Course Recommendations needed for Scottsdale...

[DTrain63]

Hey all,

 

So my son (29) took up golf last fall and is obsessed. We're in MI and he has either played, taken lessons or hit in the sim 85% of the days since last September. He's already broken 50 on a shorter muni here, but the swing is improving for sure. We just took our first father/son trip to Tampa and played 54 over 1.5 days - we had an amazing time.

 

Now we're already planning next year and b/c Allegiant does some cheap direct flights from here, we chose Scottsdale as the next stop. My main concerns are playing strict desert courses as he still hits it pretty sideways; hoping you all could give me some ideas on any sort of parkland-style courses in the area that might be a little friendlier than station-to-station desert golf. Trying to keep the rounds around $100 and will probably play 4-6 total. We'll have a car so we move around if the suggestions are not close together.

 

Your help is appreciated.

[tw422]

Lot's of info on Scottsdale area in the SW sub forum on courses but prepared (depending on when you are going) for Arizona to be really expensive.  Not every course is overly punitive but most of the higher end one will penalize you if you are not hitting straight - Greyhawk Talon and the two Troon courses (Monument and Pinnacle) are ones that stick out to me.  The Talking Stick courses aren't overly "deserty" but will give you enough of the desert feel you will be looking for.  The We Ko Pa courses are definitely worth the drive but again if you are spraying 40-50 left or right you will lose balls.  Southern Dunes/Ak Chin is worth drive.  The Raven is a decent muni where you can move it around a bit without losing balls - not a desert golf feel.  

[DTrain63]

6 minutes ago, tw422 said:

Lot's of info on Scottsdale area in the SW sub forum on courses but prepared (depending on when you are going) for Arizona to be really expensive.  Not every course is overly punitive but most of the higher end one will penalize you if you are not hitting straight - Greyhawk Talon and the two Troon courses (Monument and Pinnacle) are ones that stick out to me.  The Talking Stick courses aren't overly "deserty" but will give you enough of the desert feel you will be looking for.  The We Ko Pa courses are definitely worth the drive but again if you are spraying 40-50 left or right you will lose balls.  Southern Dunes/Ak Chin is worth drive.  The Raven is a decent muni where you can move it around a bit without losing balls - not a desert golf feel.  

Thanks TW - yeah, it'll probably be around this time in 2025. There's lots of info for sure, but my question was purposely specific to what we're looking for. 

[tw422]

Got it, my mom lives in Phx and we travel there 2-3x a year.  Generally we are there around Thanksgiving, Spring Break (this time of year) and early Summer.  This time of year (March-April) tee times are ridiculously high and only getting higher.  Prepare to spend >$300 per round for the better and good courses.  The one muni closest to Scottdale (which is not overly punitivie) called Papago will charge you close to $200. 

 

There are a lot of courses in that area but a lot that are not worth playing which is why I suggested SW forum where you can narrow down to the best and then figure out if they are too hard for you and your son.  Regardless, sounds like a great trip and even better that you get to play with your son!  

[sabram]

As others have mentioned, it will be hard to stay in the budget you mentioned. Having said that, Ak Chin Southern Dunes, The Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa and Talking Stick are pretty generous off the tee and are among the best courses in the area. Also, The Ambiente course at Camelback would fit your needs, if not your budget.

[Octopus Golfer]

You’re not going to be able to play any of the courses mentioned in this thread in the spring for anywhere near $100. You need to look at courses like the Grand Canyon University course which fits your budget and parkland preference. 

[Abh159]

Not to pile on, but as others have mentioned your budget and your timeline don't really match.

 

You'll either need to pick a different time of year to go or increase your budget 2-3x.

 

 

[Dancin]

Hopefully prices don't go up a lot next winter but Tucson would have met your conditions this year although anything really nice would have been closer to $150, but there are enough courses you could have played this year under $100. As others said, you aren't playing in Scottsdale in March for $100.

[puttnforthe8]

On 3/26/2024 at 11:54 AM, DTrain63 said:

Hey all,

 

So my son (29) took up golf last fall and is obsessed. We're in MI and he has either played, taken lessons or hit in the sim 85% of the days since last September. He's already broken 50 on a shorter muni here, but the swing is improving for sure. We just took our first father/son trip to Tampa and played 54 over 1.5 days - we had an amazing time.

 

Now we're already planning next year and b/c Allegiant does some cheap direct flights from here, we chose Scottsdale as the next stop. My main concerns are playing strict desert courses as he still hits it pretty sideways; hoping you all could give me some ideas on any sort of parkland-style courses in the area that might be a little friendlier than station-to-station desert golf. Trying to keep the rounds around $100 and will probably play 4-6 total. We'll have a car so we move around if the suggestions are not close together.

 

Your help is appreciated.

Repeating to make sure it's clear - you have ZERO chance of playing golf in Scottsdale or the Phx valley for < $100 except on the absolute worst courses (and not just worst in AZ - worst in pretty much anywhere in the world).  

 

 

 

[vallygolf]

I agree with everything posted above, however Scottsdale has some ways you can cut other travel and accommodation costs over other areas as it is located inside a very large metro area as opposed to stand alone more remote resort in smaller tourism based towns.  I would increase the golf budget (the courses listed above are the best bang for the buck), and find ways to travel for less if you are set on Arizona.  

[DTrain63]

OK, so to be clear: Scottsdale is not possible for $100/round. Do I have that right? Not happening. A non-starter....LOL.

[Bonneville85308]

49 minutes ago, DTrain63 said:

OK, so to be clear: Scottsdale is not possible for $100/round. Do I have that right? Not happening. A non-starter....LOL.

 

The only way you are getting golf for $100 or less in Phoenix metro in November through March for a full-length course with a tee time where you will finish 18 before dark is by playing low-end boring senior citizen community courses in the west valley. Definitely nothing with a Scottsdale address.  I'm not even going to suggest the muni courses because there are pretty much no tee times left in that price range once the resident booking window expires.

[Abh159]

17 hours ago, DTrain63 said:

OK, so to be clear: Scottsdale is not possible for $100/round. Do I have that right? Not happening. A non-starter....LOL.

 

Although it's almost the end of March, you could easily get online this morning at all the courses you would be interested in playing and see what a round costs. That would at least give you a little insight into things. 

 

Obviously these are just a few courses, but here are the prices for rounds today (3/29)...

 

TPC Scottsdale - $329 (after 3 pm)

We-Ko-Pa - $299

Grey Hawk - $413

 

 

[AzRoger]

17 hours ago, DTrain63 said:

OK, so to be clear: Scottsdale is not possible for $100/round. Do I have that right? Not happening. A non-starter....LOL.

Maybe if you visit in June-August when it's 110 degrees.

[puttnforthe8]

19 hours ago, DTrain63 said:

OK, so to be clear: Scottsdale is not possible for $100/round. Do I have that right? Not happening. A non-starter....LOL.

You're barely getting a range pass for that price sir!  😞