Phoenix in October

[al3h]

I'm considering a last minute trip to Phoenix at the end of October and was wondering how busy it gets at some of the must play courses around town. I was looking at flying in on 10/22 and leaving 10/26.

 

1) Maybe try to play Saturday if I get in early enough.

2) Play a round Sunday morning and then catch the football game against the Steelers

3) Play 36 on Monday and Tuesday

4) Maybe play a round on Wednesday before flying out

 

Taking into consideration pace of play and the waning sunlight, is it still possible to play 36 a day at the end of Oct?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Anthony

[quarterskins]

I don't get on that many must play courses (been on WeKoPa, Troon North, Whirlwind, S.Dunes, Las Sendas), and I've only been playing a little over a year, so I only have one October behind me, but I don't recall having a weekend day round come in at much over 4.5 hours at any time, and my second 18s are always less than 4 hours. October is well in advance of the main crush of winter visitors, so courses shouldn't be crowed/slow.

Looks like the sun will be up around 6:45 and set around 5:30 through Oct, so I think 36 should be do-able.
[url="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=197&month=10&year=2011&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1"]http://www.timeandda...n&afl=-11&day=1[/url]

Your main concern in Oct is overseeding. Most courses close for a couple of weeks in Oct, and a few days before closing they scalp the turf to the nubbins, which hampers the playing experience. After re-opening, they're much better, but they still don't get into prime shape for another couple of weeks to a month; just fyi, that wouldn't deter me from playing any of them after re-opening; well.
[url="http://southwest.pga.com/gui/pgasouthwest35102/pageimages/HomePage/2011OverseedingSchedule.pdf"]http://southwest.pga...ingSchedule.pdf[/url]

Edit: After re-opening a lot of courses have cart-path-only restrictions for a couple of weeks. Best call the course to sort that out.

[teejaywhy]

As mentioned, your biggest concern will be that at the end of October, most courses will have only two to four weeks grow-in for the rye overseed. Check out the schedule and try to play the ones that have had the longest grow-in.

NOTE: This link opens a PDF file:
[url]http://southwest.pga.com/gui/pgasouthwest35102/pageimages/HomePage/2011OverseedingSchedule.pdf[/url]

[al3h]

[quote name='al3h' timestamp='1315583868' post='3553131']
I'm considering a last minute trip to Phoenix at the end of October and was wondering how busy it gets at some of the must play courses around town. I was looking at flying in on 10/22 and leaving 10/26.

1) Maybe try to play Saturday if I get in early enough.
2) Play a round Sunday morning and then catch the football game against the Steelers
3) Play 36 on Monday and Tuesday
4) Maybe play a round on Wednesday before flying out

Taking into consideration pace of play and the waning sunlight, is it still possible to play 36 a day at the end of Oct?

Thanks in advance.

Anthony
[/quote]

So I've booked my trip to Phoenix. I'll be flying in on Friday night 10/21 and picking up a rental car the next morning. (who knew that to rent a car at the airport will cost twice as much as renting from an off airport site) These are the courses I've booked and was wondering what you guys think of my itinerary. I already realize that most of my course choices are coming off of overseeding and will be cart path only.

1) Saturday, after picking up my rental, I made a 11AM tee time at We-Ko-Pa Cholla. I would prefer to play 36 but only Cholla is open and I'm not sure how long it will take for me to pick up my car. Should I try to play Cholla twice if I can swing the timing?

2) Sunday, plan on going to the Cardinals/Steeler game but still want to play in the morning. Considering Grayhawk Raptor, TPC Champions or Talking Stick South. I believe all three have morning times available around 7:30. What would you guys recommend? And is it feasible to play 18 and still make it to the game?

3) Monday, 7:30AM tee time at Grayhawk Talon and 1:30PM tee time at TPC Stadium. (I'm only worried that I will run out of daylight while playing TPC)

4) Tuesday, 7:30AM tee time at Troon Pinnacle. Plan on playing 36 but I can't make an afternoon tee time till day of but was told tee sheet for Monument was wide open in the afternoon.

5) Wednesday, I have a 2PM flight but I booked a 7:12AM tee time at Whirlwind Devil's Claw. Am I cutting things to close by playing in the morning, returning my rental and making my flight on time?

I will be staying near TPC Sat-Tues and Tuesday night I got a room at Harrahs AK-Chin (it was free). Any thoughts?

[silentcmh]

1) You won't have time to get two rounds in with your first time at 11.
2) Either way you're cutting it close if you want to make it inside the stadium by kickoff, but you should play something in the west valley like Golf Club of Estrella, Trilogy Vistancia, Raven @ Verrado.
3) You should get both those rounds fully in.
5) Are you playing solo? You could fly around the course quick and likely get to the airport in time.

[puttnforthe8]

Silent has da answers.

