Best value/affordable courses in Scottsdale/PHX area

[nkg07]

Heading to scottsdale in a couple weeks and was wondering the best value courses in the area that can be played for around $100 in the mornings and less in the afternoons? Unfortunately on a budget as college students and also managed to come during what seems like absolute peak season and peak prices. Already have a tee time at Legacy, and looking to book at Papago and Lookout Mountain. Starfire, McCormick, and GCU were also considerations, but haven't heard many good things about them here. 

 

Any good suggestions? and thoughts on the courses mentioned above?

[puttnforthe8]

7 hours ago, nkg07 said:

Heading to scottsdale in a couple weeks and was wondering the best value courses in the area that can be played for around $100 in the mornings and less in the afternoons? Unfortunately on a budget as college students and also managed to come during what seems like absolute peak season and peak prices. Already have a tee time at Legacy, and looking to book at Papago and Lookout Mountain. Starfire, McCormick, and GCU were also considerations, but haven't heard many good things about them here. 

 

Any good suggestions? and thoughts on the courses mentioned above?

How many coming?

 

No such thing...sorry. Papago is a waste these days at the price.  Lookout is horrid...please don't do that to yourself!  Starfire and McCormick are even worse.

 

You best bet is to try and get rounds at Verrado, Estrella, Verde River, Vistancia, Aguila, Southern Dunes.  Other options, but not great, Red Mountain, Las Sendas, Longbow or Talking Stick (if you can find a deal).

 

 

 

 

Edited January 7, 2021 by puttnforthe8

[nkgolf]

2 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

How many coming?

 

No such thing...sorry. Papago is a waste these days at the price.  Lookout is horrid...please don't do that to yourself!  Starfire and McCormick are even worse.

 

You best bet is to try and get rounds at Verrado, Estrella, Verde River, Vistancia, Aguila, Southern Dunes.  Other options, but not great, Red Mountain, Las Sendas, Longbow or Talking Stick (if you can find a deal).

 

 

 

 

 

4 people total. Not necessarily looking for the best courses in AZ or the nicest architecture or holes, but anything fun with memorable holes or views and with good conditions. 

[Kuhndogg8]

6 hours ago, nkgolf said:

 

4 people total. Not necessarily looking for the best courses in AZ or the nicest architecture or holes, but anything fun with memorable holes or views and with good conditions. 

 

Try and pick off Puttnforthe8's list if you can.  Every course he listed is better than every course you have booked except Papago, and as he stated Papago isn't a great value this time of year.  Plus I'd pick Verrado Founders, Estrella, Southern Dunes, Verde River, and Longbow before Papago anyways (just my opinion).  Verrado Founders and Southern Dunes are in my top 5 favorite public courses in the valley.  I think you can come up with a way better itinerary at a pretty reasonable cost and you'll be very happy to have chosen from those courses.  One additional option if you're willing to take the drive out to Wickenburg is Los Caballeros.  Great course and not as pricey as Wickenburg Ranch.

[puttnforthe8]

8 hours ago, nkgolf said:

 

4 people total. Not necessarily looking for the best courses in AZ or the nicest architecture or holes, but anything fun with memorable holes or views and with good conditions. 

 

You will get very little to none on that list you have set out.  Pick off the list above/below.

[nkgolf]

On 1/7/2021 at 11:34 AM, puttnforthe8 said:

 

You will get very little to none on that list you have set out.  Pick off the list above/below.

Which course at Talking Stick is better O'odham or Pippash?

[puttnforthe8]

38 minutes ago, nkgolf said:

Which course at Talking Stick is better O'odham or Pippash?

Pippash by a desert mile

[nkgolf]

2 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

Pippash by a desert mile

Sounds good. What are the differences and what makes Pippash better? Again like above just looking for a fun round with nice views and conditions.

[puttnforthe8]

11 minutes ago, nkgolf said:

Sounds good. What are the differences and what makes Pippash better? Again like above just looking for a fun round with nice views and conditions.

Then TS is not the course...there are not a whole lot of views.  It is next to the casino and hotel. 

 

The course is better in every aspect: design, condition, feel, looks, etc.

[nkgolf]

22 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

Then TS is not the course...there are not a whole lot of views.  It is next to the casino and hotel. 

 

The course is better in every aspect: design, condition, feel, looks, etc.

Last couple questions. We're obviously new to area so hoping to play some desert golf courses. Would Longbow fit in to that/is there any other good desert-style golf you recommend? Also what makes Lookout so bad, as it seems to have good reviews on GolfNow and elsewhere? Our final itinerary is probably going to be Legacy, Longbow, Papago (found a good deal), and either Southern Dunes/Talking Stick.

[puttnforthe8]

Just now, nkgolf said:

Last couple questions. We're obviously new to area so hoping to play some desert golf courses. Would Longbow fit in to that/is there any other good desert-style golf you recommend? Also what makes Lookout so bad, as it seems to have good reviews on GolfNow and elsewhere? Our final itinerary is probably going to be Legacy, Longbow, Papago (found a good deal), and either Southern Dunes/Talking Stick.

