Thursday, March 9, 2017

Top public golf courses in Phoenix, AZ

In case you are visiting the valley of the sun during winter and spring months or are a local resident Phoenix offers a lot of great choices for golf.  In this post I will focus on public courses and break it down by locations throughout the valley.  

Also, a quick tip I recommend is to check sites such as, Golfnow.com a week or two before your visit to look for great deals on tee times.

Southeast Valley

(Gilbert / Chandler / Mesa / Apache Junction)


Johnson Ranch
Address: 30761 Golf Club Drive, San Tan Valley, AZ  85143
Course: 7,162 yards par 72
About: I played Johnson Ranch when it was opened quite a few years back and always liked the course because the two nines are very different.  The front nine is rolling desert and the back nine makes it way up into the surrounding foothills with several holes that have big elevation changes between the tee and green.

Ocotillo Golf Resort
Address: 3751 S Clubhouse Dr, Chandler, AZ 85248
Course: 7,016 par 72
About:  You might think you are in Florida with all the water on this course.  Almost every hole has some type of water hazard and this is a high end course that has a great layout.  Great challenge and venue.

Bear Creek
Address: 500 East Riggs Road, Chandler, AZ 85249
Course: 6,825 yards par 71
About:  Designed by the Nicklaus Design Group & Architect Bill O'Leary Bear Creek offers a unique links style layout that a lot of other courses in the valley do not have.  

Lone Tree
Address: 6262 S Mountain Blvd, Chandler, AZ 85249
Course: 6,984  yards par 71
About:  I've played Lone Tree a couple times and each time I came away impressed.  It's just a good solid public course for the money. 

Longbow Golf Club
Address: 5601 E Longbow Pkwy, Mesa, AZ 85215
Course: 7,050 par 71
About:  Longbow is for golfers looking for more of an upscale public course with a great challenging layout that has a lot of native landscapes built into the design.  There's even spring fed ponds in the layout which give it even more of a pristine look and feel along with panoramic mountain views.

Gold Canyon
Address: 6100 S Kings Ranch Rd, Gold Canyon, AZ 85218
Dinosaur Mountain Course: 6,653 par 70
Sidewinder Course: 6,533 par 71
About: I played Dinosaur mountain and loved it.  Typical with the foothills desert style courses there are a lot of small targets you need be careful to hit whether its fairways or greens.  Beautiful part of the value with a lot of elevation changes.

Las Sendas
Address: 7555 E Eagle Crest Dr, Mesa, AZ 85207
Course: 6,825 par 71

Phoenix


Papago
Address: 5595 E Moreland St, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Course: 7,333 par 72
About:  Papago was recently remodeled and restored to its former glory.  One of the oldest public courses in Phoenix with a great layout and great value for the price.

Lookout Mountain Golf Club
Address: 11111 North 7th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85020
Course: 6,535 par 71

Wildfire Golf Club
Address: 5350 E Marriott Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85054
Faldo Course: 6,846 par 71
Palmer Course: 7,145 par 72

Fountain Hills


We-Ko-Pa Resort
Address: 18200 E. Toh Vee Circle Fort McDowell, AZ 85264
Cholla Course: 7,225 par 72
Saguaro Course: 6,966 par 71

Eagle Mountain
Address: 14915 Eagle Mountain Pkwy, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
Course: 6,800 par 71

Desert Canyon
Address: 10440 N Indian Wells Dr, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
Course: 6,489 par 71


Scottsdale


Talking Stick Golf Club
Address: 9800 Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85256
O’odham Course Course: 7,133 par 70
Piipaash Course:  6,833 par 71

Silverado Golf Club
Address: 7605 E Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Course: 6,313 par 70

McCormick Ranch 
Address: 7505 E McCormick Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Pines Course: 7,187 par 72
Palm Course: 7,044 par 72
About:  McCormick Ranch is a must for any public golfer.  Both of these courses are solid.  Most locals prefer the Pines Course.  For the money the Pines might be one of the best values in the area.

Orange Tree
Address: 10601 N. 56th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Course: 6,740 par 72

Troon North
Address: 10320 E Dynamite Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85262
Course: 7,070 par 72
About:  Troon North is about as upscale and nice as it gets for a public course in the valley.  Great layout with big boulder fields scattered as a back drop on some of the holes.  This is more upper Sonoran desert which adds to the scenery.

 Legend Trail
Address: 9462 N Legendary Trail, Scottsdale, AZ 85262
Website: http://www.legendtrailgc.com/
Course: 6,845 par 72
About:  Legend Trail offers an excellent lower priced alternative to Troon North and Grayhawk.  Previously managed by Troon golf this course is always in excellent shape and has a good variety of holes in the layout.  Since this is a desert course its target golf and you need to be aware the location of the aiming stake on each fairway.  Holes 16 and 17 are both par 5s which is a popular setup with a lot of golfers.

