2020 Phoenix Area Course Conditions

[Argonne69]

Gorgeous day at Copper Canyon. I played the new Mountain nine, and the Vista nine. Mountain was mostly vacant of surrounding homes, but it appears to be quickly filling in. Generous fairways to say the least. Good collection of short par 4s, but the par 3s are boring. Greens ranged from huge to small and hard to hit. Good use of tiering.

After a 40 minute frost delay my group was the first out following the league play. Ugh. Brutal.

Conditions on Mountain were excellent, but the older greens on Vista were a little beat up. Putts were rolling at ~10. Overall the course looked great, but I thought it was uninspiring. It's the type of course one could play regularly as a local resident, but I wouldn't trek the 50 miles out there to play it a second time. I'd rate it a 5.

[azgolfer44]

This time of year is as expensive as it gets in Arizona for golf. Take a look through this forum as well as the 2019 forum to get an idea about course conditions and places to play. Everything should be in great shape this time of year, especially on the higher end courses. If you’re looking for 36, you can’t go wrong with Troon North or we Ko Pa. Lots of other great options as well.

 

Good luck.

[Schley]

Brian are they overseeding at DF now? I thought that was one of the differentiators there in that they didn't overseed? Altitude of the course is different than the valley of phoenix so that factors in.

[az2au]

It is a rotation basis to do what’s best for overall conditions of the course. Once every 5 years there’s no overseed. This is the year. Other years it is just the fairways or rough and FWs. Greens never need overseed as they are a bent hybrid. It used to be more often but technology has improved and allowed for consistent high quality conditions with overseeding occurring more regularly. I’d still prefer we never overseed but I get that even at DF I’m in the minority on that one.

Unfortunately I haven’t played a round out there since September as I’ve just been too busy with work and kids.

[Chomper]

DF did not overseed this season. It is playing much differently than prior years, that's for sure!!

[azgolfer44]

Papago was great today. $66 to walk with city card seems a little much though. Most I have ever paid with city card at any course.

[fore_life]

Whoa is it really $66 with the city card? I remember it being $45 to walk peak like last year?

[cbbaron]

Might have something to do with Troon taking over OB Sports

[isaacbm]

#argone69

Enjoying reading your posts. I've played most of the "gems" that you've been touring. I'll play anywhere but you really are picking some beauties! LOL! I feel like you're trip is like golf in purgatory. Not sure if you're going to heaven or hell!

[azgolfer44]

Yes, it was really $66. The contract between ASU and the City of Phoenix controls the rate increases. Goes back to when the course was renovated in 2006/2007. I’m trying to find a copy of what it says. I am playing today so I’ll get more information.

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

I played Papago yesterday. Weekend twilight city card walking $44 + tax. Great firm conditions. Awful pace and no ranger.

[ferrispgm]

That's ridiculous for Papago....it's a nice course and all but that's a little steep especially when you can play Aguila and GCU for much cheaper. I played GCU Saturday morning and it was in great shape. Greens rolling near perfectly, fairways in great shape, bunkers all in good shape as well. I keep forgetting how solid this course is...may need to play it more often this year. I know they do go through conditioning issues especially around transition in the spring/fall but it always bounces back nicely.

[Bonneville85308]

As a resident, Papago isn't worth an extra ~ $30 over Aguila to me by any means. That, combined with general difficulty in getting early weekend resident tee times there even for a single, the often glacial pace, and the way the tees/course sets up even from the white or green tees for someone who drives the ball < 250 yards means I hardly ever play it. I know I am in the minority in my way of thinking there, and I guess I'm not the target customer anyway. I checked out of curiosity and the non resident rate two weekends from now is $138 which is nuts, but I'm sure their tee sheet will be full anyway.

