Austin, TX vs. Phoenix, AZ

[d373rm1ned]

I'll be graduating from college in May and am completely sick of cold weather. I'm looking to move somewhere that I can golf 365 days/year if I wanted to. I've narrowed my choices down to the Austin or Phoenix areas. Just wondering, which area you guys would recommend and why? Weather, living costs, housing costs, job market (I'm in Physical Therapy), etc. should all come into play.

 

I know the Phoenix area is loaded with courses just about everywhere but which suburb/part of Phoenix would you recommend to reside in? What about Austin? I don't need different courses to choose from. I would completely happy living close enough to 5 decent courses that I could go play around at whichever I preferred after a day at work.

 

Thanks for any information you guys may share.

[TML]

Phoenix. I like Scottsdale, Peoria, North Phoenix.

- winter, spring, fall....better weather in these 3 seasons. Summers...you can still get out early before the big heat and no humidity.
- great deals on real estate.....
- I like the area better personally. Love Scottsdale and suburbs of Phoenix.

[wagsgt]

Not that Phoenix has a shortage but Austin has some smoking hot women

[retep]

i love phx, i love austin. i've never played in austin, but i am guessing... it costs less than phoenix on average per round...
Also, i think the glory days of careers in phx are done... i assume you have a job you can do where ever...

[fatgolfer]

I don't know if your of college age, but I would say ASU has some fine women. I've never been to Austin, but I hear it's fun. If you like sports we might have an edge too, spring training, dbacks, suns, cardinals, coyotes (maybe). Also, you can drive 1-3 hours north and be in the mountains, some days 30 degrees cooler or even ski in winter. 6 hours from Vegas and San Diego by car, 1 by plane.

[jaebell]

Austin for the golf, weather, other activities and its close to DFW and San Antonio which has tons of great golf as well. Texas also has more jobs, better economy and more affordable housing.

[jaebell]

[quote name='wagsgt' post='1874668' date='Aug 9 2009, 01:43 PM']Not that Phoenix has a shortage but Austin has some smoking hot women[/quote]

I second that!

[TML]

[quote name='fatgolfer' post='1875436' date='Aug 9 2009, 05:02 PM']I don't know if your of college age, [b]but I would say ASU has some fine women.[/b] I've never been to Austin, but I hear it's fun. If you like sports we might have an edge too, spring training, dbacks, suns, cardinals, coyotes (maybe). Also, you can drive 1-3 hours north and be in the mountains, some days 30 degrees cooler or even ski in winter. 6 hours from Vegas and San Diego by car, 1 by plane.[/quote]
You are not kidding. ASU has the finest in the country......IMO.

[Sooner1]

I live in Austin and love it but truthfully we don't need anymore people...So I'm going to tell you it sucks and to move to phoenix....have you seen all the foreclosures there???/ you can pick up a house real cheap.

[SDGolfing]

In all honesty you are not going to play golf 365 days a year in either location. You get a decent amount of thunderstorms in Austin and the humidity in the summers is a golf killer. Same with PHX. You literally have to tee off before 7AM and it is still close to 100 by the time you are done. However, if my hand was held to the fire I would definitely go with AZ for the following reasons...

You are closer to some awesome golfing vacations.
I hate, hate, hate, humidity.
Honestly the women are insane. Not that they are bad in Austin but Arizona is just nuts.
Even though Austin is a bit more progressive than some other areas of Texas it still definitely has the southern feel to it. Which is or isn't your thing. Not for me.

Why not consider Socal? I mean in comparison to PHX it really is not THAT much more expensive and you really can golf 365 days a year. If cost is more of a deciding factor Austin will be much cheaper.

[TML]

I love SoCal, but the traffic has got to be the worst ever.

[SDGolfing]

[quote name='TML' post='1875549' date='Aug 9 2009, 05:52 PM']I love SoCal, but the traffic has got to be the worst ever.[/quote]


All depends where you are and what you do for a living. I don't deal with it at all. I will take an extra 30 min commute looking at the ocean versus flying up and down an express way covered in snow all day.

[TML]

[quote name='SDGolfing ' post='1875745' date='Aug 9 2009, 07:03 PM'][quote name='TML' post='1875549' date='Aug 9 2009, 05:52 PM']I love SoCal, but the traffic has got to be the worst ever.[/quote]


All depends where you are and what you do for a living. I don't deal with it at all. I will take an extra 30 min commute looking at the ocean versus flying up and down an express way covered in snow all day.
[/quote]
We agree....snow sucks! I drive up to Tahoe if I want snow, but I usually choose golf.

[Skydiver22]

Can you get a 0700 tee time, finish 18... jump in your car and drive under 2 hours and snowboard the rest of the afternoon???

In Phoenix you can!

Does Austin have over 200 golf courses....
Phoenix does!

