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

[Sanfran328]

Thanks for providing confirmation. I have booked my stay at Gila River Resort and will play the 3 recommended courses. Looking forward to my trip!

[puttnforthe8]

1 hour ago, Sanfran328 said:

Thanks for providing confirmation. I have booked my stay at Gila River Resort and will play the 3 recommended courses. Looking forward to my trip!

If you are staying at the casino hotel, ask for the Sunset tower - it is the brand new one and closer to everything.

 

If you need a really good (and $$$$) dinner - book reservations at Kai at the Sheraton - best restaurant in the southwest.

 

 

[snagy2000]

We-Ko-Pa, which course is better? 

[chisag]

20 minutes ago, snagy2000 said:

We-Ko-Pa, which course is better? 

 

 

... Several different opinions from those that have actually played them but ironically I just received this a few minutes ago "Golfweek’s Best 2023 Casino Courses in the United States" and Saguaro was rated #6 and Cholla was rated #21. 

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, snagy2000 said:

We-Ko-Pa, which course is better? 

 

Saguaro almost always ranks higher, but I think it boils down to what you're looking for. Saguaro is more open off the tee, with tough approaches. It was the first course I ever played where I hit every fairway. Doesn't really feel like a desert course, although the views of the surrounding desert are very nice. 

 

Cholla is a target golf desert course. You have to think about most shots. Some say it's tricked up, but it's not supposed to be your typical parkland muni. 

 

I'd say play both. They offer a very nice replay rate, so no reason not to plan a day out there. 

 

[vallygolf]

4 hours ago, snagy2000 said:

We-Ko-Pa, which course is better? 

Saguaro generally offers more variety and options in shots (doesn’t dictate a specific play to score well) but still requires shot making. Cholla at times forces a specific shot without option. Both good courses. I prefer Saguaro by a good margin, but wouldn’t talk anyone out of cholla if they had played saguaro or if saguaro didn’t have available tee times. 

[treadtreadtread]

Hello all, wondering if you cold help out some course recommendations.

 

Coming west 10/13 to 10/16 and me and my buddies are looking to play some of the top courses in the Phx/Scottsdale area, however the issue i'm running into is that majority or the courses have either started the overseeding process or will be cart path only. 

 

So I was wondering if you guys had any insight on the best courses to play during this time.

 

So far on my list of courses that are open to play are:

10/13
Wigwam (Blue)

10/14
Eagle Mountain
Wildfire (Faldo)

 

10/15
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes

 

Any opinions would be appreciated. 

 

Thanks in advance

[Golf Pig]

I'm not sure of the overseeding schedule, but I'd play Verrado or Sterling Grove over Wigwam in that part of town. I like Wildfire Faldo better than Eagle Mountain. Southern Dunes is a solid choice.

[MattM97]

Looks like I'll be doing a trip to Phoenix in early November solo, staying at a friends place they don't play golf so will be looking for solo tee times. I have to confirm where my friend's live exactly but I'll have a rental car so I'm good with driving. I'm probably there 8-11 realistically unless I redeye home Sunday. 

 

Any places I must check out? Like I'm from Toronto, Canada so I want the opposite of what I get at home but enjoyable. 

 

I always hear people talk about Papago they are overseeding until the 5th so would it be good when I'm there? 

 

My wallet isn't bottomless, and would probably prefer a course with a range to hit a bucket before my round. 

[puttnforthe8]

2 hours ago, MattM97 said:

Looks like I'll be doing a trip to Phoenix in early November solo, staying at a friends place they don't play golf so will be looking for solo tee times. I have to confirm where my friend's live exactly but I'll have a rental car so I'm good with driving. I'm probably there 8-11 realistically unless I redeye home Sunday. 

 

Any places I must check out? Like I'm from Toronto, Canada so I want the opposite of what I get at home but enjoyable. 

 

I always hear people talk about Papago they are overseeding until the 5th so would it be good when I'm there? 

 

My wallet isn't bottomless, and would probably prefer a course with a range to hit a bucket before my round. 

Pretty much every course here has a range.

 

For Papago - No- overseed there is terrible.  

 

Here is probably the best options for quality - price will be high on some.  Pretty much all will be cart path only

 

Course	Reopen
Grayhawk Golf Club Talon September 25	October 9
The Boulders North September 18	October 8
Troon North Golf Club Pinnacle September 17	October 6
Whirlwind Golf Club Cattail September 18	October 6
TPC of Scottsdale Champions September 18	October 5
Legend Trail Golf Club September 18	October 2
WeKoPa Golf Club Cholla October 2	October 19
Camelback Golf Club Ambiente September 25	October 13
Verrado Golf Club Victory Course September 25	October 13
Talking Stick Golf Club Piipaash September 24	October 12

[MattM97]

3 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

Pretty much every course here has a range.

