2024 Phoenix Area Course Conditions

[Baraethon]

Don't encourage them, they try to get me up to antelope hills every weekend

[tcbringhurst]

7 hours ago, Baraethon said:

Has anyone played Great Eagle? Looking for a sub-$75 round with some buddies next weekend and obviously not many options. Best bet right now is gambling on GCU not checking all of our city cards lmao

I played there about for five years ago for $20 and it wasn’t even worth that. They dress up hole 10 but the rest are crappy. It’s the lipstick on a pig hole. 
 

Like it was already said, I’ll echo that the sun city courses are decent enough. Haven’t been to Pueblo El Mirage in a while, but I remember it being reasonable for the fees. 

[AzSuperHack76]

On 3/4/2024 at 6:21 AM, Baraethon said:

Has anyone played Great Eagle? Looking for a sub-$75 round with some buddies next weekend and obviously not many options. Best bet right now is gambling on GCU not checking all of our city cards lmao

Great Eagle is actually a fun course to play, a couple drivable par 4's, reachable par 5's, and a surprisingly good mix of par 3's, but.... and that's a big but.... It's usually a complete and total dump in terms of conditioning, although I haven't played it in years. The above poster is correct stating that #10 looks good from Bell Rd, but obviously that's for a reason. On top of that you have every single sloth of an old person out there spraying balls with no regard. The pace is typically bad as well. With all that being said it was one of our home courses in high school in the 90's, it still holds a soft spot in my heart, back then it was Happy Trails Golf Course. I wouldn't drop more than $20 to play it... 

[tcbringhurst]

Not sure if the practice green is an indicator of actual on-course conditions, but the practice green at Granite Falls is in absolute terrible shape right now. Went here after work today to get some reps in and left early. Looks like they punched it and the machine left some ruts behind. 
 

 

[FlashNoonan]

I'm not one to usually complain about the golf growth that we're having in the area. I won't pay the outrageous prices some of the courses are charging right now and it's difficult to get a decent starting time, so I don't play as much as I was a couple years ago. But damn, I went to Valley Golf Center to get some range time in and getting a bay is about just as difficult as getting a freaking tee time here now. I haven't been to VGC in a few years but can't remember the last time any range was jam packed after 5PM on a weeknight. 

[AzSuperHack76]

2 hours ago, FlashNoonan said:

I'm not one to usually complain about the golf growth that we're having in the area. I won't pay the outrageous prices some of the courses are charging right now and it's difficult to get a decent starting time, so I don't play as much as I was a couple years ago. But damn, I went to Valley Golf Center to get some range time in and getting a bay is about just as difficult as getting a freaking tee time here now. I haven't been to VGC in a few years but can't remember the last time any range was jam packed after 5PM on a weeknight. 

I have never seen it packed before. I’ve seen it busy but never had an issue getting bays. 
 

I know they have done a lot of marketing in terms of serving food and alcohol now. 

[Soloman1]

 topgolf lite?

 

played falcon dunes wednesday. it’s great that us old, old vietnam vets can play. greens, tees and fairways in great shape. could use some more sand in bunkers, but so could most courses.

 

great value in this era of price gouging. on the east side.

 

but bring cotton or earplugs. f-35’s must be the loudest aircraft in history. 😉

 

 

Edited March 10 by Soloman1

[fore_life]

On 3/7/2024 at 12:43 PM, AzSuperHack76 said:

I have never seen it packed before. I’ve seen it busy but never had an issue getting bays. 
 

I know they have done a lot of marketing in terms of serving food and alcohol now. 

my course is lit until 10 and it’s not uncommon to have 10 or more people waiting for bays on weeknights. 

[AzSuperHack76]

1 hour ago, fore_life said:

my course is lit until 10 and it’s not uncommon to have 10 or more people waiting for bays on weeknights. 

I figured they were lined up just to see you, the man, the myth, the legend.... Hope all is well brother!! 

[cbbaron]

2 hours ago, AzSuperHack76 said:

I figured they were lined up just to see you, the man, the myth, the legend.... Hope all is well brother!! 

Was going to echo the same thought @fore_life 

[fore_life]

Haha I appreciate you guys! 

[robcha]

Do I pretty much have to hope someone cancels their morning tee time at Aguila to book something? Any likelihood of just showing up in the morning and plugging in for someone that no-shows?

