Golf Week - Best Arizona Courses you can Play (aka Public)

[Double K]

Arizona

• 1. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro), Fort McDowell (m)
  
• 2. Quintero GC, Peoria (m)
  
• 3. Golf Club at Dove Mountain (Saguaro/Tortolita), Marana (m)
  
• 4. We-Ko-Pa (Cholla), Fort McDowell (m)
  
• 5. Troon North (Pinnacle), Scottsdale, (m)
  
• 6. Troon North (Monument), Scottsdale (m)
  
• 7. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, Maricopa (m)
  
• 8. TPC Scottsdale (Stadium), Scottsdale (m)
  
• 9. The Verrado Golf Club, Buckeye (m)
  
• 10. Ventana Canyon (Mountain), Tucson (m)
  
• 11. Talking Stick (North), Scottsdale (m)
  
• 12. La Paloma GC (Ridge/Canyon), Tucson (m)
  
• 13. Boulders Resort (North), Carefree (m)
  
• 14. Boulders Resort (South), Carefree (m)
  
• 15. Laughlin Ranch, Bullhead City (m)
  
• 16. Golf Club of Estrella, Phoenix (m)
  
• 17. Grayhawk (Talon), Scottsdale (m)
  
• 18. Grayhawk (Raptor), Scottsdale (m)
  
• 19. Gold Canyon Golf Resort (Dinosaur Mountain), Gold Canyon (m)
  
• 20. Ventana Canyon (Canyon), Tucson (m)
  
• 21. SunRidge Canyon, Fountain Hills (m)
  
• 22. Whirlwind GC (Devil’s Claw), Chandler (m)
  
• 23. Arizona National, Tucson (m)
  
• 24. Sewailo, Tucson (m)*
  
• 25. Whirlwind GC (Cattail), Chandler (m)
  

How many have you played??? (5 for me)

 

Any obvious additions/deletions?

[DrSchteeve]

I've played 14. Tegavah Vista Verde belongs. I would put Raptor above the Boulders. I guess Dinosaur Mountain gets on for the views, certainly not for the golf course.

[puttnforthe8]

All except Laughlin Ranch. And yes, HUGE miss by not having Tegavah. Questionable is Oak Creek in Sedona.

I guess if you are putting Talking Stick that high....a course like Copper Canyon or Poston Butte should be considered....I prefer both over TS any day. Playing Poston Sat as a matter of fact.

[az2au]

All and I agree with everything puttinfor8 said about the courses.

[wcb231]

Quintero at 2 is a joke, especially five spots ahead of Southern Dunes. Tough to take it seriously after seeing that right off the bat.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

I would replace TPC with Tehgava. Quintero at two is a total joke. Talking Stick is too high and Raptor too low.

Played 18/25 none of the Tucson tracks other than Dove Mountain

[Priceyd]

5 of them, hoping to play another 5-10 next summer once prices drop, nice to see verrado high up really like that course great mix of holes one of my favourite ive played

[DavePelz4]

11...not too bad for being in IL.

[az2au]

[quote name='One_Putt_Blunder' timestamp='1413440806' post='10297779']
I would replace TPC with Tehgava. Quintero at two is a total joke. Talking Stick is too high and Raptor too low.

Played 18/25 none of the Tucson tracks other than Dove Mountain
[/quote]
Also agree with this. TPC would be anywhere close to the top 25 or even 50 courses I have played period. It is just not very good.

I also think Quintero is weak, especially the repetitive par 3s and a couple of odd par 5s. Beautiful setting, mediocre to pretty good course.

[Double K]

[quote name='Double K' timestamp='1413417083' post='10295677']
[list]
[*]1. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro), Fort McDowell (m)
[*]4. We-Ko-Pa (Cholla), Fort McDowell (m)
[*]9. The Verrado Golf Club, Buckeye (m)
[*]16. Golf Club of Estrella, Phoenix (m)
[*]19. Gold Canyon Golf Resort (Dinosaur Mountain), Gold Canyon (m)
[/list]
[/quote]

My thoughts:

Those are my 5 above, I really wish I could have seen more of them to have a more informed opinion, but money is always a factor as is time.

As I have mentioned before, I really can't understand the hate for Dinosaur Mountain. I very much enjoyed my round there, and so did my dad (took him for his 65th birthday). The first few holes are a bit goofy, but enjoyed the shot values on the balance of the course and some of the views of the valley are breathtaking.

I've already had discussions with my father about getting to Southern Dunes this time around and he seemed open to the idea (usually I get 'NO').

I was disappointed not to see Papago on there. I get that it's not a great course, but it is definitely accessible at a fair price. Perhaps we should do a series of polls for the Golf WRX best bang for buck top 10.

Would love to get back to Verrado again to remind myself of how good it is.

