Phoenix City Card - Still a good deal?

Hi Guys,

Getting back into it again this fall and I'm thinking about getting a city card. Looks like they've pulled rate info from the web though and as far as I can tell I can't see the city card prices without having a city card account. Anyone know if the city card is still worth getting? I'm not a fan of Papago so that's not a reason to get it for me.

Yes. Just curious what do you not like about Papago?

I assume OP means the PHX city card for Maricopa county residents and not the one for non-residents. The card is $50 the first year and $30 thereafter, runs for 12 months after whenever you buy it and not on a calendar year basis. At Cave Creek, Aguila, and Encanto, the city card rate is usually around $4-$8 cheaper than regular rate depending on time of year, day of week, and time. I don't know what the current card discount at GCU and Papago is. GCU used to have it posted on their website but it's gone now.

It's an unadvertised benefit, but after every 10 rounds at CC/Aguila/Encanto you get a free round. Also, with the card, you can book tee times 2 days earlier than the masses. Basically, if you are going to play at least 10 rounds in a 12 month period at these courses, you might as well get the card.

What sucks with Papago is that they open the tee times to the general public at full rack rate way before (2 months?) the cardholders can book within the 9 day resident rate window, and once you get to 9 days, on weekend mornings there is hardly anything left for the cardholders.

The City Card has some nice price breaks for $50. If you play Papago once, it pays for the City Card, although tee times are harder to come by in the winter. You can also use the free round any time of the year, meaning you can save it until the winter season.

I played GCU today for $44, $53 with a small bag of balls. The course was sweet, since they did not overseed the greens. I don't think it will get much more expensive this winter.

> @BUCKEYERBALL88 said:

> Yes. Just curious what do you not like about Papago?

Honestly...just playing it. It's a good golf course. I know it's a good golf course. I can tell every time I play it. But at the end of the round (I've played it half a dozen times now) I walk away feeling like I didn't enjoy the round. I've played it with a bunch of different people so that isn't the issue. I just don't care for the golf course. Maybe because it tends to beat me up a little? I'm not sure. I absolutely love SD but that one beats me up too so...

Those last three holes are brutal, especially when walking it. Uphill and full of land mines. I have to sit in the car and catch my breath for 5 minutes before starting it up, then can't wait to make another tee time for more abuse.

Can I use my free round at Papago?

If you buy your card at Aguila ($50), your first round is free. Not including cart. That alone makes it worth the purchase. Pretty sure they still do this.  

I love playing Papago even though it kicked me pretty hard the first time around. We have since come to terms. Only times I've played it was sliding in as a single. Tough to get a foursome as was mentioned previously. 

13 hours ago, Dakota Hart said:

Can I use my free round at Papago?

No

On 2/10/2023 at 8:09 PM, AZ_JHWK said:

If you buy your card at Aguila ($50), your first round is free. Not including cart. That alone makes it worth the purchase. Pretty sure they still do this.  

 

I love playing Papago even though it kicked me pretty hard the first time around. We have since come to terms. Only times I've played it was sliding in as a single. Tough to get a foursome as was mentioned previously. 

What’s the typical rate difference for the city card at Papago? I’m seeing $189 for the public when I want to go, but it’s too far out to see the card rate. Just wondering if it’ll be much more than the current difference of about $70

8 minutes ago, tcbringhurst said:

What’s the typical rate difference for the city card at Papago? I’m seeing $189 for the public when I want to go, but it’s too far out to see the card rate. Just wondering if it’ll be much more than the current difference of about $70

I'm seeing $50 walking and $65 riding around noon on a weekend with the PHX Card. It may be more if you play in the early morning, but those are hard to come by. You can book up to 9 days in advance. I don't know if they raise the rates after the new year. 

15 minutes ago, AZ_JHWK said:

I'm seeing $50 walking and $65 riding around noon on a weekend with the PHX Card. It may be more if you play in the early morning, but those are hard to come by. You can book up to 9 days in advance. I don't know if they raise the rates after the new year. 

I’m looking at end of December so just wanted to ask if I should expect it to be much more than the current $50 rate. Public rate is $189 during the time I’m looking. 

16 hours ago, tcbringhurst said:

I’m looking at end of December so just wanted to ask if I should expect it to be much more than the current $50 rate. Public rate is $189 during the time I’m looking. 

If I recall in previous years the city card rate may have gone up a few more bucks on 12/1 but if it's $50 to walk in November, I wouldn't see it going much over $60 in December if anything.

On 2/10/2023 at 8:09 PM, AZ_JHWK said:

If you buy your card at Aguila ($50), your first round is free. Not including cart. That alone makes it worth the purchase. Pretty sure they still do this.  

 

I love playing Papago even though it kicked me pretty hard the first time around. We have since come to terms. Only times I've played it was sliding in as a single. Tough to get a foursome as was mentioned previously. 

Agulia still does this.  My wife bought her card this week and the first round was free.