Moving to Northern AZ next week.

[craigeyb]

Prescott area.

Hi People:

Next week I move for the summer to Prescott, AZ to take the job as Horse Racing Announcer at Yavapai Downs.

I will have Wed, Thu and Fri to play golf and would like to meet some golfing friends down there. My landlady is the new beer girl at Antelope Hills and they have a range program so I will probably make my home base there.

Have never been to that part of the USA and am looking forward to my experiences of desert golf. I can shoot in the low to mid 80's, not a long hitter and really do not care if someone is a par or a 100 shooter, 16 or 90, male, female, just looking to make some friends.

Not into paying megabucks for a game of golf but hopefully the prices will be reasonable over the summer. If anyone can tell me of the courses in the area, it would be appreciated.

Thanks

Craig

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Stoneridge is a quirky but interesting course that will take a couple rounds to figure out the best way to play it. I can't remember the other course we played partly because of the massive amounts of alcohol consumed the night before and partly because it was not overly memorable. There are others I have not played yet but plan on making another trip up from the valley. Antelope hills, seven canyons prescot cc to name a few.

[teejaywhy]

Welcome to Arizona!

Prescott sits at approx 5000' elevation so it is up out of the "desert" The native is more of the pinon/juniper type with some areas of ponderosa pine. The climate is moderate with summer high temps only in the upper 80's/low 90's and mild winters with some snow.

It is a great little town with a historic downtown area that is famous for "Whiskey Row." Surrounded by national forest, a superb area if you enjoy outdoor activities like camping, hiking, mtn biking, fishing, etc. And just a 1.5 hour drive to the big city where there are 200+ more golf courses to choose from.

For a small town, Prescott has a lot going for it golf wise, a great 36-hole municipal facility at Antelope Hills. I very much enjoy playing the 50+ year old North course, very traditional with trees and wonderful mature greens. Two private courses that are allowing limited outside play due to the tough economy - Hassyampa and Talking Rock. Another couple of public courses nearby that fall into the "value" range.

Then there is Stoneridge mentioned by OnePutt. Honestly, I have never played it so I shouldn't really be commenting. We were up there just three weeks ago and I drove by to see what I could see. There are about 4 or 5 holes visible from the road. I stopped and got out and stood on one teebox and could see another couple holes. Talk about awkward looking sidehill targets and holes seemingly jammed into spaces where golf holes don't belong. Absolutely nothing I could see that might remotely motivate me to go play it. But that's me, I'm a grumpy old bastage. I'm sure I'll play it someday and maybe be surprised.

We do some informal GolfWRX outings around the Phoenix area. Would be cool to do one up in Prescott this summer to get out of the heat.

[craigeyb]

[quote name='tjy355' timestamp='1302182639' post='3129274']
Welcome to Arizona!

Prescott sits at approx 5000' elevation so it is up out of the "desert" The native is more of the pinon/juniper type with some areas of ponderosa pine. The climate is moderate with summer high temps only in the upper 80's/low 90's and mild winters with some snow.

It is a great little town with a historic downtown area that is famous for "Whiskey Row." Surrounded by national forest, a superb area if you enjoy outdoor activities like camping, hiking, mtn biking, fishing, etc. And just a 1.5 hour drive to the big city where there are 200+ more golf courses to choose from.

For a small town, Prescott has a lot going for it golf wise, a great 36-hole municipal facility at Antelope Hills. I very much enjoy playing the 50+ year old North course, very traditional with trees and wonderful mature greens. Two private courses that are allowing limited outside play due to the tough economy - Hassyampa and Talking Rock. Another couple of public courses nearby that fall into the "value" range.

Then there is Stoneridge mentioned by OnePutt. Honestly, I have never played it so I shouldn't really be commenting. We were up there just three weeks ago and I drove by to see what I could see. There are about 4 or 5 holes visible from the road. I stopped and got out and stood on one teebox and could see another couple holes. Talk about awkward looking sidehill targets and holes seemingly jammed into spaces where golf holes don't belong. Absolutely nothing I could see that might remotely motivate me to go play it. But that's me, I'm a grumpy old bastage. I'm sure I'll play it someday and maybe be surprised.

We do some informal GolfWRX outings around the Phoenix area. Would be cool to do one up in Prescott this summer to get out of the heat.
[/quote]

Hi TJY!

Do you know what the practie facilities are like at Antelope Hills?

Tks

Craig

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='craigeyb' timestamp='1302190730' post='3129647']

Hi TJY!

Do you know what the practie facilities are like at Antelope Hills?
[/quote]

Not awful but nothing special. A range and a putting green. No short game area that I can recall. Pretty much your average muni-type setup.

[fore_life]

Can't comment on Antelope Hills, but Stone Ridge has a pretty large driving range, a decent chipping/short game area, and a huge putting green. It was quirky, but fun, and one I would definitely like to play again.

Matt, the other one we played was Prescott country club. It's a shorter, traditional lay out, but still a good time. Pace of play seemed really really slow out there until the marshal let us jump ahead at the turn. As One-Putt mentioned, these could have seemed more of an issue due to heavy drinking the previous night haha.

Tom, I think it would be AWESOME to do a Northern AZ golf trip this summer.

[jrich99]

Prescott CC is a lot of fun. Not real long, not real tough, but some cool holes and pretty decent greens. I play in a Junior SWPGA event there in the summer usually. I don't know what the rates are, but I doubt they're awful. The range has a cool view too. Even though it isnt the most exclusive tournament site of the summer, it's always one of my favorites. I just like something about the layout.

[mrb30]

I would rate Prescott Lake as the best course up there. Hale Irwin design and is a blast to play. It is can be a long day if you don't keep it in the fairway. The practice facilities are great there also. I used to live up in Prescott, it is a great place..

[fore_life]

Prescott Lakes is still fully private, right?

[mrb30]

I believe that it is now private/semi private. Arnold Palmer Golf recently took over operations of the club and I know they have been killing it with memberships and have sold out.

[robert horneman]

Antelope, No. and So. are very nice. Prescott cc is also very nice and fun to play. Fairways are not real good.
Stoneridge is my favorite. Very quirky but fun. You will like it or hate it. You need to play it more than once. Check out their membership deal.
They also have a deal for $39.00 that includes lunch, can't beat it.

You will love Prescott

[teejaywhy]

Bummer for the OP, I read where due to financial difficulties, Yavapai Downs will not be opening for this summer's racing season.

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