Golf Trip in the end of May

[Rodrigo72]

Arizona and Las Vegas

Hi, me and 2 or 3 friends we are thinking to fly to USA for play golf again. But this time, we want to know how is the weather in the end of May (and first week of June) in Arizona (Phoenix) and Las Vegas. We know that it´s hot but how hot is it? Imposible to play golf Twilight? We know that in the end of May the preices reduces soo much, but we don´t know how hot is it and how is the shape and if it´s a great deal if we go at that time only for the money?
Ther real trip we will like to do is California, Palms Spings, Las Vegas and Arizona for 15 days.-
Thank´s (sorry for my english)

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='Rodrigo72' timestamp='1283273901' post='2671448']
[size="3"]Hi, me and 2 or 3 friends we are thinking to fly to USA for play golf again. But this time, we want to know how is the weather in the end of May (and first week of June) in Arizona (Phoenix) and Las Vegas. We know that it´s hot but how hot is it? Imposible to play golf Twilight? We know that in the end of May the preices reduces soo much, but we don´t know how hot is it and how is the shape and if it´s a great deal if we go at that time only for the money?
Ther real trip we will like to do is California, Palms Spings, Las Vegas and Arizona for 15 days.-
Thank´s (sorry for my english)[/size]
[/quote]

How hot is it? Well, it's so hot (insert favorite joke here...).

Golf in the desert southwest (Phoenix, Las Vegas, Palm Springs...) is a tossup between weather and cost. Winter is nice weather, but that means tourist season and expensive rates. Summer is hot, but ultra cheap golf.

June is the hottest month. It is also the driest. With no moisture in the air, the overnight temps still drop into the pleasant range which means early morning tee times are still quite nice as long as you can get off of the course by 11AM. After that, the temps rise until the very late afternoon and only start to drop as the sun goes down. I mention this because the twilight time isn't really any cooler, but can be more tolerable if the sun isn't overhead.

But the upside is you can take a golf cart (most do in the hot months), wear light clothing and a big hat, use sunscreen and DRINK PLENTY OF WATER, and summer golf in the desert can be a great time. And you can play the best courses for less than US$50. Sometimes a lot less.

Of course I live here. I'm acclimated. I will say that most people find hot temps with low humidity much more tolerable. How hot? I'm sure you can google for "Phoenix average temperature" and find a chart. Keep in mind, 106 degrees F with 5% humidity is 1000 times more pleasant than 90 with 90% humidity.

About conditions - most of the courses in the desert "overseed" in the winter. Because the bermuda grass that can tolerate the hot summer, goes dormant in the winter, they overseed with rye grass in October to have a nice green course for the winter tourists. This rye grass lasts until late May or early June. When it finally dies off, the bermuda grass re-establishes and there can be spotty conditions in June. While not the absolute best conditions of the year, nothing that would spoil a visit. They do usually aerify the greens in June.

For the best mix of cost and conditions, come as early in May as you can... I know some don't drop the rates to the lowest until June 1, but most offer a "shoulder" rate that is still pretty good.

Enjoy your trip. Please check out the SouthWest sub-forum for specific course reviews and this thread in particular:
[url]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/179150-traveling-to-phoenixsome-course-info-for-you/[/url]

Don't miss the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa.

Please feel free to ask if you have any specific questions.

[Rodrigo72]

[size="2"]Wow [b]TjY355[/b] thank´s thank´s thank´s thank´s. Thank´s for your great post. !!!!!!!!!!
I sent the post to my friends. I saw the rates in early May and it´s ok and with golfnow.com is much cheap. Another question, in early May the fairways and the green looks "more green" or in what month of the year?.

Thank´s again.-[/size]

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Pretty much a big +1 to everything TJY said.

IMO early to mid May is the best time to play golf in the Phoenix area, its the best combination of course conditions and rates that you can get. For the most part the courses are still in as good of shape as they were in March and April but the prices are much better. Typically most courses will deteriorate around the middle to end of June during the summer transition where the summer grass overtakes the winter rye.
As far as the heat goes well it can be 105* or it could be 85* it just depends on how lucky you get.

Must plays are
Wekopa Saguaro
Troon North Pinnacle
See my thread that TJY linked for specifics on the courses as well as all my other reviews and rankings and all the websites.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='Rodrigo72' timestamp='1283441227' post='2675500']
[size="2"]... Another question, in early May the fairways and the green looks "more green" or in what month of the year?.
[/size]
[/quote]

In the May-June timeframe you are considering, yes everything is green. The only time there may not be green is in the winter months (november-march) when the bermuda grass is dormant. Most courses will overseed with rye to have green during the winter, but how much green will vary by course. The very upscale resort courses will overseed "wall-to-wall" (tees, greens, fairways, roughs). Most other courses will overseed tees, greens and fairways, leaving the rough to a natural yellow color. Some courses only overseed tees and greens leaving the fairways and roughs dormant. While dormant bermuda is perfectly playable, it may not be the look you seek. By April, the bermuda is growing and green again.

Irrespective of weather or price point, the best turf conditions of the year are:
Summer: August-September right up until about two weeks before the start of overseed. (mid sept to mid oct depends on the course)
Winter: January-May