Quote:
Originally Posted by the_eldrik
Kierland -- Fun course but not the peak of architectural creativity.
This gave me a chuckle. Yeah, I guess, but they were sort of hamstrung by the routing to some degree. At least there aren't many houses or apartments on the course for the most part.
Quote:
Originally Posted by the_eldrik
We-Ko-Pa -- Don't remember which 18. Conditions were terrible.
Haven't been out there in awhile, but wonder if the change in management companies has led to a decline in quality.
Anyway, haven't posted in this thread in awhile but have played a decent amount of golf in town and otherwise. Here are the courses most worth mentioning.
The Rim - hadn't played it before but heard pretty good things. Played Chaparral Pines a last year for the first time as well. Fun course, it seems that most people who have played both are partial to it over Chaparral Pines. I don't know that I echo those sentiments...Chaparral Pines is clearly the tighter of the two with some goofy holes. On the other hand I also seem to recall many more memorable holes than The Rim.
Wickenburg Ranch - played this last weekend for the first time, and playing it next weekend again by coincidence. Really a phenomenal course, and the greens were in great shape. I definitely like it more than Quintero, which I enjoy but find very punitive with less variety (although the par 3s are unparalleled). Another thing I like about WR is the five par 5s and five par 3s. An interesting thing they're building is a nine hole par-3 course with a bar, and five of the holes will be lighted. The course appears to be done and looks interesting...I just don't know where they'll find the people to play it.
I thought I had read somewhere that they're temporarily starting this course on what will be the 5th hole due to its proximity to the temporary clubhouse. This makes sense because what would have been 17 and 18 (which are now 13 and 14) are the two best holes on the course. Evidently they're building a permanent clubhouse next to the temp one though, so that info is wrong or has been changed. The nine hole course is also out where I thought the clubhouse would be. My guess is it sits where the driving range was originally planned. I guess they didn't feel like people having do what they do at Quintero, which is have a long-ass drive from the temp clubhouse to the range and first tee so just relocated the driving range near the current start and ultimately decided to stick with it.
Mirabel - another course I had never played and it was excellent. I heard it was a Fazio softening of a Norman design, but in any event they have a flair for backdrops since various holes make use of Black Mountain, Pinnacle Peak, Squaw Peak, and other landmarks in the background off of many tees. Interesting layout, fair off the tee with a lot of bunkering and very large greens, which were slow when we played but very smooth. Hope to have the chance to play it again sometime.