First trip to Southwest - Critique my itinerary

JMG_02 · January 30, 2018

Much thanks to those that have already contributed.

We're going for a small (3 guys) trip in late March. This will be our first desert golf experience. One of us is a low single digit, the other two of us are probably 12-14.

One of the guys is a little more price sensitive than the other two, so I can't book >$200 a round courses every day. Here's my tentative schedule.

Fly in on Wednesday morning - 18 at Eagle Mountain (btw, I'm showing on my mastercard priceless I can book an afternoon round there for $34....seems nuts to me since it's over $100 on their website)

Thursday - 36 at Ak Chin Southern Dunes $214 for their double play special including breakfast

Friday - 36 at Golf Club of Estrella $159 for unlimited golf including lunch

Saturday - 18 at The Raven Phoenix $150 or the Legacy Golf Club (looking at an Airbnb on the course here)

Fly back Saturday afternoon. Since we're flying back the same day, I chose the Raven or Legacy because it seems to be fairly close to the airport.

Of course I'd love to play Troon North or We Ko Pa, but just can't do $400 a day for golf.

I know it's some driving, but that's okay. I'm open to any suggestions, thanks!!

BUCKEYERBALL88 · January 30, 2018

Much thanks to those that have already contributed.

We're going for a small (3 guys) trip in late March. This will be our first desert golf experience. One of us is a low single digit, the other two of us are probably 12-14.

One of the guys is a little more price sensitive than the other two, so I can't book >$200 a round courses every day. Here's my tentative schedule.

Fly in on Wednesday morning - 18 at Eagle Mountain (btw, I'm showing on my mastercard priceless I can book an afternoon round there for $34....seems nuts to me since it's over $100 on their website)

Thursday - 36 at Ak Chin Southern Dunes $214 for their double play special including breakfast

Friday - 36 at Golf Club of Estrella $159 for unlimited golf including lunch

Saturday - 18 at The Raven Phoenix $150 or the Legacy Golf Club (looking at an Airbnb on the course here)

Fly back Saturday afternoon. Since we're flying back the same day, I chose the Raven or Legacy because it seems to be fairly close to the airport.

Of course I'd love to play Troon North or We Ko Pa, but just can't do $400 a day for golf.

I know it's some driving, but that's okay. I'm open to any suggestions, thanks!!

On Saturday I’d recommend playing Papago or Mountain Shadows.

Papago is closer to the airport than raven, Greens fees should be around $100. The only problem is Papago’s Pace can be slow. I like Papago a lot more than legacy & raven

Mountain Shadows’ Goal is to be the best Par 3 course in the country. It’s a lot of fun

ferrispgm · January 30, 2018

Not bad....as an out of towner, I would recommend the Raven over Papago. Papago while a good course and solid test is a muni and overpriced unless you're a local.

The Raven and Legacy are literally right next to each other so it's up to you. Legacy is more resort style and more forgiving off the tee while Raven is a little more midwest style with Pine trees along fairways, though not as much as their site claims...more of a mix between midwest and SW style of play. I personally think Raven is better as it does have some challenging holes, but if you want to end on an easier note and just have fun, Legacy is solid.

toypor · January 30, 2018

Looks like a really solid line up. Some nice variety and very good value for the quality of golf during peak season.

kcowgolf · January 31, 2018

Stay away from Papago, I would take the Raven any day. Peak season and hard to find many bargains this time of year. You should check on We Ko Pa and see what you can swing, great course if you can swing it.

teejaywhy · January 31, 2018

Stay away from Papago,..

Context please

pmccallum86 · January 31, 2018

I just returned from a trip last weekend. We played a lot of the courses that you are considering. Here are my 2 cents:

Ak Chin Southern Dunes - might be the best course I've ever played. very challenging for better players but also playable for higher caps (assuming they use the proper tees). fantastic views and conditioning, easy drive from central Phoenix as well. not to be missed, 100% must play.

Mountain Shadows - played this one on a whim before heading to the airport, soooo glad we did. pulling into the place you can't see any of the course, it feels like it's an Audi dealership, but it's such a cool experience. The greens are Augusta quality (double cut and rolled everyday) with CRAZY green complexes. you are right beneath camelback mountain which is also great.

