Vista Verde

[teejaywhy]

The secret golf course

Vista Verde Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, has been open since 2006, yet is virtually unknown. Built as the centerpiece of a new development that is part of the Tonto Verde community, the course was completed just as the housing market tanked. As a result, the surrounding infrastructure has been slow to be developed and for now, the course lies in a pristine desert setting, yet to be surrounded by real estate.

Vista Verde is a Ken Kavanaugh design (Gold Canyon Dinosaur, Longbow), and is very generous off the tee but features some treacherous greens complexes with lots of internal contours. As there is not much housing going up yet, the views are wide open across the Verde River valley all the way up to the Four Peaks in the distance. The course is built on the gradual slope of the valley which must be considered when reading the breaks. From the tips, the course measures 7219 yards with a 73.3/144 rating.

WARNING: No infrastructure in place - no clubhouse, no beverage service, port-a-johns only. One actually checks in at the Tonto Verde golf shop, then you drive a mile north and down a dirt road to VV. IF you are looking for the country-club-for-a-day experience, this is not it. If you are looking for a superior golf experience, by all means check out Vista Verde.

Right now the weekend rate is $90 and weekdays $75. As well, the course is offering a discount to AGA members, 4 for the price of 3.
http://www.theverdes.com/aga.php

A few (not so great) pics snapped when I played it in May 2008.

[steverinoarizona]

I haven't played there but I have heard it is okay. But...it is not in Scottsdale. It is in Rio Verde which is pretty far east so folks should check out the distance before making a decision.

[Brocktoon]

Has anyone played here lately? What kind of shape is it in?

[phoenix wildcat]

played there 2 weeks ago and the course is fantastic. Very generous off the tee with some large fairways, but the greens are punishing. The single we played with compared them to Pinhurst, as many of them are like turtle shells.

 

The condition of the course is great, and the greens were rolling very true and very quick. I think it is very comprable to We-ko-pa's Saguaro course....

 

It's definitely worth the drive and please don't be scared because it's not in "scottsdale". Many of the better courses in the greater phoenix area are NOT in scottsdale (We-ko-pa, trilogy at vistancia, raven at verrado, Longbow, ect...)

[6t4gt0]

Played today and yesterday, very nice course, great bunkers (not sure what kind of sand it is but nice to play from)

Play it now before the housing development gets going as it won't get any better than it is right now.

[amerza18]

I love Vista Verde. Played it in 2007 had a great time. Haven't played it since. If you have a chance to play it, do it before all the houses get in.

[stp]

Don't worry, the houses are years off.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Dang Tom this may be the best hidden gem in the valley. Its so good i am hesitant to tell people about it just want to keep it a locals secret hahaha. Great track loved the green complexs they are fantastic really need to hit solid shots into them. I really enjoyed my round today and cant wait to play it again. I got some pics i will try to add later

[amerza18]

I'm glad that other people agree with my assesment of Vista Verde. I think it's the best "hidden gem" in that area. I know that Troon, Grayhawk have the names, but dollar for dollar, Vista Verde is my favorite in that area. Maybe we should have the second WRX event there.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='One_Putt_Blunder' post='1844363' date='Jul 26 2009, 02:39 PM']Dang Tom this may be the best hidden gem in the valley. Its so good i am hesitant to tell people about it just want to keep it a locals secret hahaha.[/quote]

Shh! It is a secret!! Heh, heh...

[BParis]

Every February I fly in to spend a week with family and we stay at Tonto Verde. I really enjoy playing the two Tonto courses, but Vista Verde is the real gem! I am amazed that the place isn't over run with people wanting to play. Greens fee when staying at Tonto is very reasonable, too.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

I will add a bit more since I was posting from my cell before. As some one else has said it is very similar to Wekopa Saguaro but in my opinion the green complexes at Vista Verde are tougher and have a bit of Donald Ross and a bit of Pinehurst # 2 in them. They hold shots very well even chip/pitch shots but they still require well struck shots to have a reasonable look at birdie or even par in some cases. It took me all day just to get used to the breaks and speed and I dont think I still am comfortable reading them yet, but I cant wait to get back out and play It again.

 

The fairways are very very generous but a few holes still require some precision off the tee mostly the short par 4s #. I really enjoyed the bunker designs and natural washes on some of the par 5s in the layup areas makes you really focus on club selection and target for a layup which is not very common. I dont think I can put Vista Verde in my top 5 but it is definatley a top 10 valley course and # 1 for the best budget course out here. Overall I played ok today 77 with two 3 putt bogeys and an unplayable lie bogey on # 18 after my only missed fairway on the day. I will prob be back out there next weekend.

Here are a few pics I snapped today

This one gives you an idea of the elavated green complexes

The short par 4 #7

#7 green complex you do not want to be long

 

[BJG718]

this course had been open for only a few weeks (maybe months) when i played it. one of the toughest courses i've ever played. as i recall, there were a few spots in the fairway that seemed burned out. the greens were VERY fast. it was in very good shape aside from the few thin/bare spots.

[teejaywhy]

Just an FYI, Vista Verde started their overseed early (Sept 7 according to the published SWPGA schedule), and are only doing tees and greens. With 6+ weeks of growth, should be in great condition and no soggy fairways and cart path only restrictions to deal with.

[Charlie.Dont.Surf]

anyone played it recently(last week or two)?

Also so there is no clubhouse etc...where do you get carts? or do they even have them?

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='Charlie.Dont.Surf' post='2093460' date='Nov 30 2009, 12:55 PM']anyone played it recently(last week or two)?

