How many have you played in AZ?

[AZ_JHWK]

Several members have been checking off new courses played on their list this summer. It got me wondering how many have y'all played total in your years living/visiting in AZ. I've lived here 4 years and have only played 40 different courses, most of those in the first 2 years. I only get out once a week, so I tend not to take a chance on a sketchy course. I've played zero private courses, so these are all public access courses. I've never paid over $100 before tax and other fees. I tend to lean on this forum for courses recommendations. Thanks for that. 

 

There is only one course that I've vowed to never return...Kokopelli. Summer of 2020. The muddiest mess I've ever seen.  You know when you walk up, and the carts look as muddy as off-road ATV's, there is going to be a problem. 😆

 

There are many favorites and those are the ones I try to visit every summer when the price is right. 

 

So, how many have you played?

[Bonneville85308]

I just added them up. I've played 139 different courses in Arizona. Includes a few private courses and a few that have since permanently closed. In photo albums, I keep a scorecard from each different course I've ever played across the country since I started playing in the 1990s. Next to each, I write a few short comments on the course or the situation that brought me there, whether I'd return or not, etc.

 

There are still a few more public/semi-private courses in metro Phoenix that I haven't played yet, mostly in the far SE valley around Sun Lakes, Queen Creek, Pinal county, etc. And a bunch around the state that are still on the to-do list in places like Green Valley, Yuma, Show Low, etc. Will be knocking off a few of them in September.

[596]

I've played in Parker,  Kingman, Flagstaff Sedona, Phoenix area, Bullhead City, Payson, Cottonwood, Prescott to name a few. Numbers? I have no idea. 

[soregongolfer]

Wickenburg Ranch

Quintero

Both at Wekopa

Both at Troon North

Southern Dunes

Copper Canyon

Boulders North

Grayhawk-Raptor

Dinosaur Mountain

 

I'll add to that list next August.  Can't wait!  

[AZ_JHWK]

2 hours ago, soregongolfer said:

Wickenburg Ranch

Quintero

Both at Wekopa

Both at Troon North

Southern Dunes

Copper Canyon

Boulders North

Grayhawk-Raptor

Dinosaur Mountain

 

I'll add to that list next August.  Can't wait!  

Thats a great list. All at the top of my favorites. I need to hit Wickenburg and Troon.

[imkirby34]

Our group has been going on annual golf trips since '97 (exc 2 COVID years) and AZ is, by far, our most popular location.  We've played:

 

Stonecreek

Eagle Mountain (4x)

Karsten @ ASU

Red Mountain Ranch

Sunridge Canyon (3x)

We-Ko-Pa (both)

Ocotillo

Dinosaur Mountain

Estrella Mountain Ranch

Las Sendas

Greyhawk (both)

Troon North (both)

Legends Trail

Trilogy

Raven @ South Mountain

Boulders

Phoenician

 

[cbbaron]

I come from Boston 2-3 times a year

 

Grayhawk both

Troon North both

Wekopa both

Kierland all 3 nines

Wildfire both

Legend Trail

McDowell Mountain

Dove Valley Ranch

ASU Karsten

Estrella

Eagle Mountain

Sun Ridge Canyon

Talking Stick both

Whirlwind both

Quintero

Wick Ranch

Boulders

Raven

Verrado Founders

Western Skies

TPC Stadium

Trilogy

Las Sendas

Sterling Grove

Desert Forest

Blackstone

Edited August 29, 2023 by cbbaron

[jatrain]

I’m at 73 individual courses in Arizona in 8 years living here and 174 nation wide as a lifetime total.  Crossing 200 is the goal by the end of 2024.  

[azgolfer44]

I am at about 120, give or take a few.  For the first 5 years here, I was trying to check off a lot of courses.  That was when golf was really cheap - played Troon North Pinnacle for $25 in the summer of 2011!  Now, mostly focus on the courses I like and the munis.  I am excited to check out two new ones next month in Flagstaff.

[vallygolf]

Im not as smart as bonneville, I havent kept track. Went back and looked at a list of all arizona courses.  I have played a bunch of mediocre golf courses.  Im at 87 in Az right now.  Im sure im off a few as some have new names or I played them as a teenager and cant even remember them.

[Shilgy]

93+

 

I had to look at a list to remember them all.  Probably missed a few though.

[Baraethon]

What are your winter picks for under $100?

[AZ_JHWK]

I always get the Phoenix City Card. $50 the first year and $30 after that. if you buy it at Aguila they give you the first round free, so it almost pays you back immediately. They also give you a free round after every ten rounds. You can play any of those courses for well under $100 in the winter, however like any course here they are hard to get. I think there are 6 courses on the city card. Papago, Aguila and GCU are the best of those six.

 

I mostly stick to those courses as even very average courses tend to run around $100 or more in the winter. Every year it gets worse.  

[Baraethon]

Yep, been loving the city card all summer. I've gotten a few reasonable deals for ~65 at other courses but I guess those come to an end.

[AZ_JHWK]

1 hour ago, Baraethon said:

Yep, been loving the city card all summer. I've gotten a few reasonable deals for ~65 at other courses but I guess those come to an end.

For some reason most of the courses raise the rates back up Sept. 1. The weather isn't all that much cooler and the courses are preparing for overseed and drying out the turf. Doesn't make sense but, that's the way it works.

 

So, yeah, it's back to the Muni's and lower end courses if you're on a budget. I like getting out to the nicer courses in the summer. It can be kind of hit and miss condition-wise. The transition back to the bermuda grass and course aerification starts happening. Keep an eye on this forum for course updates from those that have just played those courses. 

