2023 Course Conditions- Phoenix Area

[cbbaron]

Headed out next week and looking forward after playing my home course yesterday in Plymouth Ma 45 degrees with 25-30 mph gusts

[Bonneville85308]

Early AM round at Hillcrest. I hadn't played it since probably 2020. The fairways, aprons, tee boxes, and particularly the greens, were in way better condition than when I played it a bunch of times back in 2018-2020, I was impressed for a low-end course like this. Greens were pretty much flawless. The fairways were heavily watered though, almost at TPC Scottsdale in July levels. Bunkers were a mixed bag, more sand then I remember (I recall they were total concrete in 2020), but generally unraked with lots of uneven lies. Rough was the usual Hillcrest mix of bare hardpan dirt, weeds, and dormant bermuda that has just started coming back.

Good deal for $48. Seems like they've also replaced the junky old carts since the last time I was here. I had forgotten how much I like the layout, I had a fun round.

 

 

[hackeraz]

Dove Valley over the weekend. First time on the track and was pleasantly surprised. Course was in good shape, bunkers were nice, greens were really good and quick. Couple gimmicky holes on the back with blind fairways and such but otherwise pretty good. For the rate it was very much worth it. Right about 3.5 hours to play 18 and that was with waiting a bit on 15-18. 

[puttnforthe8]

On 5/6/2023 at 10:08 AM, Bonneville85308 said:

Early AM round at Hillcrest. I hadn't played it since probably 2020. The fairways, aprons, tee boxes, and particularly the greens, were in way better condition than when I played it a bunch of times back in 2018-2020, I was impressed for a low-end course like this. Greens were pretty much flawless. The fairways were heavily watered though, almost at TPC Scottsdale in July levels. Bunkers were a mixed bag, more sand then I remember (I recall they were total concrete in 2020), but generally unraked with lots of uneven lies. Rough was the usual Hillcrest mix of bare hardpan dirt, weeds, and dormant bermuda that has just started coming back.

Good deal for $48. Seems like they've also replaced the junky old carts since the last time I was here. I had forgotten how much I like the layout, I had a fun round.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the update...I need to get out there again some time.  The course used to always be on tournament schedules from GC Am, AGA, other - then it just fell off the face .... due to the conditions/management I can only assume.  But it was always a fun course.  (like Foothills, a fun course that went to poop)

Edited May 8 by puttnforthe8

[cbbaron]

Anyone play Raptor recently is it really firm and fast and if you miss a fairway are you in trouble?

[ilikegolf26]

On 5/8/2023 at 9:54 PM, cbbaron said:

Anyone play Raptor recently is it really firm and fast and if you miss a fairway are you in trouble?

No, I played this weekend and it’s soft from tee to green. They’re watering the hell out of the course. I got several mud balls off the tee in fairways and rough is pretty long. 

Edited May 10 by ilikegolf26

[NativeTX]

On 5/8/2023 at 8:54 PM, cbbaron said:

Anyone play Raptor recently is it really firm and fast and if you miss a fairway are you in trouble?

 

Played it this weekend

 

It's incredibly firm and fast and the rough is grown up so that helps keep drives alive. Playing pretty damn tough but it's beautiful.

 

Edited May 10 by NativeTX

[fore_life]

So one says soggy one says firm so about medium lol

[NativeTX]

24 minutes ago, fore_life said:

So one says soggy one says firm so about medium lol

 

No he's right about the fairways. We were actually playing lift clean and place.

 

Greens were hard and fast

 

[ilikegolf26]

On 5/10/2023 at 8:58 PM, fore_life said:

So one says soggy one says firm so about medium lol

I said it’s soft tee to green. Greens were pretty quick relatively speaking as I had played Verrado and Southern Dunes in the days prior. 

[AzSuperHack76]

Los Caballeros today. Overall the course is in amazing shape, except for the greens. I did not realize at the time I booked that they had large tyne aerated the greens on Monday. So, instead of pure bent grass it was like playing plinko, it happens, but I'd avoid it for a few weeks. Tee'd off at 0810, finished at 1130. Didn't see a group in front or behind us the entire round, it was amazing. 

