Aguilla/Quintero/Wickenburg & Southern Dunes Trip

[puttnforthe8]

23 hours ago, cbbaron said:

Troon Card site list Wickenburg Ranch rates thru March of 2023

They are out of OS on the 25th and there have been no tee times at all.  So wondering.

[MUNIGRIT]

On 10/8/2022 at 2:26 PM, lurkinghobbit said:

Ok, so y'all got me talking about Quintero.  Love the visuals, hate the treatment I get there.  Been there several years in a row due to everyone loving the views, but have vowed to make someone else handle that tee times next time.

 

Booked 24 people one year.  Mis-communication led to us only having 22.  They charged me for the 2 'no shows', after bringing 22 people to their course on a Thursday in September.  They actually chased me down on the course to get the money.  I guess that is within their right, but it felt like a dick move.

 

They do not like 'outings' (even though that is not what we are) - and will not work with you.  They actually pat down the bags looking for outside alcohol.  They know NOTHING about customer service, and seemingly do not care about you.  Except the grill - they are nice there.

 

You better really love the views to put up with all that.  I only do to make others happy, and even then, after 6 years - I'm done.

 

That is my exact experience. We had 2 times booked for 8 guys. One guy couldn't make it and my buddy was paying for me and when he told me what they all paid I'm like that isn't correct. After talking with the front desk guy and I used a calculator to show their math was off they finally got the manager. They finally told me the took 8 tee times and charged that total price over 7 guys since we had a no show. They said they could have sold the other time. It was April of 2020 and I reminded them that they wouldn't have put an extra guy with us due to CV19 protocols.  Combine that with the constant do you have outside drinks(over 3 times and on the TV screen) I was like never again. I used to always take people out there but will never do that again.

[Chanceman]

On 2/19/2020 at 10:01 AM, bankkur74 said:

Just wanted to give a golf getaway update that a buddy and I just had over the extended weekend in Phoenix/Scottsdale. We arrived on late Thursday night and play 18 on Friday, 36 on Saturday, 36 Sunday and left on Monday. We had a rental place a couple of blocks from Banner University and only 5 minutes from Interstate 10 (perfectly centralized for our trip as are courses were all over).

For the Friday round, we played Aguilla, teeing off around 10:30 am. We were just looking for a cheap, warm up round to get us back in the routine of swinging the club since we both haven’t played in 6-8 weeks. I would say that for the price and it being a city course, we really enjoyed it. Easy to walk, fairways and greens in good enough shape (lot better than our city courses normally are) as well as the greens were pretty smooth and fast. 

For the first Saturday 18, we traveled up north to play Quintero. This course was hands down our favorite and one of the top 10 that either of us has ever played. We loved the desert setting and the holes not being right on one of another. The playing conditions could not have been better as the course seemed to me like it was in the best shape it could have been in. Fairways were perfectly manicured, and greens were near perfect and being extremely fast (something we had to get used to). It helped that we were the first group off the tee as we moved at a good steady pace with no delays.

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Our second 18 for the day, was up at Wickenburg Ranch. Both of us thought the course was some-what gimmicky and thought it was just ok. Fairways were in good shape, with greens and tee boxers being so-so. You can tell from the ball marks on the greens that the course seems like it gets a lot of play; maybe this is because it appeared to be in a retirement community. Pace of play was a little slow as we thought there could have been a ranger or two to help move it along. We would not return to Wickenburg Ranch if given the chance.

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For the final 36 on Sunday, we decided to play Southern Dunes for both rounds as they had a double play and breakfast package. At first, we just thought it was ok, but after the second 18, we determined that it was a little better than originally thought. Fairways were nice, and greens were in great shape as well as being fast (seemed to be a recurring pattern here). But after all the talk on the forums about how great the course is, we seemed to feel that is what somewhat a letdown. Would not replay again if returned, would rather play something new. We just didn’t quite understand why the course gets so much hype. It just seemed to me by the way everyone talked, it was hands down one of the best courses, but we don’t think that at all. Little difficult, but didn’t feel like it stood out as a must return course.

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Of the courses played, our favorite was Quintero by far. We already are talking about returning next year to try We-Ko-Pa and maybe TPC, but we will definitely plan on 36 at Quintero!

Thanks everyone for helping us out plan the trip and give recommendations and guidance, it was much appreciated.  

Well each to their own, but no way would I put Quintero in the same bracket as Wicky or AkChin. I mean I liked playing it but not one to repeat.