Traveling to Phoenix.....Some course info for you

[hackeraz]

Appreciate the replies and I can aboslutely understand the desire for desert golf while in the desert. I do like the Champions course! 

[hackeraz]

1 minute ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Firstly, the course is not always in "impeccable" shape! That statement is far from factual.  During the offseason it can be in brutal shape.  That being said, since the reno a few years ago, they seem to have become more consistent.

 

Second, I think the 1st hole may be the worst opening hole of any tour event for sure and it is certainly one of the worst opening holes in all of AZ, and in reality of virtually all the courses I have ever played.  

 

Next, it's just got a lot of really ugly holes - surrounding wise.   

 

While I have other nits with it, I will finish with it has one of the worst finishing holes - so boring and anti-climatic; the tee shot is not bad, but the approach and green are just so bad.  The tourney stands make it at least somewhat framed nicely.  

Guess I should have prefaced the course conditions with the acknowledgement that I haven't played it or been on it in at least a dozen years.  Zero clue what it actually is like present day. 

[chisag]

32 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

While I have other nits with it, I will finish with it has one of the worst finishing holes - so boring and anti-climatic; the tee shot is not bad, but the approach and green are just so bad.  The tourney stands make it at least somewhat framed nicely. 

 

 

... I do think finishing holes should leave you with a great impression. The course that shall not be named comes to mind and I think it is the best hole on the course. Tough but fair. Raven ends with that beautiful lake and Lilly pads, rare in the desert. Verrado both courses but especially Victory. I could go on and on but I think having a lackluster 18th is a travesty. 

[cbbaron]

8 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Firstly, the course is not always in "impeccable" shape! That statement is far from factual.  During the offseason it can be in brutal shape.  That being said, since the reno a few years ago, they seem to have become more consistent.

 

Second, I think the 1st hole may be the worst opening hole of any tour event for sure and it is certainly one of the worst opening holes in all of AZ, and in reality of virtually all the courses I have ever played.  

 

Next, it's just got a lot of really ugly holes - surrounding wise.   

 

While I have other nits with it, I will finish with it has one of the worst finishing holes - so boring and anti-climatic; the tee shot is not bad, but the approach and green are just so bad.  The tourney stands make it at least somewhat framed nicely.  

Curious Joe what do you think is best 18th a few that come to mind Saguaro and Cholla have good 18s. I prefer 18 at 

Talon over Raptor. I personally love 18 at Eagle Mountain

[puttnforthe8]

18 hours ago, cbbaron said:

Curious Joe what do you think is best 18th a few that come to mind Saguaro and Cholla have good 18s. I prefer 18 at 

Talon over Raptor. I personally love 18 at Eagle Mountain

Ha Ha - you were reading my mind.....

 

 

And you know what - I completely forgot Eagle Mountain.  I would probably put it towards the middle teens or so on the list I drew up.  I think the tee shot lacks a little something...I think maybe it should have a bunker on the left side to add a little more challenge and all the bunkers on the right are more of a prevention of going in the water, which I think should have been left in play - so a combo of bunker to catch a long right shot and if you are short and right the water is in play, or vice versa.

 

[MUNIGRIT]

On 2/9/2023 at 4:19 PM, hackeraz said:

Curious to know what everyone's issue with TPC Stadium is, outside of the pricing? I hear a lot of forgettable or not memorable but what's that actually mean to you? I don't absolutely love it but I also don't hate it. I suspect that's grounded in two things. First, I don't really like desert target golf. Attribute that to growing up in Michigan and never really having to deal with it. I can appreciate it more now than I did 20 years ago as a newbie to this valley but I still don't really like it. Second, as someone with a degree in turf, I can appreciate that the course is almost always impeccable. I'm more impressed, due to my background, by course conditions than I'll ever be with course layout, although a bad layout will quickly ruin a course. TPC I find a bit borish but beautifully maintained and as such I don't think I could rightfully trash it outside of the dumb green fees. 

Green fees and for the price guys want scenic target desert golf. It isn't always in impeccable shape. They used to really let it go to terrible conditions but you could play it for 25 bucks. Seems like last 10 years it stays in a little better shape but the price doesn't really come down like it used to.

