2019 Phoenix Area Course Conditions

[BettorThanMost]

Yes, Longbow is managed by Troon, as of 2019, and part of Troon Card, etc.

 

TPC Champions today. Everything in good condition, bunkers are some of the best in the valley.

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Longbow in fantastic shape. Greens are sickening fast and the pins today were downright mean. Bunkers a little hard in some, but still good. Highly recommend.

Longbow a Troon course now?

 

Yes

[thewral]

Verrado founders today. Wow. Fantastic conditions. Great value at $99 for early morning play.

[fairways4life]

Can anyone give me something positive to say about Karsten? I'm playing there on Monday, in town for the WM. There hasn't been a review posted on Golfnow in almost a month and the ones that are there seem to be very mixed. I know the layout is weird, I'm mostly wondering about conditions.

[Kuhndogg8]

Good luck getting anyone on this thread to say something good about Karsten. It's universally loathed. I'd be surprised if anyone has played it to even have an idea about conditions.

[puttnforthe8]

Can anyone give me something positive to say about Karsten? I'm playing there on Monday, in town for the WM. There hasn't been a review posted on Golfnow in almost a month and the ones that are there seem to be very mixed. I know the layout is weird, I'm mostly wondering about conditions.

 

Something positive about Karsten: it is virtually 100% certain that you will not be attacked by a pack of hyenas. Although one could argue that being attacked by a pack of hyenas would be better than playing Karsten.

[fairways4life]

Can anyone give me something positive to say about Karsten? I'm playing there on Monday, in town for the WM. There hasn't been a review posted on Golfnow in almost a month and the ones that are there seem to be very mixed. I know the layout is weird, I'm mostly wondering about conditions.

 

Something positive about Karsten: it is virtually 100% certain that you will not be attacked by a pack of hyenas. Although one could argue that being attacked by a pack of hyenas would be better than playing Karsten.

 

Lol. Is it just a total goat track or what? I know it's a Dye course and I understand the layout is not popular. But are we talking about dirt fairways and crappy greens?

[puttnforthe8]

Can anyone give me something positive to say about Karsten? I'm playing there on Monday, in town for the WM. There hasn't been a review posted on Golfnow in almost a month and the ones that are there seem to be very mixed. I know the layout is weird, I'm mostly wondering about conditions.

 

Something positive about Karsten: it is virtually 100% certain that you will not be attacked by a pack of hyenas. Although one could argue that being attacked by a pack of hyenas would be better than playing Karsten.

 

Lol. Is it just a total goat track or what? I know it's a Dye course and I understand the layout is not popular. But are we talking about dirt fairways and crappy greens?

 

No...it has grass and greens. But Why would you not play Papago...head and shoulders above for less money?

[Rohlio]

Can anyone give me something positive to say about Karsten? I'm playing there on Monday, in town for the WM. There hasn't been a review posted on Golfnow in almost a month and the ones that are there seem to be very mixed. I know the layout is weird, I'm mostly wondering about conditions.

 

 

Hmmm something positive...

 

It will likely be torn down to create to for the ever expanding ASU empire. So that is a plus!

[fairways4life]

Can anyone give me something positive to say about Karsten? I'm playing there on Monday, in town for the WM. There hasn't been a review posted on Golfnow in almost a month and the ones that are there seem to be very mixed. I know the layout is weird, I'm mostly wondering about conditions.

 

Something positive about Karsten: it is virtually 100% certain that you will not be attacked by a pack of hyenas. Although one could argue that being attacked by a pack of hyenas would be better than playing Karsten.

 

Lol. Is it just a total goat track or what? I know it's a Dye course and I understand the layout is not popular. But are we talking about dirt fairways and crappy greens?

 

No...it has grass and greens. But Why would you not play Papago...head and shoulders above for less money?

 

Well for one I live on the east coast so I really have no idea about golf in Phoenix. The reviews of Karsten that I found seemed a little mixed but more good than bad, especially the more recent ones. I checked out Papago as well as some others in the price range we were looking for (which limited us a lot; golf seems uber expensive out there but I'm guessing the tournament has something to do with that).

 

Second, Papago is showing $60, same as what I got Karsten for. So no difference there.

 

All joking and sarcasm aside though, what is wrong with Karsten? A lot of people saying they don't like it but nobody has yet to specifically explain why. Just an out of towner trying to get some honest help.

[fore_life]

I think it depends on this :

Do you like Pete Dye golf courses?

If you do, then most of the complaints would be the views they show online leave out this huge power plant just to the south of the course . Also, there’s a few par 5’s that they tuned in to par 4’s, but the greens aren’t designed for a long iron approach so you can catch some wonky lies, which is kinda fun I guess.

