Well seems like I'm the only soldier left in this thread lol

Played Cave Creek this afternoon and pace was slow as to be expected but conditions where shockingly good. I grew playing cave creek and I can't ever remember the greens EVER being remotely close to as good as they were today. Tees, fairways and greens were just outstanding but then you have a lot of hard pan/interesting lies when you get a little sideways out there.

Can't believe I'm saying this but I would fully recommend playing Cave Creek right now just for the bargain price and conditions. Front nine is very straight forward and boring with a few ****ty holes but I'm a big fan of the back 9 and think they have 9 quality holes to end your round.

Played troon north pinnacle for free today...was real juicy overall

Shot 73, played best overall round of 2016 prolly as I only hit one ball in desert and missed 3 short birdie ops but overall couldn't expect much letter

I usually only play during the summer. Not Phoenix related but spent my bachelor party in Rocky Pointe last weekend and played Las Palomas and the 9 hole course on the bay (name slipping me). The latter really kicked our ass as the wind was coming off the water, which seemed to make every hole feel like a par 5. Both courses were very good value at $40 and $50 respectively.

Wonder - las Paloma's is so so at best

The 9 hole course is Laguna shores and it's a fricking beast in the wind from tips

No offense but you kind of failed and missed the best and only course to play down there IMO. It's at Mayan Palace which is just south of Las Conchas and prolly 25-30 minute drive from sandy beach...maybe a tad further but it's 10000000% worth it and I haven't played those other two since finding out about this one. Google it

Will probably play one day and hit PHX Open one day this weekend. Considering Cave Creek, Durango. Thanks for the tip.

Ya my brother set it up and considered it but in relation to where we were staying it was easiest to just play the local courses.

After only golfing one time all of last year, I'm hoping to get back into it bigger this summer. My left knee is a wreck and caused me to be miserable last time out. I'm hoping I can spend some time on the range, figuring ways to swing without causing too much pain so I can get back to enjoying the game again....lol olds. And hopefully JoshK stays on me and gets me out more often.

Rise - cave creek front nine layout isn't the best but the back 9 is solid IMO. Greens are outstanding for a city course when I played two weeks ago.

I played arrowhead CC yesterday and it was real nice. Hadn't been out there in forever and really enjoyed it. Greens were quick and tons of slope and played in 3:15 so it was solid all around.

Playing Orangetree Sunday morning first out before Super Bowl and watching golf.

Wonder - I hear ya but honestly Mayan palace absolutely dominates las Paloma's in every possible way and 10000000% worth the 25 minute drive or whatever it is. Like 4-5 holes are literally on the beach and views/conditions are way better so remember that for next time!

Thinking about heading down to Phoenix in September for a solo golf trip. What are some of the must play courses? No real time constraints and don't mind paying for a good round.

September is a tricky month actually because of overseeding....so you have to play courses that overseed later...typically courses here overseed from middle to end of September until mid October

You can find some great values you just gotta look at their seeding schedule (usually found online). Also, a few days before seeding the courses scalp the heck out of the course so I generally try to avoid that as well. Wait until July/August and Google the over seeding schedule and you can find out which courses are possibilities and then pick and choose from there. Ask this thread about any courses and we will give you the honest answer on if it's worth it.

Also, a lot of the "must play" courses are in a little higher elevation outside the main city area and therefore overseed earlier...for best value and most of the courses available try to book your trip for end of August/beginning of September. If it's end of September then like 40-50% or more of the courses will already be seeded and/or scalped

I have tournaments locally that I play end of August. If I planned on an October trip is that late enough for the sending to be done. Money is not an obstacle. I just want to play nice courses.

I might call ahead and ask the courses you're looking at what their overseed schedule is. Usually the dates for each course in the area are compiled and put up online about a month before that season starts (late Aug/ early Sep).

Best courses in no particular order:

The Boulders (views)
Troon North (views)
Greyhawk (player's course)
Quintero (long drive but great conditions)
Camelback Ambiente Course (links-ish, very different from desert golf)
Southern Dunes (player's course)
Kierland (resort course usually in very good shape)
TPC Stadium (PHX open course)

All the other great ones are either private or a tier below.

Fuluck...

You don't wanna play the courses that close after finishing overseeding...grass is long, greens are slow and shaggy and it's cart path only...basically not worth it

Rise's list is pretty decent but I think he left out a few solid options...I'm on my phone but other options are

Gold Canyon
Wekopa
Legacy Golf resort
Raven at Verrado
Triology at Vistancia
Whirlwind (both courses)
Raven at South Mountain
Grand Canyon University Course (city course but recently revamped and supposedly legit and in great shape
Wigwam Gold Course

^Good additions there too. Forgot about Wekopa, which is easy to do considering they don't seem to advertise, they're not on Golfnow, and it's kind of a drive to get out there.

Played Aguila yesterday. It's in really good shape. Will probably stick with Aguila/GCU/Wigwam until rates come down; those courses are such good values.

Only downside for Aguila is that it tends to get really backed up. Yesterday each par 3 on the front had a 2 group wait and par 5s had 3 groups/hole. Hard to tell what the cause would be but 5+ hour rounds are not cool.

Yeah Aguila is a damn fun muni course...gotta get an early tee time there because as you said the afternoon back ups are rough.

I still haven't been out to GCU yet. Need to go check it out.

Heading to Palm Springs in a few weeks to play 5 rounds in 3 days. Two rounds at The Palms Club (sick private track, then PGA West Stadium, Classic Club and one more that buddy is going to hook up. I think the most we pay is $40 at PGA West all the others are cart fees. Pretty pumped

Headed up to play wickenburg ranch tomorrow afternoon, all I have heard is good things about the track. Will try to grab some pics. Also need to do a write up and pics from my Palm Springs trip that was awesome

Cool, let us know how Wickenburg plays.


New course alert- played GCU like 10 times in the past month (played in the AZ Am Stroke Play there last week). It's a great course that is pretty easily #1 value in AZ during Feb/March. Rates are capped at $55 if I remember correctly.

Cliffs:

-It gets a 10/10 in walkability
-At par 71, 7200+ from the tips it's long but very fair
-Lots of different holes from short drivable par 4s to long doglegs
-Greens are elevated, green complexes are championship caliber
-Tournament conditions were fantastic; greens were VERY hard and quick. Felt like a major championship. Normal conditions are very good with relatively quicker/harder greens than average.

I will be in Phoenix for two weeks starting 5/27 and am hoping to get a skins game going. I posted a separate thread but haven't had any bites yet. Probably should have just posted here.

Anyone interested?

Skins games are always fun. I personally can't commit to Memorial Day weekend though; will probably be out of town with friends.

What about the following weekend June 4th or 5th?

Can't do that either. May be playing in a tournament/qualifier that weekend.

I really hope you get a game going though. Plenty of great courses to play out here.

Has anyone played in Lake Havasu? I'm trying to think outside the box for my brothers bachelor party. Ideally we would play 3 rounds (one a day). Are there enough nice courses up there to fill out the whole weekend? Our group has already done San Diego a few times, Las Vegas who knows how many times, and we did Rocky Pointe for mine. I'm just exploring all my options.

Haven't played up there, what about Tucson??? A little closer and better golf options and you can get wild and go down to Nogales strip clubs, there's a few casinos and decent hotels?