[ursusamer]

Hey all - Wondering if anyone can help me decide between Sunridge and Eagle Mountain? I have a short window to play a round in a couple weeks, and I've pretty much narrowed to down to these two due to price and convenience. For anyone local, anything I should be aware of regarding current conditions? Thanks for your help!

[cbbaron]

6 hours ago, ursusamer said:

Hey all - Wondering if anyone can help me decide between Sunridge and Eagle Mountain? I have a short window to play a round in a couple weeks, and I've pretty much narrowed to down to these two due to price and convenience. For anyone local, anything I should be aware of regarding current conditions? Thanks for your help!

I would go EM IMO better course and some fun holes

Edited February 18, 2023 by cbbaron

[ilikegolf26]

I’m trying to book some tee times for the first week of May but green fees are still really high. Will they start lowering them between now and then and I should just wait?

[puttnforthe8]

7 hours ago, ilikegolf26 said:

I’m trying to book some tee times for the first week of May but green fees are still really high. Will they start lowering them between now and then and I should just wait?

 

They should come down with the dynamic pricing - that is assuming demand drops.   You risk not getting times you want is the main thing...that is the way they gouge people.

[ilikegolf26]

10 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

They should come down with the dynamic pricing - that is assuming demand drops.   You risk not getting times you want is the main thing...that is the way they gouge people.

Thanks. That’s what I was sort of thinking. Id like to play 36 at Grayhawk as a single on the first Friday I’m there (I think they close the following week for NCAAs). But right now at $236/round that’s a little steep for me considering I’m playing Saturday and Sunday too. 

[StudentGolfer4]

I have cancelled and rebooked at several troon courses. I did have to change my tee time though so it depends on availability. In these instances I was able to book the one immediately before or after the one I had had. (yes I know gray hawk isn’t owned by troon)

Edited March 9, 2023 by StudentGolfer4

[SilverBullets]

So Whirlwind announced they dropped the Troon Card effective 4/1. They will still honor the Troon card rate through the end of the year BUT they will not honor the troon status discount and they will not give you troon rewards points.

 

I'd assume next year they will just straight up be out of the program.  I'm curious to see how this works out for them.  There's a reason they are the one Troon course with a ton of open times every week when the 3 day window Troon Card opens up.  It's because the $250-$285 rack rate is embarrassingly overpriced for those courses.  At $140 + Troon status discounts it becomes tolerable but even then it doesn't full book like the other courses.  Good luck WW

 

It's a big bummer for someone like my wife and I who are Troon Platinum.  I play a lot of rounds there but I'm not going to pay 20% more to play there AND not earn points... this is the s*** Quintero pulled last year (but that wasn't a loss because Quintero sucks to play anyway and their staff are always extremely unpleasant lol).

 

The Troon card is getting pretty impossible to justified in Arizona now. Sterling Grove isn't really offered on it now, Wick Ranch is basically fully private, Southern Dunes is always just 100% full, and now Whirlwind is off.  So that leaves Kierland (which is uninteresting and WAY too expensive even with the card... $160 there is yikes)... and then places like TN and Boulders which are just super expensive even with the card.

 

[cbbaron]

2 hours ago, SilverBullets said:

So Whirlwind announced they dropped the Troon Card effective 4/1. They will still honor the Troon card rate through the end of the year BUT they will not honor the troon status discount and they will not give you troon rewards points.

 

I'd assume next year they will just straight up be out of the program.  I'm curious to see how this works out for them.  There's a reason they are the one Troon course with a ton of open times every week when the 3 day window Troon Card opens up.  It's because the $250-$285 rack rate is embarrassingly overpriced for those courses.  At $140 + Troon status discounts it becomes tolerable but even then it doesn't full book like the other courses.  Good luck WW

 

It's a big bummer for someone like my wife and I who are Troon Platinum.  I play a lot of rounds there but I'm not going to pay 20% more to play there AND not earn points... this is the s*** Quintero pulled last year (but that wasn't a loss because Quintero sucks to play anyway and their staff are always extremely unpleasant lol).