[az2au]

My problems with Gold Canyon:
1-Awkward starting hole with a greed that is too severe
3-Ridiculous green, now that Scottsdale National has killed their 15th this is probably my least favorite green in the area
7-Boring hole that seems overly penal for most people with the wash in front
9-Feel totally out of place with the rest of the course (could make that argument with 6-10 I suppose but 9 really sticks out to me)
15-If they changed the contour of the left FW a bit this would be a good hole, as-is not good enough for the risk reward
16-Again, ridiculous green placement
18-Throwaway hole that just isn't interesting

I'm not a huge fan of 2, 8 or 10 either but I don't know that there's anything technically wrong with them. I just don't care for them all that much. That said, I think it is a beautiful place to play golf and recommend it for visitors regularly even with those caveats.

[mschu24]

Do not agree with Talking Stick > Gray Hawk. I loved both Gray Hawk courses. Troon was awesome as well

[DavePelz4]

[quote name='az2au' timestamp='1413477580' post='10299735']
My problems with Gold Canyon:
1-Awkward starting hole with a greed that is too severe
3-Ridiculous green, now that Scottsdale National has killed their 15th this is probably my least favorite green in the area
7-Boring hole that seems overly penal for most people with the wash in front
9-Feel totally out of place with the rest of the course (could make that argument with 6-10 I suppose but 9 really sticks out to me)
15-If they changed the contour of the left FW a bit this would be a good hole, as-is not good enough for the risk reward
16-Again, ridiculous green placement
18-Throwaway hole that just isn't interesting

I'm not a huge fan of 2, 8 or 10 either but I don't know that there's anything technically wrong with them. I just don't care for them all that much. That said, I think it is a beautiful place to play golf and recommend it for visitors regularly even with those caveats.
[/quote]

AZ I'm a huge fan of Dinosaur Mountain. Part of it is that in IL, we have minimal elevation change. The hole that never seem to fit is the first par 3, #2. It's also lacking a strong closing hole. Absent that and a poor range, it's a great course coming from IL.

[Arizonalefty59]

Sewailo should be higher up, awesome track.

[teejaywhy]

Sorry you dumb azzes. Your senses have been dulled by a steady diet of bulldozed landscapes, waterfalls, island greens, drop-shot par 3's and photo-op vistas. Golf is not about the signature hole.

Talking Stick North is top 5.

Saguaro they got right. Quintero @ #2? Brad Klein should publicly apologize.

[fore_life]

But My favorite part of playing golf is taking pictures!

[StarFleetGolfer]

Tpc is way overrated and so is boulders North

[StarFleetGolfer]

[quote name='az2au' timestamp='1413477580' post='10299735']
My problems with Gold Canyon:
1-Awkward starting hole with a greed that is too severe
3-Ridiculous green, now that Scottsdale National has killed their 15th this is probably my least favorite green in the area
7-Boring hole that seems overly penal for most people with the wash in front
9-Feel totally out of place with the rest of the course (could make that argument with 6-10 I suppose but 9 really sticks out to me)
15-If they changed the contour of the left FW a bit this would be a good hole, as-is not good enough for the risk reward
16-Again, ridiculous green placement
18-Throwaway hole that just isn't interesting

I'm not a huge fan of 2, 8 or 10 either but I don't know that there's anything technically wrong with them. I just don't care for them all that much. That said, I think it is a beautiful place to play golf and recommend it for visitors regularly even with those caveats.
[/quote]

Dinosaur is okay but I agree with this and when 1 and 3 greens are running fast they're ridiculous if above the hole.

[Chomper]

I have played 14. None in Tucson, call me a homer. I will change that in 2015.
My thoughts -
Quintero has the best greens in the area, or at least had them last year. I love that course, it is a little funky in the set up, but the par 3's are all tough and impressive (if repetitive). May be a little to penal...
I liked We Ko Pa Saguaro, but I was not overly impressed. It seemed like every other desert course in the area with nice views.
I like the Whirlwind courses a lot. Fun golf in good shape.
TPC is overrated.
Grayhawk is damn tough.

[Priceyd]

playing quitero again on wednesday last tiem i played had horrible hangover, will hopefully play better this time, only 15 dollars after y golfnow coupon and ad the best time slot for after work

[teejaywhy]

Always interesting to see the diversity of opinion. It would be a boring world indeed if we were all the same.

Something I've discovered is that my opinions of courses will change over a period of replays. I've sometimes found a new course has a lot of WOW that seems impressive on first visit, but once the wow wears off, you realize the actual golf is not so great. Other places just get better every time you play them.

I like to make the comparison with music. Sometimes a pop songs grabs you with a catchy hook, but after hearing it for a month you are totally sick of it. More complex music takes time to appreciate and eventually becomes something you can listen to repeatedly.

Quintero is Katy Perry. Talking Stick North is Miles Davis.

[wdwfan78]

[list]
[*]1. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro), Fort McDowell (m)
[*]2. Quintero GC, Peoria (m)
[*]6. Troon North (Monument), Scottsdale (m)
[*]8. TPC Scottsdale (Stadium), Scottsdale (m)
[*]11. Talking Stick (North), Scottsdale (m)
[*]13. Boulders Resort (North), Carefree (m)
[*]16. Golf Club of Estrella, Phoenix (m)
[*]22. Whirlwind GC (Devil’s Claw), Chandler (m)
[*]25. Whirlwind GC (Cattail), Chandler (m)
[/list]

TPC is so overrated. Quintero is fine but not number 2.