Ahwatukee Lakes Closes

teejaywhy · June 23, 2013

Despite the economic downturn and the overbuilt market, the Phoenix metro area has not seen too many course closures. May 5th however, spelled the end of the line for the the Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course.

I missed the May closure announcement, only finding out about it in this weekend's follow up article. With the news that some of the greens are being stripped of turf for use at the ownership's other properties, it would seem any hope for a revival is dim.

The Lakes course was a ~4000 yard, 18 hole executive course designed by Gary Panks and opened in 1980. It was a bit dear to my heart, having been the site of my company's weekday evening 9-hole match play league for several years. The last decade had not been kind as diminishing maintenance had left the course increasingly scruffy and bare which in turn drove customers to look for other options.

Some might say it's not a great loss but it was a sporty, inexpensive short course option.

Here are links to the AZ Republic articles:

May 2 Closure announcement:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/20130502ahwatukee-lakes-golf-course-close-monday.html

June 18 Follow-up - Neighbors upset:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/20130614ahwatukee-lakes-golf-club-an-eyesore-nearby-residents-say.html

Photo slide show:

http://www.azcentral.com/photo/Community/Ahwatukee/25677

highergr0und · June 23, 2013

Sad whenever a course closes..... Hopefully they can find a resolution to at least appease the homeowners a bit.

fore_life · June 23, 2013

Such a bummer, it was a really fun course. As soon as Mr. Gee took over ownership, it really started to decline. Same for Ahwatukee cc. Really sad to see it go, I would still get out there to play it a few times a year, and it was my go-to chipping and putting green.

deadsolid...shank · September 5, 2013

Just saw this today. That's too bad. We lived just off the course when we first moved the Phoenix (25 years ago) and my in-laws were just up the road and drove their cart to the course. Logged a lot of rounds there. Always thought it was a challenging course for an executive, and thanks to that course I can say I've shot a 59 in my career (have to love par 60's!)

fore_life · September 5, 2013

[quote name='deadsolid...shank' timestamp='1378385598' post='7801105']
Just saw this today. That's too bad. We lived just off the course when we first moved the Phoenix (25 years ago) and my in-laws were just up the road and drove their cart to the course. Logged a lot of rounds there. Always thought it was a challenging course for an executive, and thanks to that course I can say I've shot a 59 in my career (have to love par 60's!)
[/quote]

As far as executive courses go, it was really solid and a fun one to play where you still get to hit every club in your bag. It went downhill pretty fast though, it used to be the site of the annual east valley short course championship, which I think Augusta Ranch hosts now.

Speaking of other courses Mr. Gee owns, Foothills is absolutely horrible now. It seems that The Duke in maricopa is the only one of his properties that he seems to care about, or perhaps all of the other courses in his stable are struggling as well?

Arizonalefty59 · September 6, 2013

We bought to many courses when times were good and now we can't afford to keep up any of the courses because of how much was spent just buying the new courses.