2019 Phoenix Area Course Conditions

[OspreyCI]

McDowell Mountain a good choice for tomorrow? Never played it. Seems pretty open and a good price.

[Bonneville85308]

> @OspreyCI said:

> McDowell Mountain a good choice for tomorrow? Never played it. Seems pretty open and a good price.

 

I played it last Saturday. Greens had just been aerated and were an uncut, super slow sandy mess. That's probably why the tee sheet is wide open tomorrow. Otherwise it's a good value course and the tees/fairways are in fine shape now. I'd just wait another week or two for the greens to recover.

[OspreyCI]

> @Bonneville85308 said:

> > @OspreyCI said:

> > McDowell Mountain a good choice for tomorrow? Never played it. Seems pretty open and a good price.

>

> I played it last Saturday. Greens had just been aerated and were an uncut, super slow sandy mess. That's probably why the tee sheet is wide open tomorrow. Otherwise it's a good value course and the tees/fairways are in fine shape now. I'd just wait another week or two for the greens to recover.

 

Good to know. Appreciate it. That’s why it’s so open. Wildfire?? Never played it.

[Bonneville85308]

> @OspreyCI said:

> > @Bonneville85308 said:

> > > @OspreyCI said:

> > > McDowell Mountain a good choice for tomorrow? Never played it. Seems pretty open and a good price.

> >

> > I played it last Saturday. Greens had just been aerated and were an uncut, super slow sandy mess. That's probably why the tee sheet is wide open tomorrow. Otherwise it's a good value course and the tees/fairways are in fine shape now. I'd just wait another week or two for the greens to recover.

>

> Good to know. Appreciate it. That’s why it’s so open. Wildfire?? Never played it.

 

I heard the Palmer course at Wildfire was supposed to be aerated this past week. I don't know what the schedule is for the Faldo course. Personally I prefer the Palmer course over Faldo, but I'm weird and most people seem to like the Faldo one better there. I think both are usually slightly overpriced unless you get a teeoff.com/golfnow deal time.

[OspreyCI]

Roger that. Where to play tomorrow? Gilbert resident here and looking for something good in Scottsdale. Played Grayhawk last week. And Eagle Mountain before that. Nothing avail at SunRidge.

 

Might have to go back to We Ko Pa. never go wrong there. Just trying to play somewhere new for me.

[Bonneville85308]

^ Try Legend Trail.

[AzSuperHack76]

Anyone want to buy 3 Grayhawk Passes? I just don't see a time I can make it before August 30th when they expire. It was the 6 pack, I have 3 left, $44 is the price per pass, $132 total. They come with buy 1 get 1 entree half off at any of the eating establishments on property.

[OspreyCI]

Played Wildfire Palmer for $39 and played by myself until 18 where I caught a single. Played in just over 2 hours.

 

Yes, aerated greens, but they rolled good. I really enjoyed the course. There are many bare spots in the fairway and some bunkers were under repair. For $39 and playing fast by myself (wife rode along) was really fun. I liked the layout.

 

Service was excellent and everyone was very nice. They even brought us ice cold orange smelling towels at the 10th tee. I’ll go back and try the Faldo course next time.

[Justmuckit]

Any updates on We-Ko-Pa Saguaro? Hoping for some improvement from this report last week.

 

 

> @mvoss said:

 

> WeKoPa Saguaro on Saturday. Lots of brown patches with no grass on the fairways and some on the greens. If you don't mind moving your ball out of those spots it's definitely playable, but if you want to play the ball down your going to have a lot of non-ideal lies and you will be putting through some craters. Greens were rolling a little slow but fairly smooth in the areas that did have grass. I don't know how quickly greens and fairways heal out here, but if you want good conditions I'd give it a couple of weeks at least.

[Rohlio]

> @Justmuckit said:

> Any updates on We-Ko-Pa Saguaro? Hoping for some improvement from this report last week.

>

>

> > @mvoss said:

>

> > WeKoPa Saguaro on Saturday. Lots of brown patches with no grass on the fairways and some on the greens. If you don't mind moving your ball out of those spots it's definitely playable, but if you want to play the ball down your going to have a lot of non-ideal lies and you will be putting through some craters. Greens were rolling a little slow but fairly smooth in the areas that did have grass. I don't know how quickly greens and fairways heal out here, but if you want good conditions I'd give it a couple of weeks at least.

 

I will be there on Tuesday. Will update.

[Justmuckit]

> @Rohlio said:

> > @Justmuckit said:

> > Any updates on We-Ko-Pa Saguaro? Hoping for some improvement from this report last week.