[Bonneville85308]

2 minutes ago, robcha said:

Do I pretty much have to hope someone cancels their morning tee time at Aguila to book something? Any likelihood of just showing up in the morning and plugging in for someone that no-shows?

 

I had some luck with the "show up and hope" method in the past (2018-2021) since they have so many no-shows and short-shows, but I'd probably call the day before to make sure they don't have the tee sheet blocked off for some kind of big traveling league or tournament that would make "show up and hope" not work. Ultimately I decided I didn't want that much risk in my golf plans so I haven't played there in a while. 

[tcbringhurst]

7 minutes ago, robcha said:

Do I pretty much have to hope someone cancels their morning tee time at Aguila to book something? Any likelihood of just showing up in the morning and plugging in for someone that no-shows?

Unless you stay up till midnight with the city card when they release the tee times, then yeah. 

[Olson12]

On 3/7/2024 at 10:03 AM, FlashNoonan said:

I'm not one to usually complain about the golf growth that we're having in the area. I won't pay the outrageous prices some of the courses are charging right now and it's difficult to get a decent starting time, so I don't play as much as I was a couple years ago. But damn, I went to Valley Golf Center to get some range time in and getting a bay is about just as difficult as getting a freaking tee time here now. I haven't been to VGC in a few years but can't remember the last time any range was jam packed after 5PM on a weeknight. 

I always go to the far right to hit off the real grass section.  Have never had an issue getting that spot.

[fore_life]

Played aguila Friday, had a great time until the 17th hole when I overheard the guys I was paired with discussing the type of bot they use to secure tee times. So, it’s true that people are using bots to get tee times at aguila. If that guy is reading this, eat it you bastxxx.

[MackDaddy480]

47 minutes ago, fore_life said:

Played aguila Friday, had a great time until the 17th hole when I overheard the guys I was paired with discussing the type of bot they use to secure tee times. So, it’s true that people are using bots to get tee times at aguila. If that guy is reading this, eat it you bastxxx.

Is this a joke or real? Haha I always thought people did that but never actually believed it. I have stayed up multiple times until 12 AM and tee times are gone by 12:02 AM. It is insane. 

[AZ_JHWK]

9 hours ago, MackDaddy480 said:

Is this a joke or real? Haha I always thought people did that but never actually believed it. I have stayed up multiple times until 12 AM and tee times are gone by 12:02 AM. It is insane. 

I do the same all of the time. I've only had success twice this winter season. Sometimes there are absolutely zero tee times available. Not even ones at 4 PM. I look back later in the day and those 2:45 - 5pm times are there. Two weeks back, I grabbed a foursome around 8:00 am and when I went to check out, it listed the first player at $46 and the other 3 at $76. That's not a problem as we all have City Cards. When I went to finalize the purchase, it said there was a problem with those 3 tee times, and it only gave me 1 tee time. I went back in to get the other 3 times and again only one of the 3 was valid. By the time I went to get the last 2 someone already had them. I just dumped them all back in. I think the new reservation system is to blame to a certain degree. 

 

I kind of laugh at the "Bots" idea too. Even if you get 5 tee times via the Bot, how do you resell them? If that's how it works. You would think Aguila would notice if the same name controls a large block of tee times each week. I'm sure the Bots are on an entirely higher level. 😆 

 

Also, if true...I want in. 😜

 

[Bonneville85308]

Union Hills early this morning, first time since probably early 2022. It was in better condition for this time of the year than I remember it being in the past. I do like the layout much better than a lot of the other nearby courses. Fairways were pretty good, cut short, ball rolling out. "Dormant" rough wasn't total bare hardpan as in years past and some of the rough around the greens was overseeded. Greens were in good condition overall, firm, they seemed a little slower with some mixed tufts of grasses in them on the back nine. Greenside bunkers were ok and probably had a lot of sand added since I was here last. Fairway bunkers were pretty much all marked "ground under repair" and looked like rocky, weedy concrete; not sure if they are planning on fixing them, eliminating them, or nothing. They got new carts with GPS since the last time I played it.

