Buddlies Trip – North Scottsdale Mid-Sept (need advice)

[Major9000]

I’m organizing a buddies golf trip to Arizona in Mid-September. We are staying at ‘The Boulders’ in Carefree, AZ (north of Scottsdale). We will have a car and don’t mind driving up to 1 hr for a great golfing experience.

 

My question is where would you recommend we golf (any price is fine, just want great courses)?

 

We will do one round on the Boulders South course, which looks amazing, but where else. This will be our first time in Arizona golfing so any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks.

[YMark]

A few off the top of my head:
Boulders North is nice as well
Troon North
Grayhawk (both)
Desert Mountain
Wildfire (Palmer and Faldo)

[gopherguts]

Great time of the year price-wise but it WILL be hot.

Some reasonably priced yet very nice courses are Superstition Springs (Mesa), Longbow (north - in Mesa) and Trilogy (to the south - Gilbert ?)

[CJ Hanson]

[quote name='gopherguts' timestamp='1343256247' post='5353560']
Great time of the year price-wise but it WILL be hot.

Some reasonably priced yet very nice courses are Superstition Springs (Mesa), Longbow (north - in Mesa) and Trilogy (to the south - Gilbert ?)
[/quote]

I've gone to Scottsdale for a buddies trip for the past eight years. We've typically stayed in the Scottsdale area so I'm not very familiar with many of the west side courses, but here are my favorites:

We-ko-pa - Saguaro is my favorite, but Cholla is fun as well. Can't go wrong with either one.
Troon (Monument)
Boulders - South is my favorite, but the North is no slouch.
Quintero - you're already up north, so the drive shouldn't be too bad.
Grayhawk - Talon was my favorite, but the Raptor is very nice as well.
Gold Canyon (Dinosaur) - nice track with fun elevation changes (something you wouldn't expect in AZ)

We usually play 5/6 rounds over the course of four days, so we try to play a more forgiving course on the last day as we're all pretty beat by then (not your typical desert layout). So, for this round, we've liked:

Talking Stick - North is my favorite but I know they're re-doing their greens so I'm not sure when it will re-open. South is a nice course as well.
Raven @ South Mountain

Southern Dunes is also highly rated by many publications, but I just don't get it. I've been out there three times and each time I was engulfed by mosquitos and had to smell manure for four and a half hours. Some people love it, but it's just not for me.

[gopherguts]

[quote name='CJ Hanson' timestamp='1343273099' post='5355248']
[quote name='gopherguts' timestamp='1343256247' post='5353560']
Great time of the year price-wise but it WILL be hot.

Some reasonably priced yet very nice courses are Superstition Springs (Mesa), Longbow (north - in Mesa) and Trilogy (to the south - Gilbert ?)
[/quote]

I've gone to Scottsdale for a buddies trip for the past eight years. We've typically stayed in the Scottsdale area so I'm not very familiar with many of the west side courses, but here are my favorites:

We-ko-pa - Saguaro is my favorite, but Cholla is fun as well. Can't go wrong with either one.
Troon (Monument)
Boulders - South is my favorite, but the North is no slouch.
Quintero - you're already up north, so the drive shouldn't be too bad.
Grayhawk - Talon was my favorite, but the Raptor is very nice as well.
Gold Canyon (Dinosaur) - nice track with fun elevation changes (something you wouldn't expect in AZ)
[/quote]

Wow !!!

So you aint no rookie out there then,,,,,,

I guess *I* am. I've only been out there 3 or 4 times and haven't played nearly as many courses as you have.

Good luck. And have a great time !!!

[teejaywhy]

Read through this pinned topic for some reviews and discussions of recommended courses in the PHX area.
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/179150-traveling-to-phoenixsome-course-info-for-you/"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/179150-traveling-to-phoenixsome-course-info-for-you/[/url]

There are a lot of interesting courses in the North Scottsdale region that will give you the unique experience and flavor of the desert foothills style of golf. That zip code comes with a higher price tag however.

From my view, the must play course for a visit to Phoenix is the Saguaro Course at We-Ko-Pa. My favorite public in the state.

Be aware of the dreaded "overseed." Mid Sept is actually the best conditions of the summer. Most courses start their overseed in the first two weeks of October. Some a little sooner. Mid-Sept should be no problem.

