3 Full Days in Socttsdale

[YMark]

I don't get the love some have for Quintero. I think it's overrated and overpriced. I'd play Verde River over Quintero, but I haven't been out there in over a year. Not sure how the changed layout is.

[toddnt]

Another nod for Quintero.. One of the better desert course Ive played out there!

[golf1836]

Check out Gold Canyon Dinosaur Mountain. Me and my buddies enjoy going out there. Great views!

[golfandfishing]

Serious question here: do we value the golf course as it plays, or the views it affords even though you don’t actually set foot on the terrain being admired?

 

Two courses in this thread are abysmal courses, but do indeed offer great views. Is playing a good course then taking a hot air balloon ride a possiblity instead?

[Par5overWater]

I see where you are coming from... Quintero is overrated for sure, some quirky holes, no clubhouse,20 min cart ride to the range... but abysmal might be a stretch. The course is generally in great shape, and I kind of enjoy the par 3s and 5s out there. The views are definitely an added bonus out there and should factor in a little bit to the overall course experience. Same reason why a lot of courses on the ocean or on Great Lakes are rated higher than they should be. The avg golfer eats that sh!t up.

[az2au]

I see where you are coming from... Quintero is overrated for sure, some quirky holes, no clubhouse,20 min cart ride to the range... but abysmal might be a stretch. The course is generally in great shape, and I kind of enjoy the par 3s and 5s out there. The views are definitely an added bonus out there and should factor in a little bit to the overall course experience. Same reason why a lot of courses on the ocean or on Great Lakes are rated higher than they should be. The avg golfer eats that sh!t up.

IMO, the par 3's on the front are one trick ponies and 9 is simply a terrible design. 16 is the best par 3 on the course design wise. 9 would be the worst hole on the course but then there's 8. 8 is perhaps the worst par 5 I've played in the Valley. It is a complete failure in course design 101. I really need to dig up the thread but I did a complete breakdown of why Quintero is such a design failure from an objective standpoint over in the Southwest forum.

 

I generally only recommend it for people that want more views than course (which covers most people for sure!).

[az2au]

And Gold Canyon-Dinosaur is worse from a design standpoint. I can't bring myself to recommend that one because it is really only views. There's nothing else even remotely redeeming about the course, the property, the clubhouse, the range, the carts, the conditions most of the time, the food, etc, etc.

 

Don't mean to insult anyone on this thread, all IMO, YMMV, etc, but I'm glad to discuss objectively why I believe these things as well. I also get why a person playing it one time may not care.

 

I will say Gold Canyon absolutely has some amazing views however.

[Roadking2003]

Serious question here: do we value the golf course as it plays, or the views it affords even though you don't actually set foot on the terrain being admired?

 

How can you separate the two? Most of us play golf to have fun. Several factors contribute to having fun including views, hole variety, conditioning, history, etc.

[az2au]

Serious question here: do we value the golf course as it plays, or the views it affords even though you don't actually set foot on the terrain being admired?

 

How can you separate the two? Most of us play golf to have fun. Several factors contribute to having fun including views, hole variety, conditioning, history, etc.

This has been explained to you multiple times. It honestly isn’t that hard and there are a large number of people that both can and do separate them. Thus the question as it needs to be asked to give a real answer.

[Par5overWater]

Ya I agree the hole layouts are ridiculous at times at Quintero... but ridiculous is a little bit fun at times, the par 3 club selection from 100+ feet above the green. It's not a top course in the area in my opinion, and I know a lot of people think it is... I would say its top 25 though (only public courses)… maybe I am just giving them too much love because of the elevation, views, and good conditioned course (at least every time I played it).

[Par5overWater]

But to the OP who wants to play the best of the best... we can both agree to pass on Quintero.

 

I'd say 36 at We-Ko-Pa, toss up between Greyhawk and Troon 36 hole day for me, probably slight nod to Troon

 

Love mixing in Wickenburg and/or Southern Dunes but have to be willing to drive and a true golf lover. Most people would probably just prefer the usuals that are closer to home base.