SunRidge Canyon - somewhat of a target golf track with crazy contours in the fairways and greens that can send what appears to be a good shot into a hazard. tough track, but we all enjoyed it and would play again. also great views.

Estrella - we did the VIP package and played 36 (played 17 and 18 in the near dark to finish the second time around). the back tee on 18 is just awesome, coolest tee box placement I've ever seen.

Raven - highly recommend Raven, $75 twilight which was a great deal. you really feel like you are in a pine forest not a desert. great conditioning too.

JMG_02 · February 2, 2018

Thanks all for the feedback. I've got all the rounds booked, and a generous WRX member has offered to try to join us and get us on We Ko Pa at a guest rate if possible one of the days. Looking forward to it!

JMG_02 · March 28, 2018

Coming back to report on everything.

Wed afternoon at Quintero:

What a fun way to start the trip. The views were just absolutely stunning. Conditions were perfect, except for one thing that really irked us all. The greens were hard as a rock. We would be on the green waiting for a buddy to hit up. I know his game, and he'd pinch one that would have a lot of spin and it would hit the front of the green and bounce like it was a parking lot over the back. It was a little bizarre.

I can see how it can evoke some love/hate. We all enjoyed it. Very difficult, the worst scores out of the whole trip for all of us.

Thur morning at Verrado - Founders

After some rescheduling of rounds, and at the advice of puttinforthe8, we wound up here and we loved it. All three of us were super impressed by the course and it was a really fun layout. Even though I didn't play the best here, I think it was the most fun round for me and probably my favorite.

Saw our first rattlesnake on #8 right after the big boulder. Definitely one to get the heart rate up!

Thur afternoon at Estrella

Another very enjoyable round with almost perfect conditions. Nothing stands out too much, so maybe that says something.

Friday - 36 holes at Southern Dunes

What a facility. Wow. Showing up that morning, the practice tees, greens, looking down #9 fairway. You could tell this place was for real. It was very enjoyable, conditions were perfect. I really liked the layout and the types of holes. Very challenging tee shots. I can see why this one is so loved.

Saturday - 18 at The Legacy

I think this was a good one to finish up the trip. Easiest of all the courses, so we weren't too beat down. Conditions were still very good, not like the others but still very nice.

I was very pleased with the overall pace of play. I don't think we had a single round over 4 hours. Although we did tee off at 6:58 at Verrado, 7:28 at SD, and 7:07 at Legacy.

The weather was fantastic, and the scenery was gorgeous. Thanks for the hospitality Arizonians! Sorry for inflating your green fees.

ferrispgm · March 30, 2018

Coming back to report on everything.

Wed afternoon at Quintero:

What a fun way to start the trip. The views were just absolutely stunning. Conditions were perfect, except for one thing that really irked us all. The greens were hard as a rock. We would be on the green waiting for a buddy to hit up. I know his game, and he'd pinch one that would have a lot of spin and it would hit the front of the green and bounce like it was a parking lot over the back. It was a little bizarre.

I can see how it can evoke some love/hate. We all enjoyed it. Very difficult, the worst scores out of the whole trip for all of us.

Thur morning at Verrado - Founders

After some rescheduling of rounds, and at the advice of puttinforthe8, we wound up here and we loved it. All three of us were super impressed by the course and it was a really fun layout. Even though I didn't play the best here, I think it was the most fun round for me and probably my favorite.

Saw our first rattlesnake on #8 right after the big boulder. Definitely one to get the heart rate up!

Thur afternoon at Estrella

Another very enjoyable round with almost perfect conditions. Nothing stands out too much, so maybe that says something.

Friday - 36 holes at Southern Dunes

What a facility. Wow. Showing up that morning, the practice tees, greens, looking down #9 fairway. You could tell this place was for real. It was very enjoyable, conditions were perfect. I really liked the layout and the types of holes. Very challenging tee shots. I can see why this one is so loved.

Saturday - 18 at The Legacy

I think this was a good one to finish up the trip. Easiest of all the courses, so we weren't too beat down. Conditions were still very good, not like the others but still very nice.

I was very pleased with the overall pace of play. I don't think we had a single round over 4 hours. Although we did tee off at 6:58 at Verrado, 7:28 at SD, and 7:07 at Legacy.

The weather was fantastic, and the scenery was gorgeous. Thanks for the hospitality Arizonians! Sorry for inflating your green fees.