[SDGolfing]

[quote name='kvnhlstd' post='1875947' date='Aug 9 2009, 08:15 PM']Can you get a 0700 tee time, finish 18... jump in your car and drive under 2 hours and snowboard the rest of the afternoon???

In Phoenix you can!

Does Austin have over 200 golf courses....
Phoenix does![/quote]

Yeah that's the other thing, quality of golf is far superior in the sunshine state. For me again, humidity. Why deal with it if you don't have to?

[tbowles411]

Phoenix! I wanted to go to AZ my whole Air Force career and never made it!

[307golf]

I'd go Austin. crime and economy of phoenix are not appealing to me, especially with a family.

[jhart]

Random thoughts:

Texas does not have state income tax.

The traffic in Austin has gotten ridiculous, so bad that I refused to move there from Houston. I have a second home west of Austin and its great out on the lake, but I won't drive into Austin anywhere near rush hour. Took me 90 minutes to make a 20 mile commute to Bee Cave with no visible wrecks or road construction.

I get tired of desert golf pretty quickly, but if it's your thing, AZ would be great. I've played in both locations, and AZ (played phoenician and boulders) is great for a quick trip. But day in and day out, I'd rather have fewer courses in Austin (barton creek, horseshoe bay) with more hills and more trees.

[highergr0und]

I might get flamed for this, but it's all in good fun....

I was talking about Austin after a recent business trip, and my best friend's comment (who lived there for a few years) was "Austin is awesome, but the only problem is it's surrounded by Texas..."

If you like live music and staring at college girls, Austin is great. Phoenix may be better long term though, especially with an older population and your career choice.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Another vote for Phoenix. One thing that hasnt been mentioned yet is how spread out it is here and you may want to find a job before a full time residence. That way you can find a place close to work when you get settled in. Many great areas to live/work north scottsdale/phoenix chander gilbert etc very reasonable housing costs right now as well as cost of living. Like others have said well over 200 courses to choose from. Plus plenty of undeniably hot women. My only complaint is the cost to play high end courses in peak season but deals are out there if you find them.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Coming from someone who has to deal with winters in the Baltimore area, and having been to both Austin and Phoenix. You can't go wrong with either one, honestly.

Good luck, I envy you!!

[fore_life]

You can currently buy a 3 bedroom house with 2 car garage and pool for $69,000 in Maricopa,AZ.

[DH48]

[quote name='highergr0und' post='1876835' date='Aug 10 2009, 11:30 AM']I might get flamed for this, but it's all in good fun....

I was talking about Austin after a recent business trip, and my best friend's comment (who lived there for a few years) was "Austin is awesome, but the only problem is it's surrounded by Texas..."

If you like live music and staring at college girls, Austin is great. Phoenix may be better long term though, especially with an older population and your career choice.[/quote]


Maybe I'm biased but that's one thing Austin has going for it. Texas is awesome, great golf, great fishing, great hunting, head down to the coast for the beach. Pretty much anything you want besides skiing and Colorado isn't pretty cheap to get to.

I'd do Austin but that's just me.

[onehitah]

Austin's a great lake town and it's small. Lots of springs and natural swimming holes with a tone of things to do. Good people and good food. (Guerros comes to mind). It is in Texas though...

Public courses are reasonable. It does get hot but not as bad as Houston(humidity)

Also you are far! Far from anywhere outside of the state. It's gigantic.

But ya, overall a solid college town. And the girls there are a lot less pretentious than say, LA or Phoenix. jmo.

[fore_life]

IMO, as a native, the only pretentious area of AZ is North Scottsdale, and maybe around the Biltmore.

[LongJohn6284]

you are a lucky guy whether you end up in either of these cities. I have been to Austin once but didnt really get a chance to see the city and i have been to the verrado area near phoenix and it was nice too...great places for golf and good weather...good luck

[d373rm1ned]

Thanks for all the comments and support guys. It is still a toss up between the 2 spots. I am completely torn between the 2. Any further insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[TML]

What other criteria do you have?

For me, I hate being rain delayed. That is not an issue in arizona....it is in texas.

[weten2]

"Austin for the golf, weather, other activities and its close to DFW and San Antonio which has tons of great golf as well. Texas also has more jobs, better economy and more affordable housing."

I third this. Plus a city like Austin with the Capital and large university will always do better in a recession than other cities. Take it from me, i'm 60 and recently laid off. I'm in commercial construction and real estate and like that they can build year around not like Chicago where I live.

[d373rm1ned]

Quick question, how unbearable is the AZ heat in the dead of summer? I will most likely work 8-5 so I wouldn't be out on the course until after 5:30 during the week? Also, how much of a mark up is there for green fees during the winter months? I'm thinking that Austin may be a more practical choice as it will be slightly cheaper on the green fees. I wouldn't be against having a membership at a local or even a private (if not outrageously expensive) course. Any recommendations for either city?