But you may consider Southern Dunes if you are at Ak Chin....That will be empty for sure and you will have no issue getting to the airport if playing by yourself.

You can get 27 in at Cholla on day 1.

You would be cutting it real close on the Sunday...so not recommended. Hillcrest or Corte Bella are also options for Sunday...

[teejaywhy]

The unfortunate factor with recently overseeded courses is they are usually "cart path only" which slows things down.

[al3h]

[quote name='silentcmh' timestamp='1317693968' post='3621633']
1) You won't have time to get two rounds in with your first time at 11.
2) Either way you're cutting it close if you want to make it inside the stadium by kickoff, but you should play something in the west valley like Golf Club of Estrella, Trilogy Vistancia, Raven @ Verrado.
3) You should get both those rounds fully in.
5) Are you playing solo? You could fly around the course quick and likely get to the airport in time.
[/quote]

1) I figured that much but if I am able to pick up my rental earlier maybe I can get off earlier then my tee time. Is it ridiculously busy on Saturdays this time of year?
2) Unfortunately all those courses are closed for overseeding.
5) I will be solo but depends if they pair me up. How's traffic from Whirlwind to airport around noon usually?

Thanks

[al3h]

[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1317694835' post='3621729']
Silent has da answers.

But you may consider Southern Dunes if you are at Ak Chin....That will be empty for sure and you will have no issue getting to the airport if playing by yourself.

You can get 27 in at Cholla on day 1.

You would be cutting it real close on the Sunday...so not recommended. Hillcrest or Corte Bella are also options for Sunday...
[/quote]


I wanted to play Southern Dunes but it looks like they're closed for overseeding.

Hillcrest looks like an interesting choice but I'll probably just relax Sunday morning before the game.

Thanks.

[al3h]

[quote name='tjy355' timestamp='1317823584' post='3628001']
The unfortunate factor with recently overseeded courses is they are usually "cart path only" which slows things down.
[/quote]


Cart path only doesn't bother me as long as things keep moving. I'm hoping that the course will be empty enough on a weekday morning that I fly through my round.

Thanks.

[fore_life]

CPO tends to only slow things down even more than normal.

Also, Oct seems to be when the snowbirds start migrating our way, and the courses begin to get more and more crowded. I've already noticed it the past week at my home track. Love the weather, hate the crowds haha

[That Bob Guy]

[quote name='al3h' timestamp='1317693331' post='3621571']
[quote name='al3h' timestamp='1315583868' post='3553131']
I'm considering a last minute trip to Phoenix at the end of October and was wondering how busy it gets at some of the must play courses around town. I was looking at flying in on 10/22 and leaving 10/26.

1) Maybe try to play Saturday if I get in early enough.
2) Play a round Sunday morning and then catch the football game against the Steelers
3) Play 36 on Monday and Tuesday
4) Maybe play a round on Wednesday before flying out

Taking into consideration pace of play and the waning sunlight, is it still possible to play 36 a day at the end of Oct?

Thanks in advance.

Anthony
[/quote]

So I've booked my trip to Phoenix. I'll be flying in on Friday night 10/21 and picking up a rental car the next morning. (who knew that to rent a car at the airport will cost twice as much as renting from an off airport site) These are the courses I've booked and was wondering what you guys think of my itinerary. I already realize that most of my course choices are coming off of overseeding and will be cart path only.

1) Saturday, after picking up my rental, I made a 11AM tee time at We-Ko-Pa Cholla. I would prefer to play 36 but only Cholla is open and I'm not sure how long it will take for me to pick up my car. Should I try to play Cholla twice if I can swing the timing?

2) Sunday, plan on going to the Cardinals/Steeler game but still want to play in the morning. Considering Grayhawk Raptor, TPC Champions or Talking Stick South. I believe all three have morning times available around 7:30. What would you guys recommend? And is it feasible to play 18 and still make it to the game?

3) Monday, 7:30AM tee time at Grayhawk Talon and 1:30PM tee time at TPC Stadium. (I'm only worried that I will run out of daylight while playing TPC)

4) Tuesday, 7:30AM tee time at Troon Pinnacle. Plan on playing 36 but I can't make an afternoon tee time till day of but was told tee sheet for Monument was wide open in the afternoon.

5) Wednesday, I have a 2PM flight but I booked a 7:12AM tee time at Whirlwind Devil's Claw. Am I cutting things to close by playing in the morning, returning my rental and making my flight on time?

I will be staying near TPC Sat-Tues and Tuesday night I got a room at Harrahs AK-Chin (it was free). Any thoughts?
[/quote]

I too, am in Scottsdale 18-27. From my experience, scalped fairways aren't bad, but it's the greens that are the issue. The further north

you travel, the more they use bent grass, which is nice. So, you may want to try the North Scottsdale area. IMHO, Talking Stick is weak.

Oops, I'm sorry. Bent grass can stand the colder season, and requires no overseeding. Good luck.