Pace of play at Papago early AM during the week?

tw422 · May 19, 2019

Hi - here for a week staying in the Arcadia Lite area and have been reading all of the positive feedback from locals on Papago. I've played a bunch of differnt courses in/around Phoenix/Scottsdale but never Papago. I'm trying to sneak in an early AM round (5:54am) on either Mon or Tues of this week and wanted to get thoughts on pace of play there. Looks like this time would be the 2nd or 3rd time of the day so expecting things to move quickly. Thoughts? Anywhere else I should looking at close to 32nd/Campbell/Indian School area?

azgolfer44 · May 19, 2019

Should be done in less than 4 hours. Pretty quiet that early during the week. The course is in transition from rye to Bermuda right now so greens are not as good as they have been. Everything else is pretty nice.

Not much else close to that area for public golf. Best options may be Phoenician, camelback or Talking Stick.

puttnforthe8 · May 20, 2019

2nd tee time out recently and was done in 2:50; Camelback is a good choice for another round..

tw422 · May 20, 2019

Thanks for the advice/sugesstions. Which is better Camelback or Papago? Big price difference but cost is not a deciding factor for me. Which course is better at Camelback?

Kuhndogg8 · May 21, 2019

Papago > Ambiente > Padre

DrSchteeve · May 21, 2019

Ambiente > Papago > Padre

azgolfer44 · May 21, 2019

I like layout at Papago best among the three and definitely has a cooler vibe. I would guess that ambiente greens are better right now but that is only based on condition of Papago greens. Papago definitely still has the municipal vibe around the edges. Either way, you’ll have a great time!

ferrispgm · May 21, 2019

Papago is simply a solid course.....Ambiente is a nice course and Padre is a pretty good course with a couple weird holes.

From a pure golf layout perspective, I think Papago gets the nod as there are a good mix of holes where every hole is different. Ambiente is a nice course, great to look at and fun....but a lot of holes have the same look to them....plus I'm more of a fan of your misses being a half shot penalty instead of a full shot like at Ambiente where you are basically dropping if you miss the fairway. That being said....I have enjoyed it every time I have played.

DrSchteeve · May 21, 2019

Papago and Ambiente very different very good courses.

Design probably does give Papago a nod, although Papago's 3 200+ par 3's are at least 1, if not 2, too many, and the conditions at Papago where the fairway blends to hardscrabble dirt in many places are not ideal. As for setting, it is a muni, but with brand new facilities and also is the ASU home course which lends a fun vibe.

The deserved knock on Ambiente is too many similar holes, especially the back stretch from 14-17, though conditions are usually great. Ambiente is more of a semi-private setting in Paradise Valley, but much more of a resort feel. It's a fun layout that is linksish, but certainly not true links. It's one of my favorite tracks, but I can understand the detractors.

Padre, well, it's OK, but probably the only reason to play it would be if you wanted to just do 36 at Camelback. It's more of a parkland style, but a few too many wonky holes and not enough solid ones.

tw422 · May 21, 2019

Awesome feedback and thank you. Ended up playing Papago this morning. Tee'd off at 630am and finished in under 3 hours. My overall impression was it's a very good to very very good muni. I'd agree with other's feedback on some of the physical features of the course. A little 'rough' around the edges but a really good layout and greens were actually pretty good. Rolled true and fast. Par 3's from Blue tee's were borderline ridiculous.

I can see how the ASU vibe would add some character too. Here's the thing though, and I could be misinformed on this, do they really charge $150+ in season? I played it for a last minute special of $51 and would probably pay up to $70-80 but $150+?!? - no way. Then again, good golf in season in AZ is not cheap (I've played Troon, Grayhawk, Boulders, etc...). I had a great experience all around and would go back again without hesitation. I would pay more too as I know I got a great deal on the price.