both courses were in really good shape.

pretty much every course in phoenix is super juicy right now until the heat dries them out here in another month or so. playing raven at south mountain in a work related function tomorrow so should be fun.

Online I was able to book Coyote Lakes in Surprise for under $20. Course was decent.

Tomorrow I'll be out at Southern Dunes. Haven't played there in a few years.

After Easter, rates start to drop.

I'm 25 from Boca Raton , FL and I'm visiting my father in scottsdale AZ. I want to play some golf and poker on tuesday 5-10-11. If anyone is interested PM me. I am thinking fort mcdowel bc of the casino and golf course. I played 4 years in high school and was a 3 handicap, but now i shoot in the 80s bc my short game (putting) went to hell. I am 420 friendly(dont have anything but I am more then willing to pay to hit the greens) If anyone is interested let me know
thanks

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/93...hoenix-169705/

In before merge.

FWIW, the Cholla course at Wekopa is amazing except for #8.

BO

A chance to meet the legendary butnahhhhh is incredible but I won't be available.

Yeah, play We-Ko-Pa if it's in your budget. Either course.

any of you AZ guys ever played vista verde? They are down to like 25-30 bucks in the middle of the day on the weekend...might have to check it out.

any reviews?

A few friends have been playing Vista Verde with regularity this spring and said it's an incredible value for $30-35. I guess the biggest issue is that the greens are rock hard and I wonder how much water they'll put on the course in the summer, but I hope to check it out for myself soon.

I'll be in Phoenix the last week of May. I have golfed Troon North, Whirlwind, and a lot of courses in South-east Phoenix. My foursome will probably stick around that area for the most part, but I was wondering if anyone can recommend a "can't miss" type of course that we should play on one of our days. I suppose less than two hours from Tempe would be the max. radius.

Thanks in advance.

Two hours will actually get you to most courses in Arizona.

Way outside of Phoenix - Sedona Seven Canyons (many pictures of it in this thread), about 1:45 max from Tempe, incredible scenery, only recently open to the public.

Outside of Phoenix - Quintero, also extensive discussion of it in this thread including sideways pictures at the top of this page (50 p/p pro setting), can be pricey but possibly the best par-3s in the state and great views, 55-60 minutes from Tempe

Phoenix area - WeKoPa, either course. Both routinely are chosen top three or four among public courses state-wide. I have a slight preference for the original (Cholla) but the other one seems to get ranked higher. Can't go wrong, it's like having to choose between two hot chicks, something with which I'm sure we're all very familiar. 25-30 minutes from Tempe.

Ok I usually vacation and Golf in Vegas but we are planning a trip to Phoenix first week in October.

My questions are
Best areas to stay for the $
Best Golf courses for the $
Any casinos close by?
Any Premium shopping outlets also?

First week of October is going to be tough. Almost every course will be closed or getting ready for overseeding. Although with the economy and water restrictions I think some courses don't overseed as much anymore.

Tuq can probably give you better details on this.

I suck at lodging costs and recommendations cuz I live here and most people who come out to visit tend to stay at someone's house, but just try to stay in the Downtown Scottsdale or Tempe/ASU area if possible. My big concern is that you'll unwittingly book a hotel in the hood or someplace with no nightlife, e.g. Downtown Phoenix.

Lots of answers to best course. It depends what your budget looks like. westhoff's comment about it being tough is a little off - most courses shut down somewhere between mid-September to mid-October and some such as TPC Desert (Champions) didn't close last year until early November. So make sure you are playing courses that haven't closed for overseeding yet. Those courses will be in great shape. If you catch a course which just reopened the greens are gonna be really slow and you'll be stuck with cart path only and it will suck. The grass will be really green though...

Casino Arizona, just east of Downtown Scottsdale, recently opened a large hotel/casino which is a pretty big upgrade from their previous one down the street. It's pretty legit. In fact you may want to see what their room rates look like because they have a lot of new rooms in a very bad tourist economy. That location is right next to the L101 which can get you around town quickly. Staying there may also score you some discounts at adjacent Talking Stick, which has two nice courses. Just south of Phoenix there is the Wildhorse Pass casino which is next to Whirlwind and is also very nice (and the golf courses are excellent).

Shopping outlets...is a woman coming along or something? In Downtown Scottsdale there is the Fashion Square, which has Nordstrom, I guess Prada is opening there, lots of high end shopping in general and more middle of the road stuff like Dillards as well.