 

If you don’t like Pete Dye, then play Papago.

 

Listen, you could do worse than karsten, probably in fine shape. I’d file it under golf courses that non golfers always suggest.

But you could definitely do better.

[fairways4life]

I think it depends on this :

Do you like Pete Dye golf courses?

If you do, then most of the complaints would be the views they show online leave out this huge power plant just to the south of the course . Also, there's a few par 5's that they tuned in to par 4's, but the greens aren't designed for a long iron approach so you can catch some wonky lies, which is kinda fun I guess.

 

If you don't like Pete Dye, then play Papago.

 

Listen, you could do worse than karsten, probably in fine shape. I'd file it under golf courses that non golfers always suggest.

But you could definitely do better.

 

Thanks. I don't love Pete Dye courses but also haven't played a ton of them either. I'm mostly concerned with conditions. Is there going to be decent turf to hit off? Good greens? Decent bunkers? I'm okay with the layout being what it is. And I'm okay with it not having the most majestic views. I may not play a course as part of my regular rotation if I don't like the layout. But just for a one time deal while on vacation, I mostly just want some decent conditions. We're springing for a round at Dove Mountain, so we tried to go more budget friendly for the other round and something close to where we're staying and Karsten fit the bill on both those fronts. So like I said, as long as conditions are decent, we'll be happy with it.

[jayrod79]

I think it depends on this :

Do you like Pete Dye golf courses?

If you do, then most of the complaints would be the views they show online leave out this huge power plant just to the south of the course . Also, there's a few par 5's that they tuned in to par 4's, but the greens aren't designed for a long iron approach so you can catch some wonky lies, which is kinda fun I guess.

 

If you don't like Pete Dye, then play Papago.

 

Listen, you could do worse than karsten, probably in fine shape. I'd file it under golf courses that non golfers always suggest.

But you could definitely do better.

 

Thanks. I don't love Pete Dye courses but also haven't played a ton of them either. I'm mostly concerned with conditions. Is there going to be decent turf to hit off? Good greens? Decent bunkers? I'm okay with the layout being what it is. And I'm okay with it not having the most majestic views. I may not play a course as part of my regular rotation if I don't like the layout. But just for a one time deal while on vacation, I mostly just want some decent conditions. We're springing for a round at Dove Mountain, so we tried to go more budget friendly for the other round and something close to where we're staying and Karsten fit the bill on both those fronts. So like I said, as long as conditions are decent, we'll be happy with it.

 

I haven’t played there recently, I usually frequent Papago which is in awesome shape. That being said, conditions should be fine this time of year. Most of the disdain for the course is due to funky lies, power plant, and changing of par 5’s to long 4’s as others have mentioned.

[Bonneville85308]

I haven't played Karsten since April 2018, but the main thing I recall about the conditions at that time is that the bunkers were hard as concrete with almost no sand in them, and I was in a lot of bunkers that day.

[vallygolf]

I think it depends on this :

Do you like Pete Dye golf courses?

If you do, then most of the complaints would be the views they show online leave out this huge power plant just to the south of the course . Also, there's a few par 5's that they tuned in to par 4's, but the greens aren't designed for a long iron approach so you can catch some wonky lies, which is kinda fun I guess.

 

If you don't like Pete Dye, then play Papago.

 

Listen, you could do worse than karsten, probably in fine shape. I'd file it under golf courses that non golfers always suggest.

But you could definitely do better.

 

Thanks. I don't love Pete Dye courses but also haven't played a ton of them either. I'm mostly concerned with conditions. Is there going to be decent turf to hit off? Good greens? Decent bunkers? I'm okay with the layout being what it is. And I'm okay with it not having the most majestic views. I may not play a course as part of my regular rotation if I don't like the layout. But just for a one time deal while on vacation, I mostly just want some decent conditions. We're springing for a round at Dove Mountain, so we tried to go more budget friendly for the other round and something close to where we're staying and Karsten fit the bill on both those fronts. So like I said, as long as conditions are decent, we'll be happy with it.

 

 

Karsten is very interesting. Not all good interesting. Greens and fairways should be in fine condition. Imagine Whistling straits with no interesting routing, no waste areas, poorer conditions, flat land, no senic views, just a bunch of mounds everywhere, oh add huge power lines and a huge power plant...... voila.....Karsten.

[fairways4life]

I think it depends on this :

Do you like Pete Dye golf courses?

