This is a HUGE nit that I'm embarrassed to even type, but Papago is in Phoenix. The park (which is much larger than the course itself) is a joint venture of Phoenix and Tempe, but the course is in and is run by Phoenix. There is an executive course nearby called Rolling Hills that is a Tempe municipal course (which may also be part of Papago Park, not sure). The Phoenix Golf pass can be used at Papago and is a good value if you plan to play at least a few times per year and it includes the other Phoenix muni courses too, the most notable of which is Aguila, which is solid.

Mostly I note the above because anything involving Tempe generally annoys me. Just an annoying city in general, certain ASU coeds excepted.

Legend Trail was OK - greens were slow.

Played Lookout Mountain last weekend. Slow-ish greens but with the Troon pass it's $29 all inclusive into September. Really hard to not get value out of that rate.

We-Ko-Pa Cholla today - greens were great, conditions good in general. $52 after tax all inclusive with We-Ko-Pass through the summer. Pass includes discounts at Eagle Mountain and Sunridge Canyon too. Parred that goddamned second hole for the first time ever. Playing #2 and #8 in combined +1 was a huge win, no doubt I don't say that about any other combo of par fives anywhere but those two are goofy and punitive.

Playing Desert Highlands tomorrow for the first time ever. Haven't even been out there since the inaugural skins games after it opened in the early 80s when I was a wee lad.

I played Papago on Saturday and Quintero yesterday. Papago on Saturday was fine, as the other posted said it's in okay shape and the greens are pretty solid. Shot a boring 76 missing a ton of short putts (my fault, not the greens fault).

Yesterday we drove out to Quintero for an early 6:40 AM tee time. My buddy just started working a few days a week out there so we got comped. I have played there a few times over the years and it's always been in awesome shape but yesterday I would rate the course as a 10/10 shape. PGA tour quality shape all around from the tee boxes, to the fairways to the bunkers to the greens which were absolutely pure and fast as hell.

I have always thought that course was pretty damn hard from the tips but I hit it really well and shot 75 while the other players in my group all balloned into the 85-100 range.

Luckily I hit my three wood pretty deep off the deck so I just slapped that around down the middle all day and hit a bunch of quality iron shots. If you hit it in the desert out there you can just flat out forget about it because you never have a shot.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND going out there to anyone on this forum that hasn't play there before.

Can we get comped as well? You know... sweeten the deal a little more...

I plan on getting out there at some point this summer. Although I start lessons on Thursday in my first real attempt to get my score from the low 90s into the mid-to-lows 80s (hopefully).

Maybe it's an age thing or impatience or something, but there was a time a few years ago where courses on the outskirts of town like Quintero, Verrado, Estrella Mountain Ranch, Southern Dunes were all in our rotation, but now they all seem so far away and traveling to them basically adds almost two hours to the time investment. Which is a shame we've gotten lazy because those are all really good courses and good values. Quintero for example is no more than $59 this summer on my Troon pass and I think it's as low as $35 after 10AM. That's ridic value for that course.

Played Desert Highlands today for the first time ever and the first time I've been on the grounds since the Skins Game so long ago. What a good course - forgiving enough to be fair, but with a lot of challenge around the greens which makes birdie opportunities hard to come by. Small greens, a lot of contours and crowning which feeds balls off fairly easily. Amazing condition.

never been out to desert highlands but I have heard it's super private and super sick.

I live at roughly the 101 and 7th street so quintero is only about 30-35 minutes from my house so it's a no brainer especially if it's free.


Rexx I mean if we have a spot I might be able to get you out just because I like your name. I have a dog named Rexy (usually call her Rex) so your name fits lol. In all fairness though I only play on the weekends and have a foursome that's basically set in stone unless someone has a wedding, funeral or vacation....

Quintero for $35 would have to rank up there in the top 5 deals in the entire United States in my opinion lol

"I like Indiana." "We named the dog Indiana."

Appreciate the offer... and if I ever feel like flying a few thousand miles one weekend to get comped on a pretty nice course (and to say hi to my namesake), I just might hit you up.

trying to decide between dove valley ranch and tatum ranch this afternoon...both are 30 bucks which is pretty good value imo.

anyone played either of those recently

went ahead and booked tatum ranch figuring since they have memberships there that the course will be in a little better condition...I will give updates after the round

gotta love summer golf and cheap rates

Possibly heading to the White Mountains to play this weekend. I haven't been in several years. Any recs?

tatum ranch was pretty decent, pretty damn dry and burnt out but still fully playable. greens were firm and fast but not unplayable.

I am heading out to quintero on sunday and probably vista verde on monday....anyone been out to vista verde lately? I assume it's in good shape like always

The problem is that afaik the best courses are private - Torreon and White Mountain C.C. The only exception I can think of is Silver Creek or whatever it's called, it's decent but it's out past Show Low.

Someone I know played Vista Verde a couple of days ago and had very good things to say about the condition. It's after the holiday weekend we have to start worrying about aerated greens.

vista verde was awesome for 24 bucks yesterday. We teed off at 1:10 and finished the round by 4:45 on a holiday monday which I tought was almost a record lol...

course was in fantastic shape and it is literally only 20 minutes off the 101 and pima so it's really not that far at all

one of the best values in the state right now imo

Curious how fast you are driving for that to be only 20 minutes...although it is probably <30. Co-sign on the course and value though, I really need to get out there more.

Played Papago yesterday - the three old guys I played with all walked at $12/each, amazing value considering the condition of the fairways and greens, they were excellent. I am not the walking type so paid $24. I don't think many people play on holiday afternoons because the course was fairly wide open and I've experienced that in the past too elsewhere.

I had my truck pegged at 60 MPH the entire way and didn't hit one light or stop from the golf course until the 101 so yes 20-22 minutes. My buddy and I couldn't believe it because it felt like it was way out there.

I forgot how beautiful the views are out there too, just open space for miles with basically no homes and awesome views of four peaks.

papago is a hot deal for 12 bucks to walk, we have played there a few times lately and enjoyed it. I still think some of those par 3's are a little ridiculous from the tips.