 

For Papago - No- overseed there is terrible.  

 

Here is probably the best options for quality - price will be high on some.  Pretty much all will be cart path only

 

Course	Reopen
Grayhawk Golf Club Talon September 25	October 9
The Boulders North September 18	October 8
Troon North Golf Club Pinnacle September 17	October 6
Whirlwind Golf Club Cattail September 18	October 6
TPC of Scottsdale Champions September 18	October 5
Legend Trail Golf Club September 18	October 2
WeKoPa Golf Club Cholla October 2	October 19
Camelback Golf Club Ambiente September 25	October 13
Verrado Golf Club Victory Course September 25	October 13
Talking Stick Golf Club Piipaash September 24	October 12

 

I will look into these and narrow it down via price wise. 

 

Anything a must play that won't eat my paycheck? Lol. 

[puttnforthe8]

1 hour ago, MattM97 said:

 

I will look into these and narrow it down via price wise. 

 

Anything a must play that won't eat my paycheck? Lol. 

Most of those are the must plays - but this is AZ...the courses are greedy.

 

Depending on when you come, I may be able to join and help with a discount.  PM me with plans.

 

Verrado may be the best price of those.

[MattM97]

19 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

Most of those are the must plays - but this is AZ...the courses are greedy.

 

Depending on when you come, I may be able to join and help with a discount.  PM me with plans.

 

Verrado may be the best price of those.

 

Yeah I get it, courses are greedy where I am but not to that extent mainly cause they're not as nice.

 

My initial plan is Nov 8 to 12, just have to confirm with my friend and just check flights.

[AzRoger]

The Phoenix Metro area is very large, could easily drive 40 miles one way going from one side to the other. The Scottsdale area is probably the sweet spot but plenty of good courses all around. I would try and focus closer to the area you're staying at, driving on the freeways can be a PITA during weekday rush hours, not so bad on weekends. As has been mentioned prices have gone through the roof the last couple years, no way around it.

[chisag]

3 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

Most of those are the must plays - but this is AZ...the courses are greedy.

 

 

... What is so very irritating was I could find deals pre-covid for around $50 as a single on courses like Quintero, Ambiente, Whirlwind, Southern Dunes and played Wickenburg Ranch for $65 in February. But the last few years even Golfnow is at or near full price. Greedy indeed. 

[puttnforthe8]

9 hours ago, chisag said:

 

 

... What is so very irritating was I could find deals pre-covid for around $50 as a single on courses like Quintero, Ambiente, Whirlwind, Southern Dunes and played Wickenburg Ranch for $65 in February. But the last few years even Golfnow is at or near full price. Greedy indeed. 

This says it all:

 

 

[chisag]

38 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

This says it all:

 

 

 

 

... Oh boy that is just insane. We all have our preferences but I wouldn't play Padre for $50. 

[CDM]

13 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

Most of those are the must plays - but this is AZ...the courses are greedy.

 

Depending on when you come, I may be able to join and help with a discount.  PM me with plans.

 

Verrado may be the best price of those.

 

10 hours ago, chisag said:

 

 

... What is so very irritating was I could find deals pre-covid for around $50 as a single on courses like Quintero, Ambiente, Whirlwind, Southern Dunes and played Wickenburg Ranch for $65 in February. But the last few years even Golfnow is at or near full price. Greedy indeed. 

 

30 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

This says it all:

 

 

 

Is the pricing / greed from the covid golf boom or because it seems everyone travels to PHX regardless of time of year to golf. 

 

Wife and I go down PHX it seems yearly now for a 3-4 days right around Christmas - New years for our anniversery.  I get out and play 1 round maybe 2 early in the morning.   

 

What was interesting in the last 3 years is i have NEVER played with anyone who lives there.  Prior to Covid it was mainly locals I played with and maybe 1 or 2 people on occasion from out of town.   Not    

 

Is it all the people that are going there now that is driving the "greed" so to speak?   

 

@puttnforthe8  that pricing is completely stupid for Camelback

[puttnforthe8]

11 minutes ago, CDM said:

 

 

 

Is the pricing / greed from the covid golf boom or because it seems everyone travels to PHX regardless of time of year to golf. 

 

Wife and I go down PHX it seems yearly now for a 3-4 days right around Christmas - New years for our anniversery.  I get out and play 1 round maybe 2 early in the morning.   

 

What was interesting in the last 3 years is i have NEVER played with anyone who lives there.  Prior to Covid it was mainly locals I played with and maybe 1 or 2 people on occasion from out of town.   Not    

 

Is it all the people that are going there now that is driving the "greed" so to speak?   