If you do, then most of the complaints would be the views they show online leave out this huge power plant just to the south of the course . Also, there's a few par 5's that they tuned in to par 4's, but the greens aren't designed for a long iron approach so you can catch some wonky lies, which is kinda fun I guess.

 

If you don't like Pete Dye, then play Papago.

 

Listen, you could do worse than karsten, probably in fine shape. I'd file it under golf courses that non golfers always suggest.

But you could definitely do better.

 

Thanks. I don't love Pete Dye courses but also haven't played a ton of them either. I'm mostly concerned with conditions. Is there going to be decent turf to hit off? Good greens? Decent bunkers? I'm okay with the layout being what it is. And I'm okay with it not having the most majestic views. I may not play a course as part of my regular rotation if I don't like the layout. But just for a one time deal while on vacation, I mostly just want some decent conditions. We're springing for a round at Dove Mountain, so we tried to go more budget friendly for the other round and something close to where we're staying and Karsten fit the bill on both those fronts. So like I said, as long as conditions are decent, we'll be happy with it.

 

 

Karsten is very interesting. Not all good interesting. Greens and fairways should be in fine condition. Imagine Whistling straits with no interesting routing, no waste areas, poorer conditions, flat land, no senic views, just a bunch of mounds everywhere, oh add huge power lines and a huge power plant...... voila.....Karsten.

 

Haha. I'll take the round with a grain of salt then I guess.

[puttnforthe8]

I think it depends on this :

Do you like Pete Dye golf courses?

If you do, then most of the complaints would be the views they show online leave out this huge power plant just to the south of the course . Also, there's a few par 5's that they tuned in to par 4's, but the greens aren't designed for a long iron approach so you can catch some wonky lies, which is kinda fun I guess.

 

If you don't like Pete Dye, then play Papago.

 

Listen, you could do worse than karsten, probably in fine shape. I'd file it under golf courses that non golfers always suggest.

But you could definitely do better.

 

Thanks. I don't love Pete Dye courses but also haven't played a ton of them either. I'm mostly concerned with conditions. Is there going to be decent turf to hit off? Good greens? Decent bunkers? I'm okay with the layout being what it is. And I'm okay with it not having the most majestic views. I may not play a course as part of my regular rotation if I don't like the layout. But just for a one time deal while on vacation, I mostly just want some decent conditions. We're springing for a round at Dove Mountain, so we tried to go more budget friendly for the other round and something close to where we're staying and Karsten fit the bill on both those fronts. So like I said, as long as conditions are decent, we'll be happy with it.

 

 

Karsten is very interesting. Not all good interesting. Greens and fairways should be in fine condition. Imagine Whistling straits with no interesting routing, no waste areas, poorer conditions, flat land, no senic views, just a bunch of mounds everywhere, oh add huge power lines and a huge power plant...... voila.....Karsten.

 

Haha. I'll take the round with a grain of salt then I guess.

 

 

So Papago is the same price, better views, better design, better conditions, better greens, no power lines spanning the fairways, no power plants next to it, a far superior restaurant/patio, a better practice facility, some elevation changes, better service and better reviews

 

and you still choose Karsten.

 

Have fun.

[fairways4life]

I think it depends on this :

Do you like Pete Dye golf courses?

If you do, then most of the complaints would be the views they show online leave out this huge power plant just to the south of the course . Also, there's a few par 5's that they tuned in to par 4's, but the greens aren't designed for a long iron approach so you can catch some wonky lies, which is kinda fun I guess.

 

If you don't like Pete Dye, then play Papago.

 

Listen, you could do worse than karsten, probably in fine shape. I'd file it under golf courses that non golfers always suggest.

But you could definitely do better.

 

Thanks. I don't love Pete Dye courses but also haven't played a ton of them either. I'm mostly concerned with conditions. Is there going to be decent turf to hit off? Good greens? Decent bunkers? I'm okay with the layout being what it is. And I'm okay with it not having the most majestic views. I may not play a course as part of my regular rotation if I don't like the layout. But just for a one time deal while on vacation, I mostly just want some decent conditions. We're springing for a round at Dove Mountain, so we tried to go more budget friendly for the other round and something close to where we're staying and Karsten fit the bill on both those fronts. So like I said, as long as conditions are decent, we'll be happy with it.

 

 

Karsten is very interesting. Not all good interesting. Greens and fairways should be in fine condition. Imagine Whistling straits with no interesting routing, no waste areas, poorer conditions, flat land, no senic views, just a bunch of mounds everywhere, oh add huge power lines and a huge power plant...... voila.....Karsten.

 

Haha. I'll take the round with a grain of salt then I guess.

