Scottsdale buddies trip recommendations

[bonvivantva]

My group started out doing Myrtle every year, but we've started branching out every other year.  We just did bourbon country this fall.  Next year is Myrtle again.  2025 will be Scottsdale AZ.  It's almost everyone's first time, so I'm looking to get us booked on some nicer courses.  Food and nightlife seem abundant, but I'm open to suggestions.  Primarily looking for help with golf trip companies with local knowledge, or advice from people that have booked similar trips.  We like to do mid-October, but can be flexible.  We're typically about 12-16 guys aged mid-30s to mid-40s.

[ArtMBgolf]

It's been too long since I went to Scottsdale and I don't remember the packager.  
 
You can look at TeeTimesUSA.com for info, but I have only used them for Florida, where 
they specialize.  
 
Great courses I played are Troon North 36, SunRidge Canyon, Eagle Mountain, 
Gold Canyon Sidewinder, Las Sendas.       You see TPC on TV, but it doesn't have 
the desert look of the others.      

[Lions1988]

I go to Scottsdale every year. Find the courses you want to play and book them yourself. Do the research, its easy to do. 

[ESOX ZO]

Definitely no need for a operator with Scottsdale. In terms of food, I'd recommend Dominick's Steakhouse and FnB. Courses you will hear a different top 5 from everyone you talk to. I really enjoyed Troon North though as it felt more out in the mountains/desert, more scenic aspect to it and TPC Scottsdale was criminally overrated in my eyes. 

[NDSwim]

You can easily book yourself, but I would NOT recommend mid October due to overseed and course closures.  Google the overseed schedule for this year to give you an idea.  Normally the course is very wet the first few weeks out of overseed.

[Maroon_19]

We used Golf Zoo back in 2019 for housing and tee times.  No complaints.  Great houses and they did us right on tee times.  Played both We-Ko-Pa courses, Troon Monument, and Quintero.  Both Troon North courses are great.  We-Ko-Pa has two great courses.  Quintero is a favorite, but some on here don't like it.  It is a bit of a drive out there, but worth it to us.  Stay away from TPC Scottsdale.  Thank me later.

 

Food... Chelsea's Kitchen is one of my favorite places anywhere.  Get reservations and pay the valet.  If your guys are into breweries, hit up both Four Peaks on 8th street and San Tan in downtown Gilbert.  Both have pretty good food and great beer.

[vallygolf]

Shoot for late September or early May.  Unfortunately October is overseed time so the courses as pointed out above are very wet and growing new rye grass, and conditions are cart path only and poor.  Late september finds courses cutting back on the watering and thinning out overgrown grass preparing for scalping the bermuda off in early october.  Usually fast and firm are the late september conditions.  No need for a booking company, they will often put you on some dog tracks.  Here are a few recommendations to start:

 

Wekopa Saguaro.  Worth 36 holes, but if you want more variety then pair with the other Wekopa course (Cholla)

Southern Dunes.  18 hole worth a repaly 

Troon North.  Also a 36 hole facility

Grayhawk.  Another 36 hole facility

Sterling Grove.  Great new course fun to play.

 

Rent a VRBO near Old town Scottsdale (pretty central but a hike to some of the courses listed)  There are tons of good food and entertainment options nearby.  Head over to the southwest fourm and get more refined info on  courses you may like and places to eat and drink.  Wide variety of huge VRBO homes to accomodate big golf groups.

[Chanceman]

Troon North, we preferred Monument.

We Ko Pa - Saguaro 

Grayhawk - Raptor
Boulders- South

Southern Dunes

Wickenberg Ranch might be private now. 
Desert Forest definitely private 

You might want also to go up to Sedona and play Seven Canyons, quite spectacular. 

[sabram]

Here's a link to photo tours of a couple dozen PHX/Scottsdale area courses.  Arizona golf course photo tours

 

I always booked tee times myself. 

 

Must plays are We-Ko-Pa Saguaro and Ak Chin Southern Dunes.

[tw422]

Great place for a buddies trip - casino's, good bar/restaurant scene in Scottsdale and the weather in either late Fall (late Oct/Nov) or early Spring is perfect for golf.  Easy to get in with airport and getting around is breeze - good highways and not a ton of traffic (I live in LA so that is my point of comparision). 