Grayhawk
Address: 8620 E Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Raptor Course: 7,090 par 72
Talon Course: 6,973 par 72

Verde River Golf Club
Address: 17427 E Desert Vista Trail, Rio Verde, AZ 85263
Course: 7,229 par 72
About: Ok so there's a lot of courses in the valley that have spectacular views and course layouts.  However, you need to check this place out it has some of the same views as the venerable We-Ko-Pa with some of the tallest mountains in the region as a back drop.  Verde River still has wild horses in the area as well.  


Southwest Valley

(Maricopa, Ahwatukee, Goodyear)


Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
Address: 48456 West Highway 238 Maricopa, AZ 85139
Course: 7,517 par 72

Estrella Golf Club
Address: 11800 S Golf Club Dr, Goodyear, AZ 85338
Course: 7,139 par 72

Raven Golf Club at South Mountain
Address: 3636 E Baseline Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85042
Course: 7,078 par 72

West Valley

(Litchfield Park, Verrado, Suprise, Buckeye, Sun City)


Verrado Golf Club
Address: 4242 N Golf Dr, Buckeye, AZ 85396
Founder's Course: 7,258 par 72
Victory Course: 7,258 par 72

Falcon Dunes (Requires military ID or retired military ID)
Address: 15100 Northern Ave, Waddell, AZ 85355
Course: 6,601 par 71

Wigwam Golf Resort
Address: 451 N Old Litchfield Rd, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
Gold Course: 7,430 par 72
Patriot Course: 6,000 par 
Heritage Course: 6,852 par 72

Corte Bella Golf Club
Address: 22129 N Mission Dr, Sun City West, AZ 85375
Course: 7,011 par 72

Palmbrook Country Club
Address: 9350 W Greenway Rd, Sun City, AZ 85351
Website: https://www.palmbrookgolf.com/
Course: 6,529 par 72

Northwest Valley

(North Peoria / Wickenburg / Glendale Arrowhead )


 Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia
Address: 12575 W Golf Club Dr, Peoria, AZ 85383
Website: http://www.trilogygolfclub.com/vistancia/
Course: 7,291 par 72

 Quintero Golf Club
Address: 16752 W State Route 74, Peoria, AZ 85383
Website: http://www.quinterogolf.com
Course: 7,208  par 72
About:  Not sure if this is still considered a hidden gem or not because it is very far northwest valley and even a lot of locals still don't know about this one.  Quintero to me is definitely a top 5 public course in the valley.  Quintero has higher elevation than most courses in the valley as it sits in the upper Sonoran desert.  There are more trees and wildlife, big elevation changes.  The course layout snakes through the surrounding foothills and feels more like a golf experience than a round of golf when you play it.  You'll get the same feeling when you play The Boulders, We-Ko-Pa or Troon North.  Great course. 

Wickenburg Ranch
Address: 3430 Club Terrace Way, Wickenburg, AZ 85390
Website: http://www.wickenburgranch.com
Course: 7,059 par 71

Legend at Arrowhead
Address: 21027 N. 67th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85308
Website: http://www.legendatarrowhead.com/
Course: 7,005 par 72
About:  I put Legend at Arrowhead on this list because quite simply for the money this is a very solid public course with a great layout that never gets old.  Hole 18 for example, is a par five slight dog leg right where the entire fairway tilts to the right towards the water.  It requires you to carefully hit all your shots on the upper left-hand side of the fairway.  Because of its great price and layout this one obviously gets overplayed and the greens can take a beating but in the off season its usually in great shape.

Cave Creek


The Boulders
Address: 34631 N. Tom Darlington Drive P.O. Box 2090 Carefree, Arizona 85377 
Website: http://www.bouldersclub.com/
North Course: 6,811 par 72
South Course: 6,726 par 71
About:  This place is high end and super nice.  Definitely a bucket list type course.  I played the South Course and it was everything I had hoped.  The 545 yard hole 5 was the signature hole for me with big boulder outcroppings protecting the green and a twisting fairway that worked its way up to a small green. 

Rancho Manana
Address: 5734 E Rancho Manana Blvd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331
Website: http://ranchomanana.com/
Course: 6,004 par 70

Dove Valley Ranch
Address: 33750 N Dove Lakes Dr, Cave Creek, AZ 85331
Website: https://www.dovevalleyranch.com/
Course: 7,011 par 72

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Saturday, November 12, 2016

Sedona Golf Resort


I recommend adding Sedona, AZ to your golf bucket list.  After playing 36 holes a couple weeks ago at the Sedona Golf Resort I'm glad I checked this one off my list!  The views alone make this worth it.  Add a well maintained and challenging course to the equation and you have something special.

Designed by architect Gary Panks the 6,646-yard, par - 71 Sedona Golf Resort course on paper may not seem to be a long course.  However, when you mix in the 623 yard, up hill, hole 5 and the 448 yard par 4 hole 8 this Golf Digest four star rated course all the sudden doesn't seem so short.

The elevation changes (ranging from 3,960 feet to as much as 4,260 feet), rolling hills, and forced carries require you to think your way around this course with correct strategy and yardage.  The bent grass greens and winter rye fairways were excellent when I played the course in October.  The greens were especially good, very soft (big divots), quick and lots of release.