 

Lookout is a hokey golf course with a lot of bad holes (design wise and layout wise), conditions are almost always inconsistent one hole to the next...you could have a wet and muddy fairway or patchy on one hole and then rock hard conditions on another...same with the greens.    There are a whole lot of boring holes too.  #1 is a pretty pathetic hole, for example.   Service leaves much to be desired.  Poor/substandard equipment - carts, range balls, etc. There are a few holes with views and I suspect visitors get a kick out of a few views and elevation changes.   I can play it right now for $25 and I still have no desire to do so...but will force myself to play at that rate.  Plus the 19th holes, imo, is terrible.  

 

Longbow is a pretty decent choice.  It is desert golf with many good holes and decent views of red mountain.  The only downside is it is near an airport and the holes themselves are not 'scenic'.   If you want scenic - the trip to Verrado or Verde River would be my choice.  

 

Southern Dunes would be a 99 out of 100 times play vs TS.  Unless you are getting TS for $30-50, SD is really a no brainer....in every respect (except the longer drive).

 

You may already know, but Legacy is a basic resort course, no views, etc.  But it is a good warmup course, easy and generally in good shape.   

 

Personally, I would recommend Longbow (replace Legacy), Papago (you have), Southern Dunes and Verrado Founders or Verde River.   But if you can do Verrado and Verde River, then do that instead of Longbow.  That will be a really good set of courses with views, great shape, super fun, great design and great 19th hole spots (Verde River being one of the best in Phx).  

 

 

[Chanceman]

+1 for Ak Chin. A very nifty course despite the longish drive.

[jatrain]

You’ve gotten good advice on courses but I’ll add one caveat as someone who traveled out here for 10 years before actually moving to the Valley and during that time used this forum as a resource (much as you are doing). 
 

I think that those of use who live here and post on this forum generally look at courses differently than people from out of town and tend to be much harsher critics.  When I used to come out to play during the winter, the first round I would play every year would be at Rancho Manana.  I loved it as it was completely different than anything we had in the Midwest. Desert, elevation change, views, etc made me look past the fact that it’s a pretty bad golf course.  I haven’t played it since I’ve lived here.  I think there are a number of courses that have enough WOW factor that tourists really like them, yet locals don’t. . Lookout, Las Sendas, AZ Grand,  Desert Canyon, Dinosaur, others. From a design standpoint pretty bad golf courses but I consistently talk to people from out of town who really like them. 
 

So to each their own. I 

Edited January 11, 2021 by jatrain

[nkgolf]

On 1/10/2021 at 9:00 PM, jatrain said:

You’ve gotten good advice on courses but I’ll add one caveat as someone who traveled out here for 10 years before actually moving to the Valley and during that time used this forum as a resource (much as you are doing). 
 

I think that those of use who live here and post on this forum generally look at courses differently than people from out of town and tend to be much harsher critics.  When I used to come out to play during the winter, the first round I would play every year would be at Rancho Manana.  I loved it as it was completely different than anything we had in the Midwest. Desert, elevation change, views, etc made me look past the fact that it’s a pretty bad golf course.  I haven’t played it since I’ve lived here.  I think there are a number of courses that have enough WOW factor that tourists really like them, yet locals don’t. . Lookout, Las Sendas, AZ Grand,  Desert Canyon, Dinosaur, others. From a design standpoint pretty bad golf courses but I consistently talk to people from out of town who really like them. 
 

So to each their own. I 

What courses would you recommend sort of like Rancho Manana that have desert/elevation/mountain views? 

[nkgolf]

On 1/9/2021 at 3:27 PM, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Lookout is a hokey golf course with a lot of bad holes (design wise and layout wise), conditions are almost always inconsistent one hole to the next...you could have a wet and muddy fairway or patchy on one hole and then rock hard conditions on another...same with the greens.    There are a whole lot of boring holes too.  #1 is a pretty pathetic hole, for example.   Service leaves much to be desired.  Poor/substandard equipment - carts, range balls, etc. There are a few holes with views and I suspect visitors get a kick out of a few views and elevation changes.   I can play it right now for $25 and I still have no desire to do so...but will force myself to play at that rate.  Plus the 19th holes, imo, is terrible.  

 

Longbow is a pretty decent choice.  It is desert golf with many good holes and decent views of red mountain.  The only downside is it is near an airport and the holes themselves are not 'scenic'.   If you want scenic - the trip to Verrado or Verde River would be my choice.  

 

Southern Dunes would be a 99 out of 100 times play vs TS.  Unless you are getting TS for $30-50, SD is really a no brainer....in every respect (except the longer drive).

 

You may already know, but Legacy is a basic resort course, no views, etc.  But it is a good warmup course, easy and generally in good shape.   

 

Personally, I would recommend Longbow (replace Legacy), Papago (you have), Southern Dunes and Verrado Founders or Verde River.   But if you can do Verrado and Verde River, then do that instead of Longbow.  That will be a really good set of courses with views, great shape, super fun, great design and great 19th hole spots (Verde River being one of the best in Phx).  

 

We are booked for Legacy, Longbow, and Papago. Have a tee time at Southern Dunes for last round, but was really hoping to play a course with desert and great mountain views, any recommendations for that? Would Verrado founders be a good one?

Edited January 14, 2021 by nkgolf

[Argonne69]

Yes, Verrado Founders is a very good one.