 

The Troon card is getting pretty impossible to justified in Arizona now. Sterling Grove isn't really offered on it now, Wick Ranch is basically fully private, Southern Dunes is always just 100% full, and now Whirlwind is off.  So that leaves Kierland (which is uninteresting and WAY too expensive even with the card... $160 there is yikes)... and then places like TN and Boulders which are just super expensive even with the card.

 

Heard rumor Troon might be in on a possible Grayhawk deal either buying it or managing whoever buys it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SilverBullets]

11 hours ago, cbbaron said:

Heard rumor Troon might be in on a possible Grayhawk deal either buying it or managing whoever buys it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting.  I didn't know GH was up for sale.  I'd assume, if this happens, Raptor would become Troon Prive or whatever and Talon stays overpriced to the public?

[cbbaron]

11 hours ago, SilverBullets said:

 

Interesting.  I didn't know GH was up for sale.  I'd assume, if this happens, Raptor would become Troon Prive or whatever and Talon stays overpriced to the public?

Grayhawk is a cash cow they're beverage carts generate more revenue than some other courses in valley

[parkleo]

On 3/20/2023 at 6:00 PM, SilverBullets said:

So Whirlwind announced they dropped the Troon Card effective 4/1. They will still honor the Troon card rate through the end of the year BUT they will not honor the troon status discount and they will not give you troon rewards points.

 

I'd assume next year they will just straight up be out of the program.  I'm curious to see how this works out for them.  There's a reason they are the one Troon course with a ton of open times every week when the 3 day window Troon Card opens up.  It's because the $250-$285 rack rate is embarrassingly overpriced for those courses.  At $140 + Troon status discounts it becomes tolerable but even then it doesn't full book like the other courses.  Good luck WW

 

It's a big bummer for someone like my wife and I who are Troon Platinum.  I play a lot of rounds there but I'm not going to pay 20% more to play there AND not earn points... this is the s*** Quintero pulled last year (but that wasn't a loss because Quintero sucks to play anyway and their staff are always extremely unpleasant lol).

 

The Troon card is getting pretty impossible to justified in Arizona now. Sterling Grove isn't really offered on it now, Wick Ranch is basically fully private, Southern Dunes is always just 100% full, and now Whirlwind is off.  So that leaves Kierland (which is uninteresting and WAY too expensive even with the card... $160 there is yikes)... and then places like TN and Boulders which are just super expensive even with the card.

 

Whirlwind is not going to be a Troon course at all anymore the are moving to a different management group. They got the Troon Card honored for the rest of this year but yes they will not be apart of the program next year with Troon not managing the course. With a Troon card you can still book at Quintero and Wick Ranch.  With the way the Troon Card is setup with a 3-day booking window and how popular golf is currently it is obviously going to be difficult to book within the window but flexibility for weekdays and 2 players are usually available. 

 

I am interested to see who the new management group is at Whirlwind and how it affects the pricing/options. For the east valley it is one of the better options without drive to North Scottsdale or the west side of town. 

[SilverBullets]

1 minute ago, parkleo said:

Whirlwind is not going to be a Troon course at all anymore the are moving to a different management group. They got the Troon Card honored for the rest of this year but yes they will not be apart of the program next year with Troon not managing the course. With a Troon card you can still book at Quintero and Wick Ranch.  With the way the Troon Card is setup with a 3-day booking window and how popular golf is currently it is obviously going to be difficult to book within the window but flexibility for weekdays and 2 players are usually available. 

 

I am interested to see who the new management group is at Whirlwind and how it affects the pricing/options. For the east valley it is one of the better options without drive to North Scottsdale or the west side of town. 

Whirlwind was great on the Troon card even with the 3-day booking window.  Their rack rate is a joke ($250-$285 this time of year, whereas Southern Dunes' rack rate is like $170) so the tee sheet is always wide open on the weekends.  Then when the 3-day Troon card window opens up with the $139 rate at Whirlwind, there are plenty of early morning weekend times open to choose from.  

 

I think it was only because how overpriced the non-discounted rate is at WW.  Going forward, it'll be really hard to use the Troon Card for weekend play in high season with the 3-day window.  

