Top 30 AZ public

[Birdie Retriever]

This is a good working list for folks visiting Arizona.  This list would have saved me hours of research 🧐 

 

Maybe an honorable mention but I played Copper Canyon (same designer as Ak Chin) for $34 during the Phoenix Open week when prices were sky high.  It’s a bit of a drive from PHX but the conditions on the course were excellent and the course was well worth it at that price.  I played with 3 locals and they said it’s prices on GolfNOW app drop even lower in summer/fall.  It’s run by Troon mgmt and has (3) 9 hole courses they rotate.
 

 

[soregongolfer]

Troon North Pinnacle is going to be closed this summer.  Is Monument a downgrade?

[AzSuperHack76]

36 minutes ago, soregongolfer said:

Troon North Pinnacle is going to be closed this summer.  Is Monument a downgrade?

Monument has the signature hole out there, but I personally prefer Pinnacle. I think the majority of the SW Forum peeps lean towards Pinnacle, but I could be off on that assessment.  

[chisag]

On 1/18/2022 at 11:54 AM, puttnforthe8 said:

Always tough bro - once you get into the 20s it ends up a lot of perception.  Some folks love The Raven - Where does it fit?  Aguila, design wise and these days conditions, you could make an argument that it could be on the list - the area, views, looks and "rough edges" can make it seem like it shouldn't be. 

 

 

... Dude, what's mine say? 🤪  You have pretty much described the majority of my golf. I play Aguila all winter because $24 to walk at twilite with my remote cart for a course of this caliber is too hard to pass up when most are charging $150-300 and it is 5 minutes from my home. I join Raven in the Summer because the trees provide some shade protection in the intense heat and with an Arcis Players card it is $29 to play twilite. Raven as a base lets me venture out to all the other courses on the list while summer prices are in effect. 

[puttnforthe8]

26 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

 

... Dude, what's mine say? 🤪  You have pretty much described the majority of my golf. I play Aguila all winter because $24 to walk at twilite with my remote cart for a course of this caliber is too hard to pass up when most are charging $150-300 and it is 5 minutes from my home. I join Raven in the Summer because the trees provide some shade protection in the intense heat and with an Arcis Players card it is $29 to play twilite. Raven as a base lets me venture out to all the other courses on the list while summer prices are in effect. 

 

Same here - except that I make Southern Dunes my home for the summer...$25ish / round for top 5 course is a no brainer.  I go to Aguila all winter and sprinkle in GCU, Poston Butte and a couple of others using my Troon card.  

[Skydiver22]

Really good list... I want to see Papago in the fall after moving a couple of greens reno'ing the tees... etc. Also installing some partial golf paths... 9 and 18 look to become a little harder...

[chisag]

42 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

Same here - except that I make Southern Dunes my home for the summer...$25ish / round for top 5 course is a no brainer. 

 

... I wish SD was closer as it's one of my favorites. No brainer indeed. 👍

[vallygolf]

On 6/23/2022 at 4:02 PM, chisag said:

 

... I wish SD was closer as it's one of my favorites. No brainer indeed. 👍

SD is the only consolation we East Valley guys have.  Even though it is a ways off, Queen Creek road gives a strait shot.  25 minutes from my front door.  49 to wekopa.  Still befuddled by the derth of good golf in Chandler and Gilbert.  Can I put in a request to the cosmos to blow up Kokopeli, Western Skies, and Superstition Springs and just give us one world class golfcourse in return..... I know, too many houses and flat land.

Edited June 27, 2022 by vallygolf

[DrSchteeve]

59 minutes ago, vallygolf said:

SD is the only consolation we East Valley guys have.  Even though it is a ways off, Queen Creek road gives a strait shot.  25 minutes from my front door.  49 to wekopa.  Still befuddled by the derth of good golf in Chandler and Gilbert.  Can I put in a request to the cosmos to blow up Kokopeli, Western Skies, and Superstition Springs and just give us one world class golfcourse in return..... I know, too many houses and flat land.

Well SD is quite a good consolation. And created from a piece of flat land, so it can be done.

[puttnforthe8]

6 hours ago, vallygolf said:

SD is the only consolation we East Valley guys have.  Even though it is a ways off, Queen Creek road gives a strait shot.  25 minutes from my front door.  49 to wekopa.  Still befuddled by the derth of good golf in Chandler and Gilbert.  Can I put in a request to the cosmos to blow up Kokopeli, Western Skies, and Superstition Springs and just give us one world class golfcourse in return..... I know, too many houses and flat land.

Sup Springs would be the choice - there is enough property, contouring and routing that someone could do something pretty good with it.  

[azgolfer44]

3 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

Sup Springs would be the choice - there is enough property, contouring and routing that someone could do something pretty good with it.  

Call me stupid, but I really liked Sup Springs in the mid 2000’s. I think it has gone downhill quite a bit since then, but found the course somewhat interesting and playable. It could probably use a complete refresh and now would be the time with the extra rounds from covid. Doubt they Will do anything. 
 

I

[Bonneville85308]

49 minutes ago, azgolfer44 said:

Call me stupid, but I really liked Sup Springs in the mid 2000’s. I think it has gone downhill quite a bit since then, but found the course somewhat interesting and playable. It could probably use a complete refresh and now would be the time with the extra rounds from covid. Doubt they Will do anything. 
 

I

 

Owned by Arcis, so probably not gonna happen, they are just going to run it into the ground.

[AZ_JHWK]

11 hours ago, vallygolf said:

SD is the only consolation we East Valley guys have.  Even though it is a ways off, Queen Creek road gives a strait shot.  25 minutes from my front door.  49 to wekopa.  Still befuddled by the derth of good golf in Chandler and Gilbert.  Can I put in a request to the cosmos to blow up Kokopeli, Western Skies, and Superstition Springs and just give us one world class golfcourse in return..... I know, too many houses and flat land.