 

@puttnforthe8  that pricing is completely stupid for Camelback

 

Golf n Covid I imagine.  People still come and still pay the prices.  

 

I would say what you note is now typical.  None of my group of friends play any of these courses until next summer.  I actually travelled to Tucson a lot last year because the prices were acceptable.  Then I would say a lot of locals play the munis or settle for the dregs of the valley.  The most disgusting thing about AZ, is unlike some other top golf places, golf courses do not provide a resident rate (except Wekopa, and it's not that great).  

 

 

Here is the days times at Camelback; now some of these times may be members who are not paying that rate and even the Camelback card still makes it about $150...there is about 25 tee times booked.  Hypothetically, if half are full rate that's $12k.    The course has zero incentive to lower the price to $100 and fill the day.

 

TPC Stadium - $500ish from Dec - April - if they get 4 tee times a day, that's $8k.  

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29 by puttnforthe8

[chisag]

13 minutes ago, CDM said:

Is it all the people that are going there now that is driving the "greed" so to speak? 

 

 

... As PT8 already said, we play those courses in summer when the rates are up to 80% lower. I moved here next to my favorite muni and my partners and I play twilite up to 5 times a week but not weekends with a City Card for under $35 walking. My partners and I take turns waking up or staying up til midnight to book the first twilite foursome but sometimes lose to someone else and settle for the 2nd or 3rd time. I can't imagine battling bots and other players wanting an early time. Before covid I could just book when I woke up to visit the bathroom around 3am but now if we wait 5 minutes chances are we won't get a time. 

... The big problem is winter weather and people willing to pay $254 for Padre because they can't play where they live. As long as the courses can gauge and pile will pay, they aren't gonna stop raising prices. It's like Martin Shkreli is the Phoenix Golf Commissioner. 

[cbbaron]

I come from out of town 3 times a year was there 2 weeks ago. I get a Troon Card and Grayhawk WT card. There is no way I would pay the rack rates there. I live south of Boston and play at Pinehills their rate in season 125 weekday 155 weekend they are always sold out and they could probably charge 225 on weekends and get it but they dont 

[Baraethon]

Makes me wish there was a reasonable membership to join, just for somewhere to play in the winter without breaking the bank, but it seems like everything is just as insane. 

[hackeraz]

Transition season for me and seemingly can't come soon enough. Time for the clubs to start gathering dust, although at least it's almost cool enough for mid day range work, and the skis to get a fresh tune for the upcoming season. Bring on the cooler temps (not the high green fees) and you can find me in the mountains soon enough. 

[puttnforthe8]

1 hour ago, hackeraz said:

Transition season for me and seemingly can't come soon enough. Time for the clubs to start gathering dust, although at least it's almost cool enough for mid day range work, and the skis to get a fresh tune for the upcoming season. Bring on the cooler temps (not the high green fees) and you can find me in the mountains soon enough. 

Fishing, a trip or two elsewhere, and maybe some practice for me!

[SilverBullets]

On 9/29/2023 at 8:16 AM, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Golf n Covid I imagine.  People still come and still pay the prices.  

 

I would say what you note is now typical.  None of my group of friends play any of these courses until next summer.  I actually travelled to Tucson a lot last year because the prices were acceptable.  Then I would say a lot of locals play the munis or settle for the dregs of the valley.  The most disgusting thing about AZ, is unlike some other top golf places, golf courses do not provide a resident rate (except Wekopa, and it's not that great).  

 

 

Here is the days times at Camelback; now some of these times may be members who are not paying that rate and even the Camelback card still makes it about $150...there is about 25 tee times booked.  Hypothetically, if half are full rate that's $12k.    The course has zero incentive to lower the price to $100 and fill the day.

 

TPC Stadium - $500ish from Dec - April - if they get 4 tee times a day, that's $8k.  

 

 

 

 

Wait… There’s a Camelback Card?  How do I find my hands on one of those?

 

I finally saw the info on the new Whirlwind+ card.  It’s pretty ‘meh’.  It’s $299 and provides a very similar discount as the Troon Card (40%ish off dynamic pricing).  5 day booking window which is really the only advantage it gives you from Troon.

 

The major drawback is that the discount only works for 1 person.  Although they have a monthly subscription for $34 which you can start and stop at any time.  
 

between it being $300, only working for 1 person and only working at 2 courses, I’m not sure why anyone would buy this over a Troon card.  
 

I might roll cardless and just play less golf this year.  It’s becoming too much of a pain in the a** to get on courses or to manage these different cards/booking sites/etc.

[MattM97]

The planning for my trip continues, looks like I'll be coming in November 7th so golf days for me will be the 8-10th the 11th my friends want to take me hiking and 12th is a lazy day and head back home. 