 

If you are looking for some cheaper option I like Papago, Verrado is nice but way West of town, Grand Canyon U's course is supposed to be nice but I haven't personally played it, Aguila is actually pretty good value too IMO..

 

I'll be in the area for about 10 days in March, what are some of everyone's favorite "value courses", let's say under $100 since it's peak season.

[golfandfishing]

Serious question here: do we value the golf course as it plays, or the views it affords even though you don't actually set foot on the terrain being admired?

 

How can you separate the two? Most of us play golf to have fun. Several factors contribute to having fun including views, hole variety, conditioning, history, etc.

 

While I enjoy good views as much as anyone - the opportunity to enjoy many of them is abundant in the area, no golf course is required. Personally, seperating the two is easy and requires more effort to overlook a bad course in favor of views. To me the addition of views is equal to clubhouse amenities. They are nice to have and appreciated when available, but add nothing to the course itself or the game being played. I realize everyone values different things, that’s why I asked the question and I’m grateful for the response, thank you for that.

[toddnt]

Isnt each golfers opinion going to be different and the only way is to experience it.. That's said if you put ANGC against a local muni then the result should be obvious.

[DrSchteeve]

On views, there are views that are just views, nice as they may be, but they are often seemingly unrelated to the golf hole. I would put almost all the views at Dinosaur Mountain and many at Quintero in that category.

 

Then there are golf holes where the views are well-incorporated into the hole itself - the designer has framed the hole to look like a great golf hole and the views contribute to that. I would put Wekopa Saguaro in that category.

[golfandfishing]

^^^^^^

 

This.

[Chanceman]

We wanted a real spread of experiences in Scottsdale so we played Big Wick, Grayhawk Raptor, TN Monument, Boulders South, Quintero, WeKoPa Saguaro, Ak Chin, TPC Stadium, Talking Stick O'odham, Seven Canyons and Desert Forest* - I think we covered it pretty well. If we went back we would want to play TN Pinnacle and TPC Champions and maybe Cholla. Also Apache Stronghold is an outlier I would be interested in. * the best of the lot.

[DrSchteeve]

We wanted a real spread of experiences in Scottsdale so we played Big Wick, Grayhawk Raptor, TN Monument, Boulders South, Quintero, WeKoPa Saguaro, Ak Chin, TPC Stadium, Talking Stick O'odham, Seven Canyons and Desert Forest* - I think we covered it pretty well. If we went back we would want to play TN Pinnacle and TPC Champions and maybe Cholla. Also Apache Stronghold is an outlier I would be interested in. * the best of the lot.

 

That was a great lineup. Pinnacle is the one that sticks out on your list of don't miss and also a strong nod to Apache Stronghold. It's pretty hard to compare those, though Apache Stronghold is likely to be more memorable. If you have the time (2 hour drive from north Scottsdale), love Doak designs, and are OK with spotty or worse conditions (no one has ever reported them to be better than that), go for it.

 

I'm in a minority in that I don't care that much for TPC Champions - it's not bad, and much better than Stadium, but it just doesn't do anything for me.

 

If I say anything good about Cholla that may prompt Brian (az2au) to jump in and slam it, not that it doesn't deserve that. The layout of Cholla is wonky and there is a terrible hole (#2), a poor hole (#8, improved recently from a terrible hole with the addition of new fairway through the green), too many trees in the middle of the fairway (3 holes), and really is a mediocre layout at best. However, it is pure desert golf, no houses, good views, and for visitors likely memorable.

[Cuff]

I was recently in Phoenix for work and starving for golf (coming from cold Northeast). Played Quintero. Did not like. Silly par 3s that were impossible to play as a first time visitor (could not gauge distance). Great views and scenery was nice but the layout of the course is inferior, disorienting, and inefficient. I was disappointed as I only had time for one round while I was out there.