ASU Karsten/Longbow/Dove Valley

[BaNeY27]

Can anyone rank these 3 courses for me? Thanks!

Im traveling to Arizona on March 18th and i have a couple rounds set up. I also have two remaining days left, and ive narrowed my courses down to these three. I was wondering if anyone can rank these for me for the two remaining rounds that i have available. Im playing alongside a 15, and possible with a 20+. Any info you can give me would be greatly appriciated. Thanks in advance!

[One_Putt_Blunder]

1: Longbow great course fairly flat and open

2: Dove Valley decent course but should play better than Karsten for the high cappers.

3: Karsten

 

Karsten is a typical Pete Dye layout not alot of flat lies in the place and may cause your higher handicap buddies some fits.

[stp]

Karsten yes, longbow is not a good layout and i have not played dove. If you are off the grass at longbow you are in nasty everpresent jagged sharp club eating rock.

[malasuerte]

None are particular good for Higher HCs. But the better course ranking is Dove, Longbow, ASU.

 

There are much better courses in the price range if you're concern is HC and playability.

 

Ocotillo, Legacy, Camelback come to mind.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

I just put longbow up there since it is so open even if you get off the grass its still pretty easy to find your ball. Dove Valley is forgiving enough but more heavily shrubbed making harder to play a ball off the beaten path.

I would rather have a shot from the rocks/waste areas than be burried in a bush/cactus.

[DavePelz4]

Im traveling to Arizona on March 18th and i have a couple rounds set up. I also have two remaining days left, and ive narrowed my courses down to these three. I was wondering if anyone can rank these for me for the two remaining rounds that i have available. Im playing alongside a 15, and possible with a 20+. Any info you can give me would be greatly appriciated. Thanks in advance!

 

Baney...

 

Where are you set up now and where are you staying? If you're looking for something close to the airport for getaway day, I'd suggest Foothills over ASU.

 

If you have a day where you don't mind driving to a top notch facility, try Raven at Verrado or go play Dinosaur Mountain at Gold Canyon. Both are nice tests with wide enough fairways to be playable for your mates.

 

Oh...and in case you're a Cubs fan, please ignore this post!!!

 

JK.

[BaNeY27]

I'm staying in North Central Phoenix. The 20+ has a place in surprise, so the drive is not a problem considering ill be driving alot anyway. My budget isnt a big deal, if it were up to me, id go out and play Troon North, and Grey Hawk after my Hot Stix fitting, considering it is a vacation, and its 32 right now where i live. The money issue for the other players is a concern, that is why i picked these 3, because Ive seen the rates on birdie bug, and golfnow. Im looking for a couple good tracks, at a decent price. Just wanted to give you guys a little more info, maybe you can throw a couple other courses out there for me. None of my other days are set in stone, so they all coulb be changed. Ive played, and loved Raven at Verrado, and that is actually one of the days that i have planned. Thanks again everyone, hopefully youll throw some more courses my way.

[DavePelz4]

I'm staying in North Central Phoenix. The 20+ has a place in surprise, so the drive is not a problem considering ill be driving alot anyway. My budget isnt a big deal, if it were up to me, id go out and play Troon North, and Grey Hawk after my Hot Stix fitting, considering it is a vacation, and its 32 right now where i live. The money issue for the other players is a concern, that is why i picked these 3, because Ive seen the rates on birdie bug, and golfnow. Im looking for a couple good tracks, at a decent price. Just wanted to give you guys a little more info, maybe you can throw a couple other courses out there for me. None of my other days are set in stone, so they all coulb be changed. Ive played, and loved Raven at Verrado, and that is actually one of the days that i have planned. Thanks again everyone, hopefully youll throw some more courses my way.

 

OK...another decent track is Legacy. Very playable...handicaps of all size can have fun there. Ocotillo is a fun course, however it's more like our tracks here...a midwest run in the desert. You won't find a cactus in play.

 

There's another course called Southern Dunes that I haven't played but it comes highly recommended and I'm playing it in June. One Putt B is very knowledgeable and might be able to go off the board and use his local knowledge to give you some other suggestions.

[BaNeY27]

The good thing is that the 20+ is my father, and he has no problem playing different tees. It took him awhile to do it, but now we just tell him what tees to play, and he plays them. That takes a lot of the pressure off finding places that meet different handicap types, and the 15 is a bogey golfer, so it is pretty easy to find places to play with the group that i will be there with. I appreciate all of the info, and look forward to hearing more suggestions.

[Billy Baroo 2]

It might be a little more expensive but I agree with the other guy that I would play Dinosaur Mountain/Gold Canyon over Longbow, they're both about an hours drive from surprise btw, dinosaur mountain is worth it though. ASU Karsten I personally like, the 9th and 18th holes are like the 18th at Sawgrass with all water on one side with railroad ties along the fairway and green. Some people don't like it because it has some big mounds put in around the edges of the fairways and greens. Raven at Verrado and Golf Club of Estrella are some good desert course options that are over on the southwest side of town. Grayhawk is overrated and overpriced.

[teejaywhy]

I play Longbow frequently and right now it is in superb shape and the greens are rolling very fast. It has an enjoyable variety of holes, generous off the tee but with some tricky green surrounds. It is a core layout without housing intrusion. One minor distraction would be that it lies adjacent to an airport so there will be planes buzzing overhead. Like pretty much ANY course built in the last 20 years, it has desert surrounds which means there are rocks.

 

ASU Karsten is a course that I'm not a fan of. Extreme artificial mounding and not particularly attractive surroundings (Power plant with giant powerline towers).

 

Dove Valley I have not played.

 

Other courses to make mention of: Don't know if you have played We-Ko-Pa, but the Saguaro course is my #1 public in Arizona. It has some of the widest fairways you will find in Arizona and no rough to speak of. Not to say it is easy. Another core routing with no houses. Downside is the cost for non-residents.

 

Vista Verde - another Ken Kavanaugh (Gold Canyon Dinosaur, Longbow) this course is virtually unknown. No services in place but excellent golf. Bargain rates for the N. Scottsdale area. Check out the write up here:

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=234271