First time to Arizona, seeking advice

bdawk20 · February 4, 2012

I'm new to AZ golf, so hopefully those familiar with these courses can help me out a bit. I'm going to Scottsdale for a weekend in late March with my dad for golf, we rented a house in Troon North. We typically fly out Friday, play a round after landing, play 36 Saturday and play a round on Sunday before leaving. We're actually staying until Monday but still only playing one round on Sunday. I'm a 13, my dad is a 30 from the up tees (but plays fast and has fun and enjoys spending time with his less than level-headed-on-the-course son) - last year he took me to Innisbrook and Reunion, this year he wanted to head West - anyway, our plan is to play:

TPC Scottsdale

Troon North Monument

Troon North Pinnacle

Grayhawk Raptor

So questions are:

Given our 1-Friday, 2-Saturday, 1-Sunday rounds that we play what would be your recommended order of play? We want to save "the best for last" on Sunday.

Any other courses you'd substitute? He wants to play the best he can while we're out there - he's paying so I'm playing what he wants to, but want to make sure we pick the best of the best or close to it.

Any recommendations would be very much appreciated.

stevopagolf · February 4, 2012

You have a very good list there.
The Troon courses are great--even better before the houses went in.
I might suggest We-Ko-Pa in Ft. McDowell, about 30-45 minutes away from Scottsdale. Awesome place, #1 in AZ for public courses. They have two courses there so 36 is possible as it is at Troon.

I'd dump Grayhawk in favor of Ft. McDowell or Talking Stick North which is in Scottsdale.

My 2 cents.

Steve

fairwayallday · February 4, 2012

I would agree with we-ko-pa but disagree with talking stick. I played both the north and south on my trip and wasn't impressed by either.

We also played the monument course and wanted to play grayhawk.

Played vista verde also, not up there in terms of status with the others but the golf was just as good.

Superstition Mountain would also be worth a look.

ZimBag · February 4, 2012

i do the same thing with my dad. we stay at the boulders which is really nice, but i think you can only play if your a member there are staying there. your list is very good. ive played em all countless times and grayhawk is my favorite play the rapture one

Pleasedwith3putts · February 4, 2012

I like Grayhawk best out of that list so would definitley not dump it as others have said. Troon is nice, but can be painfully slow, so you really have to make sure you get a very early tee time to stand any chance of getting 36 in

Get you dad to drive you down to the PGA golf superstore - if you have not been in one before you will love it as biggest golf stores I've ever seen

fore_life · February 4, 2012

Dump tpc and play Wekopa instead

Saluki91 · February 5, 2012

Free advice being worth what you paid...

The best thing about the TPC is that you play on a tour course. If that is important to you - and it is very cool - have fun!

If that is less important to you... I second the recommendations for Superstition Mountain and WeKoPa.

teejaywhy · February 7, 2012

36 holes at Troon North - make sure you have plenty of balls, you will need them and they are like $12 a sleeve in the clubhouse.

Grayhawk Raptor is solid.

TPC, average course, its only attraction is its status as a PGA Tour venue. For the same money, you could play two other top courses.

The Coore & Crenshaw designed Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa is my #1 public in the state. It is a generous course that would be FUN an FAIR for your 30 hcp Dad.

drake47 · February 11, 2012

[quote name='Saluki91' timestamp='1328442292' post='4216995']
Free advice being worth what you paid...

The best thing about the TPC is that you play on a tour course. If that is important to you - and it is very cool - have fun!

If that is less important to you... I second the recommendations for Superstition Mountain and WeKoPa.
[/quote]

Great advice, if the "tour course" is important play TPC, if not play We Ko Pa.