 

However, one thing that will be a shock is cost.  I've not been to Myrtle in a while but Scottsdale and the nicer courses - Grayhawk, Troon North, We Ko Pa, etc...are going to be the range of $300-400/round.  Again, depends on when you go but the cost of golf has gone up exponentially in the Valley over the last 2-3 yrs.  Just something to keep in mind as you plan the trip.  Yes, there are more budget friendly courses but the nicer daily fee courses have gotten borderline ridiculous in terms of cost 

[sabram]

3 hours ago, tw422 said:

However, one thing that will be a shock is cost.  I've not been to Myrtle in a while but Scottsdale and the nicer courses - Grayhawk, Troon North, We Ko Pa, etc...are going to be the range of $300-400/round.  Again, depends on when you go but the cost of golf has gone up exponentially in the Valley over the last 2-3 yrs.  Just something to keep in mind as you plan the trip. 

This is true for virtually any golf mecca. Green fees during peak season at the courses most tourists play have skyrocketed in the Carolinas, Florida, Oregon, Wisconsin, etc., as well as AZ

[golfandfishing]

Mid October isn’t great out here, prime overseed time. A lot of courses will be closed or just recently reopened and will be wet, CPO and slow/hairy greens. 
 

I’m going to be the outlier here on tpc Scottsdale.  I say play it. If you are coming for a visit and live in a cold weather area you will love the memory of playing there with your buddies every year when it’s on tv. Most courses out here are overrated, might as well play one you can see on tv every year. 

[sabram]

9 hours ago, golfandfishing said:

I’m going to be the outlier here on tpc Scottsdale.  I say play it. If you are coming for a visit and live in a cold weather area you will love the memory of playing there with your buddies every year when it’s on tv. Most courses out here are overrated, might as well play one you can see on tv every year. 

Definitely an outlier. I'd never play such an over- rated course just because I can see it on TV. I've played it and felt ripped off. I'll be back to watch the WM, but no interest in ever playing there again.

[puttnforthe8]

On 10/22/2023 at 1:53 AM, golfandfishing said:

Mid October isn’t great out here, prime overseed time. A lot of courses will be closed or just recently reopened and will be wet, CPO and slow/hairy greens. 
 

I’m going to be the outlier here on tpc Scottsdale.  I say play it. If you are coming for a visit and live in a cold weather area you will love the memory of playing there with your buddies every year when it’s on tv. Most courses out here are overrated, might as well play one you can see on tv every year. 

$600 to play TPC is not a memory anyone wants or will love!  But if you have $ to burn....

[tw422]

Agreed all golf, not only high end golf destinations, have become more expensive in the last 3 yrs.

 

However my point of comparision was/is the OP's reference point of Myrtle Beach.  From what I can tell MB's higer end courses aren't charging anywhere near what the top courses in Scottsdale are charging.  Yes, MB's courses have increased but are nowhere near as expensive as Scottsdale.  I'd argue (anecdotally) that the rate of increase in Scottsdale is far greater than MB as well.  

 

IMO, it feels like a lot of money, comparitively speaking, to go from Myrtle to Scottsdale to get arguably an incrementally better product. 

Edited October 23, 2023 by tw422
spelling

[puttnforthe8]

5 hours ago, tw422 said:

Agreed all golf, not only high end golf destinations, have become more expensive in the last 3 yrs.

 

However my point of comparision was/is the OP's reference point of Myrtle Beach.  From what I can tell MB's higer end courses aren't charging anywhere near what the top courses in Scottsdale are charging.  Yes, MB's courses have increased but are nowhere near as expensive as Scottsdale.  I'd argue (anecdotally) that the rate of increase in Scottsdale is far greater than MB as well.  

 

IMO, it feels like a lot of money, comparitively speaking, to go from Myrtle to Scottsdale to get arguably an incrementally better product. 

 

Agreed....please STOP coming to AZ for golf.  We have terrible courses at ridiculously high rates!  It's hot, people drive crazy, and most single women are of the paid for play version! 

 

Highly recommend Myrtle Beach or Michigan!

[Chanceman]

13 hours ago, sabram said:

Definitely an outlier. I'd never play such an over- rated course just because I can see it on TV. I've played it and felt ripped off. I'll be back to watch the WM, but no interest in ever playing there again.

Oh well I liked it well enough. The last 4 holes are very good and there a number of others that are solid.

[golfandfishing]

On 10/22/2023 at 2:17 PM, sabram said:

Definitely an outlier. I'd never play such an over- rated course just because I can see it on TV. I've played it and felt ripped off. I'll be back to watch the WM, but no interest in ever playing there again.

Yeah I knew it wasn’t a popular opinion but I’m not one to tell other people that something they want to do is a bad time. It’s obviously at least a decent choice since it’s sold out pretty much all season. I haven’t played it in about 15 years and don’t plan on it but if some buddies were coming in and said they were going to play there and were looking forward to it I wouldn’t poopoo on their fun.  

[golfandfishing]

5 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

$600 to play TPC is not a memory anyone wants or will love!  But if you have $ to burn....

