2020 Phoenix Area Course Conditions

[sdemo]

Played Ambiente again today (also played last weekend). Fairways are tight. They’ve patched many of the dead areas around the greens and watered the crap out of it, so it’s a bit muddy. Still not worth the $60... maybe in a couple weeks.

Played in 3 hours as a single, so wasn’t all bad.

[Bonneville85308]

Not really Phoenix area, but I played Agave Highlands in Cornville today. I had played it over the winter for the first and found it to be a good value. That wasn't true today, same $60 I paid over the winter for a round that should have been $30 this time of year with the current conditions.

The greens were in great condition, but everything else was pretty dried out, dusty and patchy. I don't mean firm and fast, I mean hitting off dirt. Tons of ants everywhere on the tees, I've never seen so many ants on a golf course, you tee off only to find your shoes crawling with them.

Other than the nice greens, the highlight was that the place was absolutely empty. We had nobody in front of us or behind us except for a twosome we caught for a couple minutes then never saw again, there were probably less than 15 people on the course this morning. That is worth a premium to me, but $60 is still way much, and is probably part of the reason why it's empty.

[TimAZ]

I thought it was in really good shape last week, but they are renovating a lot of tee boxes so you may not be playing the "regular" distance for your tees on a handful of holes.

[OspreyCI]

Thanks. I am passing on it and playing Dove Valley. Never been there. Any good?

[Argonne69]

DV doesn't get a lot of love around here, but I thought it was a decent layout. It's certainly not a Top 10 course, but there are dozens that are worse. I think you'll like it.

[OspreyCI]

Thanks. Only course up in the area with an early tee time that I need. Have an appointment up in the area tomorrow.

[Bonneville85308]

Let us know what kind of condition it is in please. I'm supposed to play there Thursday with some guys, I haven't played it since around February.

[OspreyCI]

Plans changed. Playing Quintero at 6am tomorrow. Sorry man.

[jrice19]

I played Kierland (Acacia & Mesquite) today and it was in great shape. Greens were in good shape well. Shot a smooth 73 from the tips (6913 yds).

[AzSuperHack76]

Not Phoenix area, but I played Oakcreek CC this weekend. Wow, it's been a few years, it's in amazing shape, greens are nearly perfect, super fast, fastest greens I've played in a while, yet very receptive. I forgot just how much fun the layout is, good mix of doglegs, reachable par 5's, and a nice collection of par 3's. This weekend was a good reminder to get back up there more often, well worth the drive.

[cbbaron]

Talon today greens were rolling true and fast couple burnt out areas but overall in good shape. Raptor reopens Thursday will see how maintenance did

[MUNIGRIT]

Played Troon North Monument yesterday. Course was in good shape. There were a few wet spots but as expected in that type of desert terrain. Greens rolled nice and were perfect speed. Pace of play was a little slow only because the group of old codgers in front of use were not very good players and didnt play ready golf. Just under 5 hour round so wasn't that bad only on a few holes on the front.

[Skydiver22]

I was up there on Saturday 4 wheeling in the Jeep and stopped by to see the conditions... I does look pure right now.

[AzSuperHack76]

Everything about the course was good, but the greens, the greens were absolutely amazing.

[az2au]

5 hours! I’m supposed to play out there Thursday morning but if it takes 5 hours I’ll lose my mind. I don’t recall the last round of golf i played that took more than 3:50 or so and they often feel like they take forever.

[Bonneville85308]

For what they are charging right now and the fact that it's 100+ degrees out, a 5 hour round there is beyond unacceptable and I would be giving their management a piece of my mind about it.

[cbbaron]

36 at Wekopa today Saguaro fairways burnt greens how brown spots but rolled good. Cholla was in better shape

[MUNIGRIT]

It was only because the group in front of us was holding up a bunch of groups starting with us. I saw the warning up on the range and knew it would b rough if they were not fast players. It was in the twilight times on Mondnthe temps were in the 90s so place was busier than normal.

[MUNIGRIT]

It was actually cheap with the Troon card at Twilight rate and a 2 for 1. That's also why it seemed busier was twilight. See my above post. I think the slow play was contributed to a specific group not the course itself. I was watching them not play ready golf and spend way too much time on the greens. It also was the best day for temperature that there has been in awhile.

[az2au]

Oh yes, the weather has been extremely pleasant the last few days. I ran a half marathon (not official, just for fun) that day from my house and the “turn around at half way point“ is just east of the Troon North entrance. Normally this time of the year I’d want to start something like that at 4:30am but I went out at 7:45am intending to only do 5 miles. Weather was so nice I just kept going.

We’re off at 10:12am tomorrow so let’s see how it goes.

[gcp07]

I just called Greyhawk and they said Raptor is still closed.

[sdemo]

Maybe this is well known here already, but I always check greenskeeper.org for course conditions. Hasn't let me down yet. Shows Raptor as closed through 7/12.

[Justmuckit]

Anyone play The Boulders recently?

[El_Nino_AZ]

Played today, the difference in a couple weeks is pretty crazy. The fairways have a ton of burnt out spots. #3, practically the entire fairway is scorched, more dirt than grass. Odd thing was, #2 was CPO.

The bad spots look like this:

I don't mind a little burnt out in the summer, but when the conditions start affecting your good shots, that's when it gets frustrating. The greens are getting some dead spots that are affecting the roll as well. I had a putt tracking right into the hole, hit a dead spot and took an absurd right hand turn. Pretty comical.

[OspreyCI]

Played Saguaro Sunday and Quintero Monday. The last few assessments have been spot on about Saguaro. Greens were a little slow compared to the fast ones at Quintero.

Quintero was nice a and green, bunkers were rock hard, and greens were beat up. Greens were fast, but did have lots of divots that weren’t fixed. Lots of mud balls from all the watering. We were first off so the pace was excellent as a 3 some.

[sdemo]

Fair enough - I'm surprised greenskeeper is so far off. Other side of that coin is that Greyhawk is usually in such fantastic shape, they may be overselling that there are some rough spots to avoid guest complaints. Summer and winter alike, I've always been impressed with Greyhawk's conditions.

[gcp07]

I just called. Apparently Raptor is open through the weekend then closed during the week then opened next weekend. Im coming out there next week

Thursday: Talon in the AM / Troon Monument PM

Friday. TPC Stadium AM / Verde River PM

Sat: We-ko-Pah Saguaro

I love Raptor but with the shape its in (not sure of the shape) is it worth it to move the itinerary around?

[gcp07]

thanks for this!

[Bonneville85308]

I played DVR this morning as planned. It was in average condition I guess, but this course never seems to be in great condition in summer. Lots of dead hardpan spots with aeration in the fairways. Greens were quick but some seemed to have a mix of grasses that threw some putts a little off line. Course was playing fast and firm, no mudballs or puddles. Bunkers were good.

4:20 (2:00 front 2:20 back) pace which was disappointing for an early morning round, we were told at the end that one group was holding everything up on the back nine but by the time the staff tried to do something, the damage was done, some holes had two groups waiting on the tee.

Fair deal for $39+tax but not worth much more right now.

[az2au]

@cbbaron @Vikingdrewby and I played out at Troon North-Monument today. It was in pretty good shape but too wet for my taste. Other than that, no real bare spots and greens running at an acceptable speed. Nonetheless, had a great time and it is always good to see Chris and enjoyed meeting Drew. @cbbaron stuck around for another 18 but the rest of us had to head off.