> >

> >

> > > @mvoss said:

> >

> > > WeKoPa Saguaro on Saturday. Lots of brown patches with no grass on the fairways and some on the greens. If you don't mind moving your ball out of those spots it's definitely playable, but if you want to play the ball down your going to have a lot of non-ideal lies and you will be putting through some craters. Greens were rolling a little slow but fairly smooth in the areas that did have grass. I don't know how quickly greens and fairways heal out here, but if you want good conditions I'd give it a couple of weeks at least.

>

> I will be there on Tuesday. Will update.

 

You're the man. Thank you. Playing on the 26th, need to cancel by the 23rd - so I know I have a lot of time. Still a bit bummed that we *might* have to pull the course we were looking most forward to out of the rotation.

[puttnforthe8]

> @Justmuckit said:

> > @Rohlio said:

> > > @Justmuckit said:

> > > Any updates on We-Ko-Pa Saguaro? Hoping for some improvement from this report last week.

> > >

> > >

> > > > @mvoss said:

> > >

> > > > WeKoPa Saguaro on Saturday. Lots of brown patches with no grass on the fairways and some on the greens. If you don't mind moving your ball out of those spots it's definitely playable, but if you want to play the ball down your going to have a lot of non-ideal lies and you will be putting through some craters. Greens were rolling a little slow but fairly smooth in the areas that did have grass. I don't know how quickly greens and fairways heal out here, but if you want good conditions I'd give it a couple of weeks at least.

> >

> > I will be there on Tuesday. Will update.

>

> You're the man. Thank you. Playing on the 26th, need to cancel by the 23rd - so I know I have a lot of time. Still a bit bummed that we *might* have to pull the course we were looking most forward to out of the rotation.

 

Played Wed and it was in terrible shape...it is really disappointing.

[Justmuckit]

> @puttnforthe8 said:

> > @Justmuckit said:

> > > @Rohlio said:

> > > > @Justmuckit said:

> > > > Any updates on We-Ko-Pa Saguaro? Hoping for some improvement from this report last week.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > > @mvoss said:

> > > >

> > > > > WeKoPa Saguaro on Saturday. Lots of brown patches with no grass on the fairways and some on the greens. If you don't mind moving your ball out of those spots it's definitely playable, but if you want to play the ball down your going to have a lot of non-ideal lies and you will be putting through some craters. Greens were rolling a little slow but fairly smooth in the areas that did have grass. I don't know how quickly greens and fairways heal out here, but if you want good conditions I'd give it a couple of weeks at least.

> > >

> > > I will be there on Tuesday. Will update.

> >

> > You're the man. Thank you. Playing on the 26th, need to cancel by the 23rd - so I know I have a lot of time. Still a bit bummed that we *might* have to pull the course we were looking most forward to out of the rotation.

>

> Played Wed and it was in terrible shape...it is really disappointing.

 

Dammit.

[az2au]

> @puttnforthe8 said:

> > @Justmuckit said:

> > > @Rohlio said:

> > > > @Justmuckit said:

> > > > Any updates on We-Ko-Pa Saguaro? Hoping for some improvement from this report last week.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > > @mvoss said:

> > > >

> > > > > WeKoPa Saguaro on Saturday. Lots of brown patches with no grass on the fairways and some on the greens. If you don't mind moving your ball out of those spots it's definitely playable, but if you want to play the ball down your going to have a lot of non-ideal lies and you will be putting through some craters. Greens were rolling a little slow but fairly smooth in the areas that did have grass. I don't know how quickly greens and fairways heal out here, but if you want good conditions I'd give it a couple of weeks at least.

> > >

> > > I will be there on Tuesday. Will update.

> >

> > You're the man. Thank you. Playing on the 26th, need to cancel by the 23rd - so I know I have a lot of time. Still a bit bummed that we *might* have to pull the course we were looking most forward to out of the rotation.

>

> Played Wed and it was in terrible shape...it is really disappointing.

 

That's shocking too. All of the places I play regularly are always in great shape in relative terms but this year has been especially solid. Even PCC didn't close this summer for any work (or if it did I missed it, haven't been there in a few weeks). That's rare. Weather has been pretty easy to deal with.

[mvoss]

> @Justmuckit said:

> Any updates on We-Ko-Pa Saguaro? Hoping for some improvement from this report last week.

>

>

> > @mvoss said:

>

> > WeKoPa Saguaro on Saturday. Lots of brown patches with no grass on the fairways and some on the greens. If you don't mind moving your ball out of those spots it's definitely playable, but if you want to play the ball down your going to have a lot of non-ideal lies and you will be putting through some craters. Greens were rolling a little slow but fairly smooth in the areas that did have grass. I don't know how quickly greens and fairways heal out here, but if you want good conditions I'd give it a couple of weeks at least.

 

My friend played it on Saturday and reported very similar conditions to last week.