 

Just a quick note, they are renovating the proshop and restaurant so you are directed to the resort side in order to drop off clubs and get shuttled to the range. 

[Shilgy]

19 hours ago, AzSuperHack76 said:

Los Caballeros today. Overall the course is in amazing shape, except for the greens. I did not realize at the time I booked that they had large tyne aerated the greens on Monday. So, instead of pure bent grass it was like playing plinko, it happens, but I'd avoid it for a few weeks. Tee'd off at 0810, finished at 1130. Didn't see a group in front or behind us the entire round, it was amazing. 

 

Just a quick note, they are renovating the proshop and restaurant so you are directed to the resort side in order to drop off clubs and get shuttled to the range. 

Love Los Cab…..or used to and from the sounds of it it may stay a “used to”?  Had a few groups go out there last summer and everything was as remembered except the greens.  Turns out the members the last few years when the golf was member owned didn’t like interruptions to their enjoyment of the course so little maintenance was done. Told me they hadn’t aerated in over three years so, for example, so they were soft and spongy from an extremely excess thatch layer.  He hoped the new owners would be redoing the greens this summer but it sounds like that’s off for now based on your description.

Edited May 14 by Shilgy

[AzSuperHack76]

6 hours ago, Shilgy said:

Love Los Cab…..or used to and from the sounds of it it may stay a “used to”?  Had a few groups go out there last summer and everything was as remembered except the greens.  Turns out the members the last few years when the golf was member owned didn’t like interruptions to their enjoyment of the course so little maintenance was done. Told me they hadn’t aerated in over three years so, for example, so they were soft and spongy from an extremely excess thatch layer.  He hoped the new owners would be redoing the greens this summer but it sounds like that’s off for now based on your description.

Greens have been soft in the past but never had anything overly crazy. Last year they were near perfect when I played. 

[soregongolfer]

How are the prices?  I've read on another forum that they're hanging on a little later than usual.  

[puttnforthe8]

10 hours ago, soregongolfer said:

How are the prices?  I've read on another forum that they're hanging on a little later than usual.  

 

Still mostly stupid!  I don't understand these courses...I was watching a few courses and they were more than 50% open times because they were still seeking $150+.   

 

Prices won't drop, I suspect, until next week.  That's when you are seeing some of the summer cards/programs starting.  

[Bonneville85308]

7 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Still mostly stupid!  I don't understand these courses...I was watching a few courses and they were more than 50% open times because they were still seeking $150+.   

 

Prices won't drop, I suspect, until next week.  That's when you are seeing some of the summer cards/programs starting.  

 

Whirlwind finally decided to get real. I was able to book an early AM time over Memorial Day weekend for $85.

 

Troon North still wants $160-$200 for weekdays in June...

Edited May 16 by Bonneville85308

[MUNIGRIT]

On 5/15/2023 at 12:17 AM, soregongolfer said:

How are the prices?  I've read on another forum that they're hanging on a little later than usual.  

I think that is the new post CV golf. Too many people have moved to the valley and started golfing again. The days of everywhere less than 50 and a lot for 30 bucks seems gone forever!

Edited May 16 by MUNIGRIT

[AzSuperHack76]

19 hours ago, Bonneville85308 said:

 

Whirlwind finally decided to get real. I was able to book an early AM time over Memorial Day weekend for $85.

 

Troon North still wants $160-$200 for weekdays in June...

Man, you must have got lucky. $190 this weekend and $156 this week.

[SilverBullets]

21 hours ago, AzSuperHack76 said:

Man, you must have got lucky. $190 this weekend and $156 this week.

 

WW is still like $120 with the Troon Card discount

[hackeraz]

Yep, rates are still absurd. Anyone have any recommendations for something in the east valley that's decent and not 120+ a round? Not very familiar with that area. 