 

[Argonne69]

Another beautiful day for a walk. Unfortunately I walked Sun City Riverview, my 40th course on this trip. Meh. One of the most ho hum courses on this trip. Nothing really stands out, no surprise. Conditions were excellent. Greens were quick once the morning dew burned off. I'd say they were a good 10, and pushing 11. Bunkers were fluffy. I'd rate it a 3.

'Definitely going to be a few steps up tomorrow. I'm making the trek out to Los Caballeros.

[isaacbm]

Looking forward to hearing about this one. One of the few in the area I haven’t played.

[Rohlio]

You fully encapsulated how I feel about Papago.

[capking]

Definitely still going to go play it, it’s like 10 minutes away from where we’re staying. That is a selling point for me

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Argonne-I’ll be interested to see if los cab lets you walk. They previously told me they only allow members to walk over the phone. I’m not taking a cart until April if ever again. But I love los cab

also re Papago. I enjoy the design even more every time I play it. I typically play the whites but move up on 3 of the 1 shotters. For a muni I think it’s really amazing: susceptible to wind, thoughtful design, interesting and varied green complexes, strategically bunkered and a very good routing. Yes 1 & 10 are too similar and the pace usually sucks if you don’t play super early. It’s also a convenient location to a lot of. People and I enjoy the laid back vibe

[isaacbm]

On another note, why is Papago charging $16 for a range basket? Since ASU got out there, prices have gotten a little silly. It’s $10 for the same amount of ammo at Aguila.

[Argonne69]

Los Caballeros does not allow walking. I'm sitting in a cart in the 2nd fairway. I'm quickly running out of courses to walk. Initially I was walking four days a week. Now it's three days. In two weeks I'll probably be down to once or twice a week.

 

[Skydiver22]

I played GCU Sat morning as well... ASGA???

[Skydiver22]

Papago will always be my local valley favorite... I luv that beast of a course from the tips. Hardest finishing holes in the valley.

[ferrispgm]

No...they were going off when I was on the 2nd hole I believe. My original time was 7:46.

[fore_life]

Aguila yesterday $32 walking with the city card. With the new 202 freeway loop being open I doubt I’ll play anywhere else this winter haha.

[puttnforthe8]

Yup...agreed...21 minutes door to door for me now!

[Argonne69]

Los Caballeros this morning. Solid layout, but not sure how it wound up in Golfweek's best in state list. It's no Wickenburg Ranch. I was underwelmed by the front nine. There are a couple of excellent holes, but otherwise it's ho hum. However, the course gets more interesting on the back. Great views of the surrounding mountains. The par 5s were very good, but the 3s lacked. The greens weren't particularly interesting. Fairways were generous, and in great shape. The greens looked fine, but they were very soft. Almost squishy on the first few holes. There was a frost delay this morning, so maybe that had something to do with it? By the end of the round they were a bit firmer. Sand was good.

Is it worth the drive to play? I'd say so, but I wouldn't return for a second round. I'd head straight to Wickenburg Ranch. I'd rate the course a 5.

 

[Argonne69]

No sense driving an hour plus to play one round. So, I added Wickenburg CC to the agenda this afternoon. I'm glad I did, because I'd be very disappointed if I made a trek out to Wickenburg to play it. To call it quirky is a serious understatement. It's short and very tight. It seemed that half the tee shots were blind. The cart "paths" were a riot. I thought I was on an offroad adventure. The back tees seemed like an afterthought on many holes. No complaints on the conditioning. Greens rolled decently at ~10. I'd rate it a 3.5. Don't bother making a journey out here to play it, but it's probably worth a look as a 2nd round of the day for WR or LC.

[Argonne69]

Looking at GolfNow for a round next Tuesday. TPC Scottsdale Stadium is only $409. I didn't realize Arizona had legalized pot. Oy.

[puttnforthe8]

Just walk Champions. Or start playing the shite courses down my way: Foothills, Club West, Ahwatukee, johnson ranch, etc

[thezinfan]

You don't get many opportunities to play a PGA Tour course the week before the PGA event. Given how few times are available, its worth it to many.