[sabram]

Link to favorite PHX/Scottssdale courses: [url="http://golfcourses.weebly.com/phoenix-az.html"]http://golfcourses.weebly.com/phoenix-az.html[/url]

[Major9000]

Thanks for all the advice, so many amazing looking courses...we ended up booking:

Day 1 - Boulders South
Day 2 - We Ko Pa - Cholla
Day 3 - Troon North - Monument
Day 4 - Troon North - Pinnacle

If we feel like it we may golf We Ko Pa Saguaro as a 2nd 18 on Day 2 and may also hit Greyhawk but we'll play it by ear. Boulders North is closed for seeding, otherwise we would have booked it as well.

[puttnforthe8]

[quote name='Major9000' timestamp='1343591076' post='5373716']
Thanks for all the advice, so many amazing looking courses...we ended up booking:

Day 1 - Boulders South
Day 2 - We Ko Pa - Cholla
Day 3 - Troon North - Monument
Day 4 - Troon North - Pinnacle

If we feel like it we may golf We Ko Pa Saguaro as a 2nd 18 on Day 2 and may also hit Greyhawk but we'll play it by ear. Boulders North is closed for seeding, otherwise we would have booked it as well.
[/quote]

Saguaro is the better course Major..,,you should include it in the trip.

[Major9000]

We will most likely play Saguaro in the afternoon, on day 2! Sounds like both are great.

[gopherguts]

Be sure to report back on the courses.

Play well !!!

Enjoy !!!

(Hopefully BOTH !!! )

[YMark]

[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1343704803' post='5382052']
[quote name='Major9000' timestamp='1343591076' post='5373716']
Thanks for all the advice, so many amazing looking courses...we ended up booking:

Day 1 - Boulders South
Day 2 - We Ko Pa - Cholla
Day 3 - Troon North - Monument
Day 4 - Troon North - Pinnacle

If we feel like it we may golf We Ko Pa Saguaro as a 2nd 18 on Day 2 and may also hit Greyhawk but we'll play it by ear. Boulders North is closed for seeding, otherwise we would have booked it as well.
[/quote]

Saguaro is the better course Major..,,you should include it in the trip.
[/quote]

I agree that Saguaro is better, but it was burned real bad about a month ago. Really in terrible shape. Much better off playing Grayhawk at the moment.

[teejaywhy]

 

I agree that Saguaro is better, but it was burned real bad about a month ago. Really in terrible shape. Much better off playing Grayhawk at the moment.

 

In the Summer Conditions thread you said it was the Cholla you played in June. There have been a half dozen recent reports in that same thread indicating the conditions at Saguaro are superb.

 

Steering someone from the best course in the state to Grayhawk is borderline malpractice.

[sactown]

To make the experience worth while, I think a small drive to Sedona is in store. Trust me on this most of the courses around the valley are similar cause it's desert golf, but with varying degrees of conditions.

7 Canyons in Sedona is completely different than valley courses. Strongly suggest you do your homework and look into this course. It's worth your while plus some great memories. Just my .02

[Major9000]

[quote name='sactown' timestamp='1343927301' post='5396882']
To make the experience worth while, I think a small drive to Sedona is in store. Trust me on this most of the courses around the valley are similar cause it's desert golf, but with varying degrees of conditions.

7 Canyons in Sedona is completely different than valley courses. Strongly suggest you do your homework and look into this course. It's worth your while plus some great memories. Just my .02
[/quote]

7 Canyons does look amazing...let me say that Arizona has an embarrassment of great golf courses to choose from. I think your point about a different type of course and different topography is excellent. I will keep this couse i mind!

[YMark]

I agree that Saguaro is better, but it was burned real bad about a month ago. Really in terrible shape. Much better off playing Grayhawk at the moment.

 

In the Summer Conditions thread you said it was the Cholla you played in June. There have been a half dozen recent reports in that same thread indicating the conditions at Saguaro are superb.

 

Steering someone from the best course in the state to Grayhawk is borderline malpractice.

 

You're correct, my error. Cholla was/is in poor shape. But Grayhawk is not far from Boulders and both the Raptor and Talon are pretty good courses. Don't quite agree with the malpractice statement. :swoon:

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='YMark' timestamp='1343937244' post='5397774']
. Don't quite agree with the malpractice statement.
[/quote]

I'm afraid that will be left up to a jury of your peers!

[sabram]

[quote name='YMark' timestamp='1343937244' post='5397774']
Don't quite agree with the malpractice statement.
[/quote]

Well, he did only say "borderline" malpractice.

If you are looking for a suggestion not far from the Boulders, Vista Verde is a good choice. No clubhouse, but a very good course and not expensive by Scottsdale area standards.