 

They're place is in Scottsdale right by Scottsdale CC so going off @puttnforthe8 list he provided for me doing 36 at Talking Stick probably the safest pick being so close to me. Verrado while the best price but an hour drive I could probably still do but the time and cost I might as well go to TPC and play the Championship course. Some others are just too expensive unless I only want to play 18 or they don't accept singles based on me looking at tee times. 

[chisag]

10 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

They're place is in Scottsdale right by Scottsdale CC so going off @puttnforthe8 list he provided for me doing 36 at Talking Stick probably the safest pick being so close to me. Verrado while the best price but an hour drive I could probably still do but the time and cost I might as well go to TPC and play the Championship course. Some others are just too expensive unless I only want to play 18 or they don't accept singles based on me looking at tee times. 

 

 

 

... If you are coming from Canada in January I am sure any course in sunshine and warm weather is a good course. But just a FYI, I am not a fan of the O’odham Course so you may find it underwhelming. Not like it is a bad course, just very run of the mill imo. I think the Piipaash Course is more enjoyable but still nothing really memorable.  If I had to play 36 at Talking Stick I would just play Piipaash twice as I always enjoy a new course the 2nd time around, knowing what to expect. But some like playing new and different courses. If you do play both, just play O’odham first. 

[MattM97]

6 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

 

 

... If you are coming from Canada in January I am sure any course in sunshine and warm weather is a good course. But just a FYI, I am not a fan of the O’odham Course so you may find it underwhelming. Not like it is a bad course, just very run of the mill imo. I think the Piipaash Course is more enjoyable but still nothing really memorable.  If I had to play 36 at Talking Stick I would just play Piipaash twice as I always enjoy a new course the 2nd time around, knowing what to expect. But some like playing new and different courses. If you do play both, just play O’odham first. 

 

Coming in November so not quite peak season just easier on my wallet but yeah sunshine, shorts and golf in November is rare for me, usually no golf, mud and frost delays if I do play. 

 

Some of the I guess nicer courses like I mentioned are just too pricey like Greyhawk and Troon North are pushing the cost of my rental car for the week. I'm not trying to be cheap just semi-sane lol. 

 

Also doesn't have to be 36 so if Pippaash is really worth it can just play that then go do something else. Or see what We-Ko-Pa prices 36 at or just bounce around courses and get in another 9 or 18 in the afternoon if possible. 

[chisag]

2 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

Coming in November so not quite peak season just easier on my wallet but yeah sunshine, shorts and golf in November is rare for me, usually no golf, mud and frost delays if I do play. 

 

Some of the I guess nicer courses like I mentioned are just too pricey like Greyhawk and Troon North are pushing the cost of my rental car for the week. I'm not trying to be cheap just semi-sane lol. 

 

Also doesn't have to be 36 so if Pippaash is really worth it can just play that then go do something else. Or see what We-Ko-Pa prices 36 at or just bounce around courses and get in another 9 or 18 in the afternoon if possible. 

 

 

... I completely understand about the cost because it is just off the charts insane here by November. I just played WeKoPa Saguaro last week and as the #1 public course in AZ it was awesome. But in the end it's really just a nice golf course and I am not paying $200 to play there. I hate to steer you away from O’odham because I am spoiled coming from Chicago with over 100 courses and double that here, so maybe some find it acceptable. I had just heard good things about talking Stick when I first moved here 4 years ago and was disappointed in O’odham.

... Kinda like Padre at Camelback that charges close to what they charge for Ambiente. $225 for Padre and I would pay more than $39 and even then it would have to be because a friend wanted to play there. Phoenix be crazy from October thru April. 

[MattM97]

50 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

 

... I completely understand about the cost because it is just off the charts insane here by November. I just played WeKoPa Saguaro last week and as the #1 public course in AZ it was awesome. But in the end it's really just a nice golf course and I am not paying $200 to play there. I hate to steer you away from O’odham because I am spoiled coming from Chicago with over 100 courses and double that here, so maybe some find it acceptable. I had just heard good things about talking Stick when I first moved here 4 years ago and was disappointed in O’odham.

... Kinda like Padre at Camelback that charges close to what they charge for Ambiente. $225 for Padre and I would pay more than $39 and even then it would have to be because a friend wanted to play there. Phoenix be crazy from October thru April. 

 

I get that for sure just being a nice course, I'm not sure there are many courses that are absolutely amazing time after time when you're local. For me I'd probably love them cause it's just different than anything else I've ever played or I'll hate them cause it's completely different.

 

But it will also be my last golf until probably April and it's been a good year so want to go out with a bang I guess.