 

 

So Papago is the same price, better views, better design, better conditions, better greens, no power lines spanning the fairways, no power plants next to it, a far superior restaurant/patio, a better practice facility, some elevation changes, better service and better reviews

 

and you still choose Karsten.

 

Have fun.

 

Papago has nothing available until 2pm the day we need to play. So that won't work.

 

And yes, we will still have fun. Thanks.

[JoeHatesSnow]

My friends and I are visiting Phoenix this week and were going to play Karsten until we heard about the hyenas. Good luck. :)

[wybrh]

Has anyone been to Toka Stick lately? It's one of my go-to courses when the rates get outrageous. Just curious of the conditions.

[jayrod79]

Has anyone been to Toka Stick lately? It's one of my go-to courses when the rates get outrageous. Just curious of the conditions.

 

I haven’t played it personally, but I saw online that they had one of the Waste Management Prequalifiers there last week and one of the local players mentioned it was in really good shape with the greens rolling well.

[jcleve]

In reference to karsten....I played there last week greens were rolling really well, tee boxes were not the greatest, fairways were average.

I enjoyed the course, I like dye designs.

Had lunch afterward in the restaurant and food was just as good as anywhere.

 

Karsten gets a bad name, I am not sure why. for the price I think it is very good.

 

Thanks

[wybrh]

Has anyone been to Toka Stick lately? It's one of my go-to courses when the rates get outrageous. Just curious of the conditions.

 

I haven’t played it personally, but I saw online that they had one of the Waste Management Prequalifiers there last week and one of the local players mentioned it was in really good shape with the greens rolling well.

 

Nice. Thanks for that. I'll likely play it next week.

[mvoss]

I have only played Karsten once and that was a few months ago. Yes, there are power lines and a power plant next door. Yes the course is crammed into the smallest possible area you can fit a golf course into. There are no great views and there is quite a bit of noise. There is probably better value elsewhere. I don’t know about current conditions and I will probably never go back to play it again.

 

All this said and as someone who neither loves nor hates Pete Dye golf courses. I enjoyed my round there. I don’t see anything spectacularly wrong with the design and the conditions were fine. I do think the course gets more hate on here than it deserves and I am sure most golfers could enjoy a round there.

 

Overall there are probably better options, but unless you are very picky I think it’s very likely that you will enjoy your round there.

[Rohlio]

I have only played Karsten once and that was a few months ago. Yes, there are power lines and a power plant next door. Yes the course is crammed into the smallest possible area you can fit a golf course into. There are no great views and there is quite a bit of noise. There is probably better value elsewhere. I don’t know about current conditions and I will probably never go back to play it again.

 

All this said and as someone who neither loves nor hates Pete Dye golf courses. I enjoyed my round there. I don’t see anything spectacularly wrong with the design and the conditions were fine. I do think the course gets more hate on here than it deserves and I am sure most golfers could enjoy a round there.

 

Overall there are probably better options, but unless you are very picky I think it’s very likely that you will enjoy your round there.

 

That is a reasonable statement. My question to people is "why would you play it?"... Extremely mediocre experience with many better options nearby in the same price range.

[YMark]

Played Kokopelli last Sunday. I have NOTHING good to say about this course. Crap conditions, crap layout. This rates right down there with Desert Canyon, AZ Golf resort, and AZ Grand.

[AzSuperHack76]

Have a few tee times for Sunday morning around 0800 at Falcon Dunes at Luke AFB. Have 3 spots available. Just doing a little game with $30 dollar buy in for skins(20) and CTP(10). Our caps range from 5-10. If anyone is interested shoot me a message!

 

Thanks.

[c. howard]

Has anyone been to Toka Stick lately? It's one of my go-to courses when the rates get outrageous. Just curious of the conditions.

 

I haven’t played it personally, but I saw online that they had one of the Waste Management Prequalifiers there last week and one of the local players mentioned it was in really good shape with the greens rolling well.

 

Nice. Thanks for that. I'll likely play it next week.

 

Should be in fantastic shape for Toka. I played about 3 weeks ago, greens were quick, overall good shape.

[BettorThanMost]

Played TPC Scottsdale Stadium course yesterday in front of a whole lot of people. Googly moogly were those greens firm and fast...dream day out there.

[mvoss]

Played TPC Scottsdale Stadium course yesterday in front of a whole lot of people. Googly moogly were those greens firm and fast...dream day out there.

 

I was there working today and yesterday. Course looks like it’s in fantastic shape and greens look super slick.

 

Very envious that you got to play, that looked really fun!!!