Scottsdale Golf outing

[philfrance]

Need your help - where to stay - where to play

Hi :

I'm travelling to Scottsdale next year for some golf with 5 friends - all guys. We're all in our mid- late 30s, want some fun and good golf. Some from France, some from the UK.

1) We intend to travel there mid October - what's the weather like then? Is there some fun at that time of the year in Scottsdale (are the bars and clubs lively)?

2) We've looked up courses, and hope to play We-Ko-Pa, Troon North, The Boulders, Eagle Mountain and another one or two (your suggestions - nice scenic courses)......

3) We're putting more money into the courses than the hotels, and want to be in the right area to have fun at night (bars, clubs, girls?) if possible within walking distance. Hotel suggestions? What area to be in (Old Scottsdale?)

Tks for your info.

Phil


:)

[mags300]

Phil, I would highly recommand GOLD CANYON, Make sure you bring your camera. The views are out of this world. Temps will be around 85-95 on average.

[$maker]

Phil, I would highly recommand GOLD CANYON, Make sure you bring your camera. The views are out of this world. Temps will be around 85-95 on average.

 

 

+1 - Gold Canyon Ranch, the Dinosaur Mountain course I believe. Have played it a few times and love it. It is a bit of a drive from Scottsdale.

 

 

October weather is great but greens fees shoot up in early-mid Septemeber and then often again early-mid October.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

The good news is the weather will be great and the nightlife even better. The bad news is most of the courses out here are either just coming off the overseed or in the middle of the overseed, there was a schedule posted here a while back I will find it for you. In terms of nightlife and food there are a ton of good options depending on what your looking to spend and the type of crowd your looking for.

 

2) We've looked up courses, and hope to play We-Ko-Pa, Troon North, The Boulders, Eagle Mountain and another one or two (your suggestions - nice scenic courses)......

 

All great courses and must play, I would also throw in Sunridge Canyon as a good course, and Talking Stick North

 

3: Hotels If you are looking for close accsess to the younger early to mid 20's party crowd stay in old town Scottsdale: If you are looking for the mid 20's to early 30's and up crowd stay and play in North Scottsdale. If you stay in old town most cab rides are about 10$-20$ usd. Also Do not forget to stop at a bar called Mickeys Hangover for late night pizza, it will change your life (well not really but its pretty good)

 

4: Food My personal favorite is City Hall Steakhouse, but Mastros and Ocean Club are the same owner and very similar menus Except Ocean Club which is more seafood. For pure novelty there is always the Pink Taco Restaurant in old town Scottsdale, food is ok but the margaritas are much better and the scenery is usually good to :)

 

Ill post some other stuff up here for ya, but feel free to Pm me for more info

I have lived in scottsdale for the last 13 years and I am also in my 30's and have frequented most of the drinking establishments here at least once.

 

here is a link to the area courses and websites that I wrote up a while ago.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?sh...=179150&hl=

 

Here is the overseed schedule for most of the area courses.

http://www.scottsdalegolfadventures.com/arizona-overseed.php

[philfrance]

Thanks for your great advice and info. THis is scheduled for October, so we still have plenty of time, but will be booking our flights in a months time. Do you think there are options to book the green fees so far ahead of time and possibly get preferential rates? are there any agencies to contact that are recommendable?

 

Tks.

 

Phil

[teejaywhy]

Hello Phil,

 

As others have mentioned, your biggest challenge will be that you are coming during the month that most of the courses "overseed." What is that exactly? The type of grass that best withstands the heat of the Arizona summer is bermuda grass, which unfortunately goes dormant during the winter months. So in the fall, they scalp the bermuda and overseed with rye grass. Some courses close for two or three weeks during this period and even when they re-open, the greens really take another few weeks before they return to normal. You certainly don't want to travel all the way from Europe to pay $+100 for fuzzy slow greens and wet sloppy conditions.

 

The trick would be to pay attention to the schedule, which is usually published in August. Some courses start early, some late. Most will start by mid October. If you are coming in early October, you should have a chance to find courses that have not yet overseeded. If you are coming in late October, you may be faced with trying to find courses that overseeded in late Sept/early October.

 

The other trick could be to find courses that have bent greens. In this case only the tees & fairways will be overseeded but the greens will be ok. Unfortunately, I don't have a list of courses with bent greens (not too many, it is difficult to maintain).

 

The Arizona Golf Association publishes a list of overseed dates

http://www.azgolf.org/

 

here is the 2008 list so you can see what you are facing (pdf file)

http://southwest.pga.com/gui/pgasouthwest3...cheduleCopy.pdf

 

Not knowing the dates for 2009 could make it difficult to plan or make reservations in advance.

 

Not trying to alarm you, just so you are aware. Oh yeah, the weather should be wonderful!

[philfrance]

Thanks for the info - I didn't understand the technicality of overseeding - so understand better now. I will have a look at this year's schedules to see what to expect for next year.....

 

Tks.

 

Phil