[puttnforthe8]

6 minutes ago, AZ_JHWK said:

For some reason most of the courses raise the rates back up Sept. 1. The weather isn't all that much cooler and the courses are preparing for overseed and drying out the turf. Doesn't make sense but, that's the way it works.

 

So, yeah, it's back to the Muni's and lower end courses if you're on a budget. I like getting out to the nicer courses in the summer. It can be kind of hit and miss condition-wise. The transition back to the bermuda grass and course aerification starts happening. Keep an eye on this forum for course updates from those that have just played those courses. 

Yup - rates already up at least one level:

 

Troon North Golf Club - Monument Course8:00 AM $154.00

Kierland - 28:06 AM $135.00

Lookout Mountain Golf Club8:10 AM $96.00

AND THE LAUGHER:  The Phoenician Golf Course9:20 AM $153.00

[puttnforthe8]

I only have a few left - I doubt I will get to play some though.

 

• I am missing 4 of 7 from Desert Mountain (played Geronimo, Outlaw and Renegade)
• Not played either Scottsdale Golf Club - likely never will get these in
• Never played Silverleaf - but should be able to get this one in
• Never played Mesa Country Club - never got the invite from @fore_life 🤣
• Never played DC Ranch - I don't know why, this one is often available through different means
• Missing a bunch of "Sun City" courses - I just never made the drive
• Not played Pebble Creek in Avondale
• And the odd ones missing are Cottonwood CC and Sun Lake CC down in Chandler.
• I have not had the privilege of playing Gold Canyon Golf and RV resort 😉

 

Outside of the valley, of the main cities, I have done most of Tucson and everything up north except Aspen Valley, Forest Highlands and Pine Canyon - I was supposed to play Pine last week; but they closed for the season early to do renovations.  So next year.

 

I have not ventured to anything else: Yuma, Kingman, Quartzite, other

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 6, 2023 by puttnforthe8

[AZ_JHWK]

10 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

I only have a few left - I doubt I will get to play some though.

 

I was hoping you'd reply. I felt like based on all of your reviews that you would have played most of them. Cheers! 

[puttnforthe8]

14 hours ago, AZ_JHWK said:

I was hoping you'd reply. I felt like based on all of your reviews that you would have played most of them. Cheers! 

 

It was interesting having read the lads posts about the Sun City area courses.  Maybe I should get a hotel room for a weekend, knock them all out. 🤣

[puttnforthe8]

Linking in this forum to video of Scotts Natl:  

 

[Argonne69]

Looks like I've played 141 courses in AZ. With numerous trips to Phoenix pre-2019, and two winters there after retirement, I checked off 132 courses in the area. I've played 8 courses in Tucson, and and Apache Stronghold.

 

Gotta get up to the Sedona area.

 

 

[AZ_JHWK]

That's impressive given that you don't actually live here full time. Imagine what it would cost to play those same courses with 2023/24 pricing. It's getting ridiculous. 

[Argonne69]

3 hours ago, AZ_JHWK said:

That's impressive given that you don't actually live here full time. Imagine what it would cost to play those same courses with 2023/24 pricing. It's getting ridiculous. 

 

Yeah, I'd probably have to donate a kidney. Crazy how prices have gotten insane. 

 

[Chanceman]

My list is puny:

Wickenberg Ranch

Quintero

Seven Canyons

Desert Forest

Ak Chin Southern Dunes

Talking Stick Oodham

 Boulders South

Troon Monument

Greyhawk Raptor
We Ko Pa Saguaro

TPC Stadium 

Picked the eyes I reckon. Love to play them all again sometime.

[Argonne69]

Checked off my 150th course in the state last week. I'll be here for another 5 weeks, so I'll likely add another 15 or so courses to the list before crossing into SoCal. I'll be in Phoenix for 2+ weeks, bit there are only a couple of courses in the area that I haven't played, so I'll be teeing it up at a few old favorites while I'm there.

 

[AZ_JHWK]

25 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Checked off my 150th course in the state last week. 

150...that's awesome. So many great choices in AZ. 

[Argonne69]

5 minutes ago, AZ_JHWK said:

150...that's awesome. So many great choices in AZ. 

 

Yeah, but to get to 150 you need to play a few less than great choices. Lol. Tres Rios comes to mind.

 

[AzSuperHack76]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Yeah, but to get to 150 you need to play a few less than great choices. Lol. Tres Rios comes to mind.

 

While it’s still Tres Rios they have made some huge improvements out there. They have redone all the greens and bunkers. They have a huge amount of money that came in. They are going to be building a new Jr. National Golf Course and complex out there. 

 

 

[AZ_JHWK]

10 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Yeah, but to get to 150 you need to play a few less than great choices. Lol. Tres Rios comes to mind.

 

Only played a couple really bad ones in AZ, we called them Goat Ranches back in Kansas. I've been able to avoid most of them thanks to this forum.  

[vallygolf]

On 12/5/2023 at 6:22 PM, AZ_JHWK said:

Only played a couple really bad ones in AZ, we called them Goat Ranches back in Kansas. I've been able to avoid most of them thanks to this forum.  

It is so interesting how our perspective changes.  When I was taking up golf as a kid, I can remeber when the us 60 opened at power road back in the 80's, and a new course was built  that could be seen as we drove by coming into the valley.  I was about 13 years old and I remember looking at Superstition Springs thinking some day I want to play that course.  It must be the best course I had ever seen...... nearly 40 years later the course is nostalgic for me.... but qualifies as a Goat Ranch