[chisag]

9 minutes ago, SilverBullets said:

Whirlwind was great on the Troon card even with the 3-day booking window.  Their rack rate is a joke ($250-$285 this time of year, whereas Southern Dunes' rack rate is like $170) so the tee sheet is always wide open on the weekends.  Then when the 3-day Troon card window opens up with the $139 rate at Whirlwind, there are plenty of early morning weekend times open to choose from.  

 

 

... For whatever reason, WW seems like rich kids playground. Play an upscale course and you always see nice cars in the parking lot, but WW is just packed with Maserati's, Porche's, Ferrari's, Tesla S's and a plethora of other high end cars/SUVs. Never seen a dirty one in the lot LOL. I have had two OEM fittings at WW in the last month and the place was so packed at 11ish on a weekday it was hard to find a parking spot. 

[fore_life]

I heard that troon is taking over the foothills

[SilverBullets]

39 minutes ago, fore_life said:

I heard that troon is taking over the foothills

foothills has been on the troon card this year... i felt like they were last year too but maybe im misremembering 

[fore_life]

This is the least amount of golf I’ve ever played, have gone from 4-8 times per month to maybe once every other month, either from no available spots at cheap courses or refusing to pay $80+ for places like western skies and toka sticks

[AzSuperHack76]

Hopefully Arcis takes over Whirlwind. Probably the best golf management company out there. 
 

 

 

[puttnforthe8]

13 minutes ago, AzSuperHack76 said:

Hopefully Arcis takes over Whirlwind. Probably the best golf management company out there. 
 

 

 

Wait - hold on - please tell me you are joking!

[puttnforthe8]

5 hours ago, chisag said:

 

 

... For whatever reason, WW seems like rich kids playground. Play an upscale course and you always see nice cars in the parking lot, but WW is just packed with Maserati's, Porche's, Ferrari's, Tesla S's and a plethora of other high end cars/SUVs. Never seen a dirty one in the lot LOL. I have had two OEM fittings at WW in the last month and the place was so packed at 11ish on a weekday it was hard to find a parking spot. 

 

Casino and resort is part of the reason.

Edited March 22, 2023 by puttnforthe8

[puttnforthe8]

5 hours ago, parkleo said:

Whirlwind is not going to be a Troon course at all anymore the are moving to a different management group. They got the Troon Card honored for the rest of this year but yes they will not be apart of the program next year with Troon not managing the course. With a Troon card you can still book at Quintero and Wick Ranch.  With the way the Troon Card is setup with a 3-day booking window and how popular golf is currently it is obviously going to be difficult to book within the window but flexibility for weekdays and 2 players are usually available. 

 

I am interested to see who the new management group is at Whirlwind and how it affects the pricing/options. For the east valley it is one of the better options without drive to North Scottsdale or the west side of town. 

 

I know they are going to a more expensive 'membership' model.  I think it is $15k-17.5K per year - still only gets you discounted times.  The public pricing might end up being a bit ugly.

[Bonneville85308]

23 minutes ago, AzSuperHack76 said:

Hopefully Arcis takes over Whirlwind. Probably the best golf management company out there. 
 

 

 

 

Lol. Then they could change the name from Whirlwind to Shitstorm.

[AzSuperHack76]

4 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

Wait - hold on - please tell me you are joking!

What do you think Joe? Haha. I’m sure everyone could use a good laugh. 

[SilverBullets]

17 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

I know they are going to a more expensive 'membership' model.  I think it is $15k-17.5K per year - still only gets you discounted times.  The public pricing might end up being a bit ugly.

Woof.  I wish them luck then lol.  

 

They already offer a $10k membership option and still have a wide open tee sheet until the troon card window kicks in and makes the price somewhat tolerable for what the courses are.  

 

[TheGolfingRealtor]

DAMN! When did the valley get so expensive?! I remember when summer golf was dirt cheap!

 

I am looking at August so are the prices still high right now and will drop the day before or day of?

 

4 day trip hoping for 36 a day and a trip to PING. 

 

It's been years since I have played the usual suspects:

Kierland

Troon North

Grayhawk

Boulders

TPC

Southern Dunes

We-Ko-Pa

 

Anything new I should look at?

 

Thanks!