Anyone play SunRidge Canyon golf course in Fountain Hills AZ?

[jambox107]

Has anyone played SunRidge Canyon golf course in Fountain Hills AZ? It’s got solid reviews but would love to hear from a WRXer who has played it recently and if it’s worth playing over Grayhawk.

[Bonneville85308]

Post the question on the Courses & Travel - Courses by Region - Southwest forum and you should get a quick answer from the regulars.

[vallygolf]

IMO Grayhawk (both courses)> Sunridge Canyon. Conditions at sunridge are usually above average, but it does wind though housing. It is a solid twice a year course for me, and I enjoy playing there. I would divide 10 rounds 7 at grayhawk, 3 at Sunridge Canyon. possibly 6,4.

[puttnforthe8]

More like 99 out of a 100 for me. Sunridge is such a lame course in so many respects.

[jambox107]

Puttnforthe8, how so?

[ryu123]

played about 5 years ago. Perhaps the toughest set of par 3s I've seen in the Phoenix area. Narrowish fairways.

 

have not played Grayhawk Raptor, but compared to Talon SunRidge isn't quite as good.

[puttnforthe8]

Puttnforthe8, how so?

 

bad design, some really terrible holes, terrible finishing hole, unfair in many spots. And really, having played it so many times, I personally do not enjoy it...I always dread when we have to play there. I think it ranks as one of the worst values here in the area. $150+ to play it right now...yuck! Compare to $89 for Southern Dunes; even Legend Trail is ~129.

[DrSchteeve]

Sunridge has great views. There's the positive.

 

Layout has some poor holes. The biggest problem is that their signature feature - the last 6 holes that they call the "Wicked Six" - play up the mountain and can be difficult, so that's going to destroy pace of play (and it does, so count on 5 hour rounds except perhaps the middle of summer).

 

They also supposedly renovated the course to make it more links-like. Now that is a true joke - they filled in a few bunkers but that's about it.

 

Now for the OP's question: I'm not a huge fan of Grayhawk's courses, but they are solid and don't have all the caveats and questionable issues that Sunrdige does. I would only choose Sunridge if views were the main consideration.

[cbbaron]

I would play Grayhawk either course 9-1 over SRC agree with Putt and Dr S btw will be out there April 4-11 cant wait have my new Mizuno HM Pros but too cold to play here

[divebreck]

I have played it a couple of times. I enjoyed it, but would not want to play it all the time. The last 6 holes are tough as others have said.

[az2au]

It really is kinda a terrible golf course. Houses are tight to the course, 1 is a bad hole but easy, 5 is terrible, 6 is bad, 7 is extremely awkward at best, 8 is an out of place par 3, 9 is an absolutely terrible par 5, really only behind 8 at Quintero and 8 at Cholla in the competition for worst par 5s in the Valley. 10 is a poorly designed short par 4. 11 is weird and extremely penal for what it should be. 14 is a terrible par 3. 16 is a boring slog of a par 5. 17 is fine from the long tee, awkward from the short tee and 18 is a course design disaster.

 

There are a few decent holes but I seriously doubt I'd play a single round there over either Grayhawk course. Eagle Mountain is across Shea and significantly better in design and views.

[robcha]

Like many have stated, the price you're paying for Sunridge isn't really justified for the course. I'd take the $150 and like az2au said, look at Eagle Mountain or Quintero.

[jambox107]

Many mixed reviews on SunRidge... mainly looking for high Awe Factor and well kept fairways and greens. SR rates #2 on top courses on a website among all the other usual suspects.

 

Any recommendations closer to PHX less than $150?

[DandyDon]

I played it about 7 years ago. It was not in as good of condition as Troon, Boulders, We Ko Pa, Eagle Mountain, however it was about half the price at the time (we played in early May). I thought for the difference in price, it was great. I thought it had a lot of great holes.

The one funny thing I remember about that round on a Sunday morning is that we never saw a group behind us and after about 8 holes the ranger chastised us for playing slowly (and yes we were playing slowly that day). However, we were flabbergasted, we could see the last 4-5 holes and there was nobody.....

[msh134]

Has anyone played SunRidge Canyon golf course in Fountain Hills AZ? It’s got solid reviews but would love to hear from a WRXer who has played it recently and if it’s worth playing over Grayhawk.

beautiful course but it’s just hard to make that choice lol Grayhawk would be my choice

[ferrispgm]

beautiful to look at and horrible to play. I'd much rather play Eagle Mountain or McDowell Mountain...heck I'd even rather play Las Sendas or McCormick Ranch. If you are looking for views though....Eagle Mountain is pretty good and a good course....not sure if I'd rate it over Grayhawk but it's a good option.

[deaddog]

I played it a number of years ago and thought it was pretty good. Played it last Fall and it is now pretty bad. They've tricked up some of the bunkers with high, vertical, turf covered walls and the way the trap is designed your ball actually comes to rest under/behind the turf b/c the turf wall extends out over the sand. No way to get a club on it - have to take a drop. Hard to describe and I've never seen anything like it - but it happened to a couple of us a few times in one round. Totally unfair. Asked the guys at the pro shop and they said that the powers that be wanted to "toughen up" the course. I don't mind tough but its gotta be fair. This wasn't

[DrSchteeve]

> @deaddog said:

> I played it a number of years ago and thought it was pretty good. Played it last Fall and it is now pretty bad. They've tricked up some of the bunkers with high, vertical, turf covered walls and the way the trap is designed your ball actually comes to rest under/behind the turf b/c the turf wall extends out over the sand. No way to get a club on it - have to take a drop. Hard to describe and I've never seen anything like it - but it happened to a couple of us a few times in one round. Totally unfair. Asked the guys at the pro shop and they said that the powers that be wanted to "toughen up" the course. I don't mind tough but its gotta be fair. This wasn't

Now that's what you want your course managers and designers to be trying to achieve: "Toughen it up!"

[Dsalera]

Grayhawk is the best golf in Scottsdale area imo.