Kokopelli was by far the worst conditioned golf course I've played since moving to AZ 3 years ago. I generally steer clear of anything questionable, but an old friend made this tee time. He's lived here since the mid 80's but hadn't played there in 20 years. You know you are in trouble when the golf carts look like they have been salvaged from a flooded river/wash. I've never seen so much mud on a golf course. Just random patches of grass. This was summer, so it's probably pristine in the winter overseed.😉 

[AzSuperHack76]

It’s amazing the wide range of courses that Arcis manages. From a complete and total dump like Kokopelli to Stone Canyon?? Talk about compete and total polar opposites of the golf spectrum. 

Edited June 28, 2022 by AzSuperHack76

[puttnforthe8]

12 hours ago, AzSuperHack76 said:

It’s amazing the wide range of courses that Arcis manages. From a complete and dump like Kokopelli to Stone Canyon?? Talk about compete and total polar opposites of the golf spectrum. 

 

Business model I assume - just like restaurants - some own dumpy fast food places all the way up to nice restaurants.

 

Not sure the economics/financials - but there probably is some sort of hand down, reuse, and other stuff that gets them tax breaks or money savings.  Like the carts - run them to the ground at a nice course, "sell" them to the other course and then run them to the death there.  Prob a solid accounting trick.

[vallygolf]

1 minute ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Business model I assume - just like restaurants - some own dumpy fast food places all the way up to nice restaurants.

 

Not sure the economics/financials - but there probably is some sort of hand down, reuse, and other stuff that gets them tax breaks or money savings.  Like the carts - run them to the ground at a nice course, "sell" them to the other course and then run them to the death there.  Prob a solid accounting trick.

I can see it now.  Stone Canyon staff:  "So glad we are getting rid of these crappy carts.  Corporate has been so chincy on these things, they are on their last leg"

Superstition springs staff:  "Sweet new carts.  These actually charge and operate, no more spending the day in mid round cart rescues."

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

My favorite Arizona golf courses: 

1. We Ko Pa-Saguaro 
2. Troon North-Pinnacle 
3. Dove Mountain-Saguaro/Tortolita 
4. Camelback-Ambiente
5. Verrado-Founders 
6. Los Caballeros
7. southern dunes 
8. TPC Scottsdale-Stadium 
9. Troon North-Monument
10. Copper Canyon 
11. Papago 
12. Quintero
13. Tpc champions 

[vallygolf]

On 6/23/2022 at 3:16 PM, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Same here - except that I make Southern Dunes my home for the summer...$25ish / round for top 5 course is a no brainer.  I go to Aguila all winter and sprinkle in GCU, Poston Butte and a couple of others using my Troon card.  

I dont hear to much conversation about Poston Butte (I know it is way out there).  Its not too far from me in SE valley, is it worth looking to put on the rotation?  Similarities to any local courses?

[puttnforthe8]

5 hours ago, vallygolf said:

I dont hear to much conversation about Poston Butte (I know it is way out there).  Its not too far from me in SE valley, is it worth looking to put on the rotation?  Similarities to any local courses?

Absolutely - the value is excellent.  Good facility (range, putting and chipping w/ bunker).

 

It is flat, but the greens are no gimmees - greens are the best part.  There are some similar holes, but it's not like you would outright hate them.  Risk reward, good par 5s.  

 

 

[fore_life]

poston is gary panks, you'll see similarities between his courses. Actually reminds me of a mix between Raven,Legacy, and Seville

[vallygolf]

On 10/7/2022 at 5:21 PM, fore_life said:

poston is gary panks, you'll see similarities between his courses. Actually reminds me of a mix between Raven,Legacy, and Seville

Nice.  I typically like Panks courses.  He doesn't beat anybody up, but usually adds just enough challenge to keep it interesting.

[kthomas]

Interesting that people don't like Starr Pass. I find it more interesting than Arizona National and Sewailo.

[Chanceman]

Talking Stick north and south 

Apache Stronghold

Vista Verde

TPC Champions

[fore_life]

11 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Talking Stick north and south 

Apache Stronghold

Vista Verde

TPC Champions

Apache stronghold is closed, vista verde is private, north and south have new names.

[mshills]

Was in PHX last week. Mostly played at my buddy’s club, but did get up to Los Caballeros. Here’s my assessment:

 

Overall really enjoyed it. 
Beautiful setting. 
Super friendly staff and quite good $ value for peak season. 
Very playable off the tee. 
Numerous elevated greens. 
Handful of blind shots. 
One goofy par 5. 
 

I’d play it again for sure, especially now that Wick is private 😕

[AzSuperHack76]

7 hours ago, mshills said:

Was in PHX last week. Mostly played at my buddy’s club, but did get up to Los Caballeros. Here’s my assessment:

 

Overall really enjoyed it. 
Beautiful setting. 
Super friendly staff and quite good $ value for peak season. 
Very playable off the tee. 
Numerous elevated greens. 
Handful of blind shots. 
One goofy par 5. 
 

I’d play it again for sure, especially now that Wick is private 😕

I love Los Cab, such an old school course in a great setting. 
 

Wickenburg Ranch isn’t fully private. Still open to Troon Card play.  

[Chanceman]

On 12/10/2022 at 2:10 AM, fore_life said:

Apache stronghold is closed, vista verde is private, north and south have new names.

Are they doing work at Apache Stronghold or is it kaput?

[puttnforthe8]

Just now, Chanceman said:

Are they doing work at Apache Stronghold or is it kaput?

 

Done...closed permanently

[Chanceman]

Just now, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Done...closed permanently

That's a pity. I never played there but evidently it was a great design.