[fore_life]

Whirlwind cattail in great shape tee to green

[AzSuperHack76]

> @fore_life said:

> Whirlwind cattail in great shape tee to green

 

On the other hand, Whirlwind Devil’s Claw is in terrible shape tee to green.

 

 

[Justmuckit]

Anyone play Monument or Pinnacle lately? Might be switching from Saguaro for our trip, but looks like Monument just re-opened on the 9th.

[Lefty_3Jack]

Just realized that Quintero is an hour away from Talking Stick and We Ko Pa sounds like it's in bad conditions. What is the best available "desert views" course that isn't going to take me an hour from the hotel to get to? If that doesn't exist, what is my best overall play for that area? I keep thinking I'll be disappointed with TPC and I've been there to watch the tournament before also.

[az2au]

> @"Lefty Light HItter" said:

> Just realized that Quintero is an hour away from Talking Stick and We Ko Pa sounds like it's in bad conditions. What is the best available "desert views" course that isn't going to take me an hour from the hotel to get to? If that doesn't exist, what is my best overall play for that area? I keep thinking I'll be disappointed with TPC and I've been there to watch the tournament before also.

 

Troon North and you'll need to be busting butt to get to Quintero in an hour from Talking Stick if we're talking true door to door time here.

 

TPC is not an impressive golf course in any way other than the ability to stage a tournament with 200,000 people.

[Rohlio]

The substandard conditions at Wekopa Saguaro are quickly improving based on playing today. Bunkers perfect, greens were a little stressed but rolled fine, fairways were lush and green. They had a few thin burned out spots in the fairways, totally inconsequential to my particular round. The edges of the greens were the worst part, but didn't negatively effect play for me. Here are pictures, judge for yourself. No way would I cancel a round on such a great course over the current issues.

 

I tried to include pictures of the absolute worst here and some of the standard so you can see for yourself.

 

a

 

 

 

[Rohlio]

> @Justmuckit said:

> > @Rohlio said:

> > > @Justmuckit said:

> > > Any updates on We-Ko-Pa Saguaro? Hoping for some improvement from this report last week.

> > >

> > >

> > > > @mvoss said:

> > >

> > > > WeKoPa Saguaro on Saturday. Lots of brown patches with no grass on the fairways and some on the greens. If you don't mind moving your ball out of those spots it's definitely playable, but if you want to play the ball down your going to have a lot of non-ideal lies and you will be putting through some craters. Greens were rolling a little slow but fairly smooth in the areas that did have grass. I don't know how quickly greens and fairways heal out here, but if you want good conditions I'd give it a couple of weeks at least.

> >

> > I will be there on Tuesday. Will update.

>

> You're the man. Thank you. Playing on the 26th, need to cancel by the 23rd - so I know I have a lot of time. Still a bit bummed that we *might* have to pull the course we were looking most forward to out of the rotation.

 

Definitely play Saguaro... Played it today, it is getting healthy in a hurry. Bunkers were perfect fairways had a few thin spots, but mostly green and plush. Edges of greens (fringe)

were the hardest hit, greens rolled great, but didn't look great yet. No sense missing such a great layout over some imo minor issues. Here are pictures to judge for yourself. I included some of what I considered the worst conditions as well as some of the average.

 

 

[Justmuckit]

@Rohlio Thank you! Doesn't look anything like I expected. Plus it has 10+ days to continue to improve.

[Lefty_3Jack]

Greens bermuda in summer also? Makes since as I cannot see how in the world bent or some other cool season grass could survive in the desert summer.

[az2au]

> @"Lefty Light HItter" said:

> Greens bermuda in summer also? Makes since as I cannot see how in the world bent or some other cool season grass could survive in the desert summer.

 

It depends on where you are. Bent survives fine at 2000'+. We have bent at DF and it is no problem at all. I haven't played at Troon North since they redid both sets of greens but they previously had bent as well.

[El_Nino_AZ]

Man, those greens look horrendous.

[DrSchteeve]

Those greens look fine, and per Rohlio are putting well. We get way too hung up on wanting perfect green golf courses.

 

[Rohlio]

> @El_Nino_AZ said:

> Man, those greens look horrendous.

 

Like I said I included pictures of the absolute worst greens in those, so people could make their own decisions. In truth they putted well, a bit slow but rolled true on all except for one putt that I faced that day. The color green is overrated, playing characteristics is underrated imo. The greens were receptive, and putted true, what else do you want?

[teejaywhy]

> @El_Nino_AZ said:

> Man, those greens look horrendous.

You forgot the smiley face.

Or are you serious?

[jimbo26]

Anyone have any information on The Phoenician?

Pace of play?

Design?

Condition?

 

Any information is greatly appreciated!