Front Nine

Hole #1. View from green on 326 yard par 4 hole 1.  This uphill par four has junipers and pines on the left and tight ob on the right.  Pulling out the three wood is not a bad choice on the first tee.


Hole #2.  View from tee box on downhill 183 yard par three hole 2.  Calculating the right club with the elevation change is key.  I actually played this yardage about 5-10 yards less and it worked for me.


Hole #3. View of from approach on 506 yard par 5 hole 3.  The tee shot is the hardest part on this hole which has a downhill elevation change from the tee with trouble on the right and open fairway to aim at on the left.


Hole #4. View from green on 404 yard par 4 hole 4.  There are bunkers and trees on the left and trees on the right forcing you to take careful aim with the driver on this 404 yard slight uphill hole.


Hole #4. View from tee box on 404 yard hole 4.


Hole #5. View from tee box on 623 yard par 5 hole 5.  As you can see this is a narrow fairway and you need to carry a small pond.  Oh yeah, and if you want to get there in three you need to hit the driver.

Hole #5. Green side view at 623 yard hole 5.  This is also a double green shared by hole 8.

Hole #6. View from green on uphill 397 yard hole 6.  Tough tee shot with bunkers on right and tree trouble on both sides of fair way.  The uphill approach to the green will force you to think twice about club selection.

(Not pictured 176 yard hole 7)

Hole 7 is a downhill par three to a very small green with a bunker protecting the right front, a tree directly left of the front edge and trees on the right.  So basically hit is straight and I mean within 10 yards leeway left or right or your target and that's the window you get to putting this tee shot on the green.

Hole #8. View from tee box on donw hill 448 yard par 4 hole 8.  Right side of fairway is tight keeping tee shot to left side of fairway is recommended.
(Not pictured 522 yard hole 9)
Hole 9 is a great par 5.  The tee shot forces you to aim left to a widened side of the fairway.  Right of the fairway is out of bounds and tight.  Closer to the green is a stand of Cottonwoods that can lead to a lost ball or unplayable.  Need to keep everything left on this hole to reach the green in regulation.


Back Nine

Hole #10. 210 yard par 3 hole 10.  This downhill par three has serious trouble on the right and bunkers on both sides of a slight two-tier green.

Hole #11. View from tee box 380 yard par 4 hole 11.  This downhill shot is fairly tight on both sides of the fairway.  An errant tee shot left or right usually means a lost ball or unplayable shot.


 Hole #12. View of approach shot on 559 yard par 5 hole 12.  This downhill winding dog leg left forces you to keep your drive right off the tee to have any chance of hitting a fairway wood around the corner at the green.

Hole #13. View of pond protecting downhill 394 yard par 4 hole 13.  From the tee best strategy is center or left side fairway.  Right of fairway is tight with trees and out of bounds.

Hole #14. View from tee box of 171 yard par 3 hole 14.  The wide, shallow green is protected by front and back bunkers.

Hole #15. View from tee box on 439 yard par 4 hole 15.  This long slight downhill par 4 is very tough.  A raveen on the left and trees on the right protect the fairway.  
(Not pictured holes 16 and 17)
Hole 16 is a great par 4.  The 417 yard hole 16 has a pond, that also protects the par 3 17th,  on the right side of the fairway that should be avoided at all costs.  There is no right rough from the tee box.

Hole 17 at 155 yard par 3 hole 17 forces golfers to carry over the same pond that guards the fairway on hole 16.  This is a straight carry over the water with a big bunker in front to get your tee shot on the green.
Hole #18. View of approach shot on 336 yard par 4 hole 18.  The tee shot on this hole is straight downhill.  No need to hit driver because of sandtraps and pond guarding the green.  An iron or fairway wood is a good choice off the tee.

Hole #18. View from green on 336 yard par 4 hole 18.

In summary,  if you get a chance to get up to Sedona, AZ (about 1.5 hour drive from Phoenix) it is definitely worth the trip.  The Sedona Golf Resort will not disappoint and you'll have a great outing worth remembering for quite some time.

More Info

http://www.sedonagolfresort.com/-course-overview-and-video
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Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Check Out Skratch TV

Looking for a good laugh?  Skratch TV (Website | YouTube) is one my favorite YouTube channels related to golf and here's why.

Adventures in Golf

Skratch TV has a series called Adventures in golf where they shoot videos that take place anywhere from a state prison to a public course near Compton, CA.  In their own creative way Skratch TV is actually spreading the message about golf to communities and nations where the sport has little popularity or visibility.  My hats off to these guys for thinking outside the box.  Here's a couple links from their Adventures in Golf series.


Funny Videos

 Here's some more links to some Skratch TV videos that are hilarious.  For you 40+ year-olds out there you might remember the In Search Of series on television.  The In Search Of:  Golf's Sand People is a funny Star Wars themed video worth a look.

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