Also so there is no clubhouse etc...where do you get carts? or do they even have them?[/quote]

They do have carts, they are stored inside a rent-a-fence and there is a Tuff Shed on site. (lol) I heard they do now have a beverage cart. Didn't get out there this summer so I don't know if any improvements are happening.

You check in and pay at the Tonto Verde pro shop which is about one mile south then drive your car over.

Would like to play it this winter as the $75/$90 rate is a screamin' deal for high season golf.

[Charlie.Dont.Surf]

1PM or later and the rate drops to $50 on golfnow

[One_Putt_Blunder]

[quote name='Charlie.Dont.Surf' post='2093815' date='Nov 30 2009, 03:16 PM']1PM or later and the rate drops to $50 on golfnow[/quote]

Well worth every penny, I regret not going out there on friday at that price, ended up playing somewhere else and could not even finish the round after 5 hours made it through 14 holes with a 1:15 tee time . Should have gone to Vista and teed off at 1:30 and been done by 4-4:30 at the latest. Pace of play is usually very good out there.

[rtdakota]

Couple of questions about the course.

How well is it marked?

Yardage books or GPS?

Thanks in advance.

DG

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='rtdakota' post='2133318' date='Dec 19 2009, 01:01 AM']Couple of questions about the course.
How well is it marked?
Yardage books or GPS?[/quote]

No on-cart gps. When I last played it, they didn't have yardage books. The course itself was well marked with yardages on the sprinkler heads however.

None of that should be of any consideration - if you are thinking of playing this course you should do it.

[rtdakota]

[quote name='tjy355' post='2135845' date='Dec 20 2009, 06:24 PM'][quote name='rtdakota' post='2133318' date='Dec 19 2009, 01:01 AM']Couple of questions about the course.
How well is it marked?
Yardage books or GPS?[/quote]

No on-cart gps. When I last played it, they didn't have yardage books. The course itself was well marked with yardages on the sprinkler heads however.

None of that should be of any consideration - if you are thinking of playing this course you should do it.
[/quote]

I am playing this course and very much looking forward to it.

[BParis]

[quote name='rtdakota' post='2133318' date='Dec 19 2009, 02:01 AM']Couple of questions about the course.

How well is it marked?

Yardage books or GPS?

Thanks in advance.

DG[/quote]


Each cart has a hand-held laser so you can read distance to the pins.

[ksavy17]

playing there twice in the next two weeks, cant wait

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Just wanted to update everyone. Vista Verde was not overseeded this year with the exception of the tees and green complexes. They have added a makeshift proshop so you no longer need to drive to Tonto Verde to pay for your round wich is very nice and convienent. The course itself is now playing similar to Southern Dunes, expect it to play very firm and fast just dont expect alot of green similar to the pictures we have posted. The big shock to me is the bermuda greens are quite a bit firmer now then the were in the summer, so expect some run out from you ball on approach shots. You cant just fly it at the flag like you could during the summer, but thats bermuda for ya. Either way its still a very good track for a bargain price for North Scottsdale golf.

[ksavy17]

I'm not from AZ but this has been the worst course i've played in the two years that I have come out to AZ. very boring

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='ksavy17' post='2164174' date='Jan 5 2010, 10:16 PM']I'm not from AZ but this has been the worst course i've played in the two years that I have come out to AZ. very boring[/quote]

What was boring? Poor selection of beer on the beverage cart?

[ksavy17]

[quote name='tjy355' date='06 January 2010 - 07:07 AM' timestamp='1262783243' post='2164411']
[quote name='ksavy17' post='2164174' date='Jan 5 2010, 10:16 PM']I'm not from AZ but this has been the worst course i've played in the two years that I have come out to AZ. very boring[/quote]

What was boring? Poor selection of beer on the beverage cart?
[/quote]
I think it has something to do with the other courses that I have played out there but all the holes seemed very similar and the course just wasnt any fun to me.

[rtdakota]

Just back today from Scottsdale. Played this course Thursday morning and I thought overall it was a good track. The course wasn't overly difficult but did have some good holes. I want to echo what one putt blunder stated above, balls were rolling out due to the firmness of the fairways but the green complexes were great. The greens rolled true and were pretty quick. For the price paid, this is definitely worth playing.

I will say that the course isn't quite as scenic as some of the others in the area, but it was a test. During this trip I played Troon Pinnacle, Grayhawk Raptor and Vista Verde. All from the "right foot in the rough" and my score was higher at Vista Verde than the other 2. FWIW I am playing to a 2.7 index.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Well I guess its getting to be that time of year again, check out this badboy that was lazily creeping up the back of the 6th green at vista yesterday

[Reif]

Played Vista today (June 12, 2010).

Wind was howling on the front, not bad on the back, the guys I played with say it's windier there than other courses around Scottsdale.

I liked it, but I will say for a one time deal it's a little frustrating.

There were some pin positions that were really unfair unless you knew exactly what the deal was (back center on 4 and front left on 5, for example), and some holes that I wasn't really sure where to hit it off the tee. The complementary yardage book is OK, but not great for help with this.

It's a course you'd enjoy much more the second time, I think, so if you're only in town for short time . . .

Definitely not a country club, but I paid $30 walking up at 10:20 AM on a Sunday.

The greens need another week or two (they had told me this on the phone, but I went anyway, so good on them).

I didn't think they were bad, though, I wouldn't let the greens stop me from playing there.

They are in about the same condition as Grayhawk Raptor, which I played on Thursday.

I like this better.

Reif