No one wants it?  The place is full pretty much all day every day. It’s not for me but they are probably doing 40,000+ rounds a year. That’s a lot of no one’s. 

[vallygolf]

Just now, golfandfishing said:

No one wants it?  The place is full pretty much all day every day. It’s not for me but they are probably doing 40,000+ rounds a year. That’s a lot of no one’s. 

Yeah, while those that HAVE played it can complain. Rarely do friends of mine come out to play golf without wanting to play the stadium course.  Most however are not cost averse, so it isnt as painful.  At $50 bucks I would play the stadium course often, just for the bunker experience alone.  Most that are familiar with the WM enjoy the experience, but recognize the ho hum nature of the course.  I agree with golf and fishing  15-18 (if the stands are still up) are really fun to play.  17 is one of my favorite holes anywhere when the pin is back.  I think most can agree if money is any consideration at all the Stadium Course blows.

[puttnforthe8]

1 hour ago, golfandfishing said:

No one wants it?  The place is full pretty much all day every day. It’s not for me but they are probably doing 40,000+ rounds a year. That’s a lot of no one’s. 

 

I said "a memory they will love".  😜I don't disagree that people play it.  But the most prominent theme that I hear post playing the course is 'disappointment'.  Although, I do note that those that to get to play it with the stands up around the property do enjoy it more.

 

 

 

Edited October 23, 2023 by puttnforthe8

[sabram]

I Played it with the stands up and still felt ripped off. I'd much rather play We-Ko-Pa or Southern Dunes (or another dozen other PHX area courses) again

 

 

[golfandfishing]

12 hours ago, sabram said:

I Played it with the stands up and still felt ripped off. I'd much rather play We-Ko-Pa or Southern Dunes (or another dozen other PHX area courses) again

 

 

What exactly are the expectations for $550+tax?  I’m not sure what I’d be expecting in a round of golf that would add up to that. I just stop playing when it gets to $75 for the most part. I played nearly every course in AZ when I was in the golf business and I guess I just don’t feel the need but I understand that plenty of others do. Shelling out $600+ at check in I’m not sure what could be delivered to meet “satisfaction” for me. What could have realistically been added to your experience to make it worth the rate?  

[bonvivantva]

So if mid-October isn't ideal, what would be better?  What is the ideal time in terms of value, and then if we wanted to stay closer to our usual time, would a month earlier or later be better?

[vallygolf]

4 minutes ago, bonvivantva said:

So if mid-October isn't ideal, what would be better?  What is the ideal time in terms of value, and then if we wanted to stay closer to our usual time, would a month earlier or later be better?

Mid to late september and May are the best months for golf and "value". October and november are perfect weather but lesser conditions for the pricing.  Prime season is considered Jan-April and has good conditions but off the charts pricing.  September and May can be a bit warm, but usually very playable and more reasonable pricing.  IMO it also presents the best conditions for playing.

[Glock917]

4 hours ago, bonvivantva said:

So if mid-October isn't ideal, what would be better?  What is the ideal time in terms of value, and then if we wanted to stay closer to our usual time, would a month earlier or later be better?

 

 Yeah value wise just do October. Not all the course overseed at the same time. They are staggered so some are open. Just got to do some research and see which courses yall have on your "have to play" and "kinda want to play" then see which of those courses are open during that time. Its totally doable and itll save you tons cause once you creep into November prices will start getting dumb.

 

 

 

20 hours ago, golfandfishing said:

Yeah I knew it wasn’t a popular opinion but I’m not one to tell other people that something they want to do is a bad time. It’s obviously at least a decent choice since it’s sold out pretty much all season. I haven’t played it in about 15 years and don’t plan on it but if some buddies were coming in and said they were going to play there and were looking forward to it I wouldn’t poopoo on their fun.  

I played it reluctantly because of the price but ended up still going cause my group told me theyll each pay $100 to help me out lol

 

Even then it was still a pretty penny with the fore caddie tipping but looking back it was a memorable experience. I went in prime time green fees in mid December but the conditions were absolutely pristine and helped I played had a bunch of good shots, played well on a lot of holes, and played some bad ones which led to good recovery shots. Kinda got the whole spectrum of round of golf on a well manicured track.

 

Would I play it again? 99% prob never haha. But I dont regret playing it and had a great time. Those who can shell it out go for it. Does who are opposed, there are tons of great course nearby that can satisfy.

 

Lastly, if playing TPC stadium course, its the only range i have been that had brand spanking new ProV1x practice balls so if you feel the need to supplement that outrageous green fee you can stuff as many of them as you can in your bag. lol 😆

[sabram]

12 hours ago, golfandfishing said:

What could have realistically been added to your experience to make it worth the rate?  

Probably nothing. Perhaps a better designed course