 

 

 

[AzSuperHack76]

2 hours ago, Bonneville85308 said:

Union Hills early this morning, first time since probably early 2022. It was in better condition for this time of the year than I remember it being in the past. I do like the layout much better than a lot of the other nearby courses. Fairways were pretty good, cut short, ball rolling out. "Dormant" rough wasn't total bare hardpan as in years past and some of the rough around the greens was overseeded. Greens were in good condition overall, firm, they seemed a little slower with some mixed tufts of grasses in them on the back nine. Greenside bunkers were ok and probably had a lot of sand added since I was here last. Fairway bunkers were pretty much all marked "ground under repair" and looked like rocky, weedy concrete; not sure if they are planning on fixing them, eliminating them, or nothing. They got new carts with GPS since the last time I played it.

 

 

 

Thanks for the review @Bonneville85308, I'm only 10 minutes away but have not played it in the last year due to it being in such poor shape. I'll have to get back out there. Also if you're ever up for a midweek round at Falcon shoot me a PM and we can get a round in. 

[fore_life]

On 3/15/2024 at 9:08 PM, MackDaddy480 said:

Is this a joke or real? Haha I always thought people did that but never actually believed it. I have stayed up multiple times until 12 AM and tee times are gone by 12:02 AM. It is insane. 

One hundred percent real, I think the guy got the hint that it’s lame when I told him that he’s the reason no one can find tee times. He laughed I didn’t.

[AzSuperHack76]

Falcon Dunes today. Still in great shape, other than the bunkers, they are hit or miss. POP stunk today, usually not a problem out there, went off behind a tournament, 4:45 teeing off around 11am, again usually not an issue out there so not too concerned. 

[AzSuperHack76]

GCU is pulling some shenanigans with the City of Phx Card.

 

Went to book a tee time this weekend, no morning times available for card holders. When you click the link for public all the times open up. I read the booking rules on their website for the city card, it states booking allowed within a 9 day window. When I called the course to book the guy said they won't release the tee times for city card holders further than 2 days out so they can sell them at the public rate first.

 

Pretty crappy of GCU in my opinion. 

[MackDaddy480]

16 minutes ago, AzSuperHack76 said:

GCU is pulling some shenanigans with the City of Phx Card.

 

Went to book a tee time this weekend, no morning times available for card holders. When you click the link for public all the times open up. I read the booking rules on their website for the city card, it states booking allowed within a 9 day window. When I called the course to book the guy said they won't release the tee times for city card holders further than 2 days out so they can sell them at the public rate first.

 

Pretty crappy of GCU in my opinion. 

It is some pretty big bullsh** they are pulling. I figured out the same thing 3 months ago when I called the shop to ask the same questions. It is such BS...

Edited March 19 by MackDaddy480

[AzSuperHack76]

Just now, MackDaddy480 said:

It is some pretty big bullsh** they are pulling. I figured out the same thing 3 months ago when I called the shop to as the same questions. It is such BS...

Yet they have morning tee times on Friday and Monday. So it's just pure greed on their part to try and get that weekend guest rate. Pisses me off. 

[MackDaddy480]

2 minutes ago, AzSuperHack76 said:

Yet they have morning tee times on Friday and Monday. So it's just pure greed on their part to try and get that weekend guest rate. Pisses me off. 

Correct, I could not agree more. It is a load of bull

[Golf Pig]

Has anyone played the Golf Club of Estrella lately? Worth it?

[puttnforthe8]

38 minutes ago, Golf Pig said:

Has anyone played the Golf Club of Estrella lately? Worth it?

Considering the price elsewhere - yes, well worth it.  Not even a question.

[Olson12]

48 minutes ago, MackDaddy480 said:

It is some pretty big bullsh** they are pulling. I figured out the same thing 3 months ago when I called the shop to ask the same questions. It is such BS...

 

When I called them out on it they said they only released a limited amount of discounted tee times a day.  They are only obligated to offer a small number of times.  Agree its complete BS but so is the entire city card booking process now.  The only break we get all winter has been nearly impossible to take advantage of. 

[hackeraz]

3 hours ago, Olson12 said:

 

When I called them out on it they said they only released a limited amount of discounted tee times a day.  They are only obligated to offer a small number of times.  Agree its complete BS but so is the entire city card booking process now.  The only break we get all winter has been nearly impossible to take advantage of. 

That's why I spend my winters skiing now. Lift tickets are a bargain compared to greens fees!