[puttnforthe8]

52 minutes ago, hackeraz said:

Yep, rates are still absurd. Anyone have any recommendations for something in the east valley that's decent and not 120+ a round? Not very familiar with that area. 

Poston Butte; Southern Dunes (one more week and it will be $30/rd);  Longbow off and on can find a decent price; 

[hackeraz]

57 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

Poston Butte; Southern Dunes (one more week and it will be $30/rd);  Longbow off and on can find a decent price; 

Looks like still through the roof this weekend, Longbow definitely drops off next week. Poston Butte sounds decent but wow, that's a hike from N. Scottsdale. 

[AzSuperHack76]

2 hours ago, hackeraz said:

Looks like still through the roof this weekend, Longbow definitely drops off next week. Poston Butte sounds decent but wow, that's a hike from N. Scottsdale. 

Poston Butte was a one and done for me. Not a bad course by any means but it's just not worth the drive from almost anywhere in the valley, unless you live in the SE Valley. 

[cbbaron]

I dont get it Talon was a ghost town today my WT rate was 156

[fore_life]

Maybe people are waking up to not wanting to be raped on pricing. $156 is still so stupid for a “discount card”

[AzSuperHack76]

Westbrook Village Lakes course this morning. It's been a few years since I have played there. Course is in phenomenal condition. Greens are fast and true. Not going to win any awards by any means but such a fun course to play with 2 of the stronger finishing holes in the west valley. Teed off at 640 this morning, 3:40. pace, a slower foursome was first off and held up play, should have been sub 3 hours but we waited on almost every shot from 7 on, clueless to the fact that the group behind them were waiting on everything. 

 

Edited May 19 by AzSuperHack76

[Bonneville85308]

1 hour ago, AzSuperHack76 said:

Westbrook Village Lakes course this morning. It's been a few years since I have played there. Course is in phenomenal condition. Greens are fast and true. Not going to win any awards by any means but such a fun course to play with 2 of the stronger finishing holes in the west valley. Teed off at 640 this morning, 3:40. pace, a slower foursome was first off and held up play, should have been sub 3 hours but we waited on almost every shot from 7 on, clueless to the fact that the group behind them were waiting on everything. 

 

 

I used to play it a bunch in 2018-2019 when they had a summer pass that came out to like $20/round. Always enjoyed it, and liked it much better than the Vistas course there. During 2018-2019 it was probably the best conditioned public course on the west side during summer. I've been meaning to get back there. They tightened up on public tee times during the summers of 2020-2022 but I've noticed they've been putting some public times on GN in the last few weeks.

[AzSuperHack76]

3 hours ago, Bonneville85308 said:

 

I used to play it a bunch in 2018-2019 when they had a summer pass that came out to like $20/round. Always enjoyed it, and liked it much better than the Vistas course there. During 2018-2019 it was probably the best conditioned public course on the west side during summer. I've been meaning to get back there. They tightened up on public tee times during the summers of 2020-2022 but I've noticed they've been putting some public times on GN in the last few weeks.

Yeah, they were closed to public play during the winter the last couple of years is what the popshop attendant told me. The greens are really good right now. One thing that was odd, no rakes in the bunkers, not sure if they forgot, we were the 2nd group off or if they just don't put them out anymore. 

[azgolfer44]

46 minutes ago, AzSuperHack76 said:

Yeah, they were closed to public play during the winter the last couple of years is what the popshop attendant told me. The greens are really good right now. One thing that was odd, no rakes in the bunkers, not sure if they forgot, we were the 2nd group off or if they just don't put them out anymore. 

This is the one covid rule I wish was permanent. No rakes in bunkers. People are terrible at raking anyways. If you are in a footprint or area where someone hit, place it to nearest point. Would speed up play too. 

[soregongolfer]

I'm planning my trip and saw that Raptor was $150 in August.  That's about $25 more than it was last summer.  Pinnacle is $120.  I'll probably pull the trigger on that one.  

Edited May 20 by soregongolfer