2020 Phoenix Area Course Conditions

[jatrain]

Would those who have played Wekopa this week recommended switching out saguaro for cholla? Playing Sunday and typically play Saguaro as I like it better but if there is a big difference in condition I’ll go Cholla instead.

 

thanks

[cbbaron]

Yes I would Im on Saguaro Saturday before I fly and would of switched to Cholla if I could but no early times played 36 there on Tuesday Cholla much better shape

[jatrain]

Thanks!

[AzSuperHack76]

Boulders North today. Ok shape. Fairways are absolutely soaked, mud balls all day long. Greens were in good shape, running faster than average and holding shots very well. Pace was abysmal. Got stuck behind a couple “members” groups just after 7 am, almost 5 hours, waited on every single shot.

[azgolfer44]

Grayhawk Talon has a slope and rating for combo tees (between tips and second back) but I can’t find the holes for each. Anyone know them?

[Argonne69]

You sure? There's a Grayhawk in Ontario that has a blue/white combo, but I can't find anything for the Talon course.

[azgolfer44]

I think so - USGA app shows Talon/Palo Verde tees at 72.1/139.

[Justmuckit]

We teed off at 8:50 and were flying until we hit a short par 4 on the front that someone must have decided was drivable. Then we waited on nearly every shot the rest of the way in.

[Argonne69]

I'm a huge fan of combo tees. 'Don't like when teeboxes are 600+ yds difference. I generally like playing something in the 6300 to 6500 yd range. If a course doesn't have a combo set, I'll make up my own. Over the years I've convinced several courses in my area to add a proper combo set(s). The USGA's Handicap Manual Section 5-2(g) does allow one to post scores from an unrated set of tees using the following distance adjustments:

 

[azgolfer44]

Very interesting information. I am also a fan of combo tees, especially for courses that you play often. I helped create the combo tees at Papago 6-7 years ago, which we use in tournaments. Not sure many players use them daily though. I’ll be playing the combos at Grayhawk today.

.

[azgolfer44]

Like others have said, Talon was in good shape. Greens rolled well and still had some speed. Pins were on small shelves every hole which made it a good challenge. Played in about 4 hours.

I walked the course for the first time teeing off at 8:18. It was a tough walk with the big gaps between the holes and before and after the round. I would do it again in cooler temps but not the summer. Worst part of the walk was hole 17 having to go all the way around and then come back to the green. I get they wanted to pack as many homes as possible on the course, but the walker was not in mind during the design.

[Bonneville85308]

TPC Champions early this morning. They do usually water it heavily overnight, but geez this was by far the biggest drenching I've ever seen there. I could feel it in the humidity as well compared to usual. Almost no roll on anything in the fairway except low trajectory drives, and I took drops from casual water in the fairways 8 different times. Greens, tees, and bunkers all great as usual. They are closing tomorrow for maintenance/aeration for a few weeks.

[fore_life]

Red Mountain Ranch this morning, greens rolling great and overall condition pretty good, little soggy in some spots.

[BK Bass]

Longbow on Friday, everything was in ok condition. Fairways had some burned out areas but nothing unplayable. Course was not over watered so it played well with the firm conditions and no mud balls. Greens were holding pretty good with short irons and wedges and rolled out a bit with mid irons. Greens seemed kind of thin but they were coming along well and should be really good through out summer. overall good day with 2 putt birdie on 18.

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Tpc stadium perfect yesterday

[willgolf4money]

Played Las Sendas and Red Mountain Ranch this week.

Las Sendas for the price ($39) right now is in excellent shape albeit the greens were a bit choppy/sandy which would be my only complaint. Fairways still in reasonably good shape for July. Pro Shop is undergoing some changes as they recently hired a new Director of Golf, but they had some great sales on merch that they are trying to clear out right now.

Played RMR yesterday. Greens were just punched and sanded. Pretty bad on some holes while others were still reasonably playable. Bunkers were actually fairly decent. Fairways were firm. Think I paid low $30's which seemed about right, but probably won't play there again until later in August.

[gcp07]

Just got back from a Scottsdale Trip, 3rd time going out there. Here is a quick breakdown of course conditions.

 

Grayhawk Falon - played 18 in the AM. Its in great shape. A few bad areas that were over watered and a few burnt spots but nothing that stood out to make me say it was in poor shape. Greens a little bumpy.

Troon Monument - Good shape, fast greens. A notch below Grayhawk in terms of course conditions but nothing horrible.

TPC Stadium - Pure. Saw one burnt spot, greens a little low but everything else was top notch. For the record I would not play it again. Underwhelming.

Verde River - Pure. Greens slowest of the bunch. The views and conditions were amazing. If this goes private I will cry.

Wekopa Saguaro- I wanted to cry. Its burnt to a crisp. Every lie was almost a move and improve. Greens horrible. Pretty sure they closed yesterday for maintenance. Still my favorite Arizona track even though its a shame it was in poor shape.

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Should I still stay away from Ambiente?

[puttnforthe8]

Back to being in great shape as of Sat

[ferrispgm]

Verrado Founders in decent shape. Greens still bumpy from punching a couple weeks ago but should be really good in another week or so. Fairways medium firm, not crazy soft. Tee boxes all pretty good minus a couple on the back tees.

[AzSuperHack76]

Cooper Canyon this morning, course is in really good shape.

 

First time I’ve been out there since they added the new 9 holes. Played the Mountain and Lakes 9’s. They have 8 holes built on the south side of Sun Valley Parkway that is the Mountain 9, Lakes side was the original back 9 with a new hole added in the that mix. Vista 9 is the original Front 9, did not play that today. In order to make it work you tee off on the old #11 par 3 which is now #1 for Lakes. Original hole #10 is still now the Start of Mountain but then you go through the tunnel to the new holes on the south slide closest to the White Tank’s. The new holes have very strategic bunkers that come into play on most every tee shot from the tips and the box one up. The new 9 holes also have much more movement/slope to the fairways that have to be accounted for. The greens on the new 9 holes are way different than the original 18. They are huge, tons of slope and undulation to them, more than a few holes reminded me of the Niklaus destined greens at Dove Mt in Marana, just not quite as large.

 

Conditions of the new course was pretty good, very firm which is to be expected. Greens were slightly inconsistent. Some have settled a bit and are receiving shots better than others. But for the most part I was impressed with the condition and how they designed the new holes. It’s a fun play. New holes were still Schmidt-Curley designed.

 

 

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Yep copper canyon in great shape this afternoon

[NotromJRH]

Gray Hawk Raptor today, Talon is closed.

Fairways in a lot better shape than they have been still a few problem areas, but not horrible. Greens were rolling nice and smooth but slow for sure. Some areas of rough under repair and still watering heavily. Also some course changes, main one I can remember is on 17, short par 4, they've added a green side bunker in middle left side of green between the 2 tiers. Also added a large bunker on left side, after the big tree on left, over by this new green side bunker which will make people think twice about going for the green off the tee. Left misses will be much more penal. Tried to draw them in there approximately where they are. Front edge of the green from tips is about 300, pin is usually anywhere from 310-340 out, front edge from Palo Verde (one up) is usually about 265-270ish, pin usually 280-310 out for those not familiar.

[cbbaron]

There is also a new bunker end of fairway before water on 18 doesn't come in to play for me. Think it was added for NCAA if they use Palo Verde tee and play as a par 4

[NotromJRH]

Yes I noticed that while I was on 10, but forgot about it as I was on the left side playing 18.

There could be a couple others I missed.

Also made the back right right tee box on 16 larger, where it was just a small circular tee box for NCAA. It now appears they’ve made it larger to give more options moving forward hard to tell though was still being finished.

[cbbaron]

I might be wrong but there might be a new tee box on 15 as well

[fore_life]

 

 

Fun Fact: one off the pros out there is Joey Bast, ex professional skateboarder from my era

[OspreyCI]

Boulders Question. Checking tee times. Shows Boulders #1. That the north or south course? South course is more scenic right?

[cbbaron]

I think they close one nine at a time so #1 could be North front nine and South front nine etc.

[az2au]

South course is more scenic. North course is better golf. Honestly with as many houses as they've packed in though both have kinda lost any charm they ever had.