Camelback Resort in Scottsdale

pgetzen · November 4, 2023

I am headed to Camelback in Scottsdale in a few weeks. Was thinking about playing one of the courses there (Ambiente and Padre) and possibly one more near the resort. I don’t think We Ko Pa is too far away. Can anybody recommend one of the Camelback courses over the other, and maybe any other non-resort options around there? Thanks!

DrSchteeve · November 4, 2023

Ambiente 100/100. Padre not close.

Bonneville85308 · November 4, 2023

Play Ambiente and don't bother with Padre. Padre isn't the worst course in the Valley, but it's a mediocre layout that is a ripoff for what they charge in peak season.

Golf Pig · November 5, 2023

Ambiente over Padre for sure. We-Ko-Pa is worth it but it's about 30-40 minutes from Camelback. The closest decent course is Talking Stick otherwise north Scottsdale isn't too far away and you have plenty of options there. If you're staying at Camelback you should ask about a reciprocal rate at Wildfire which is also a JW Marriott property.

SilverBullets · November 6, 2023

On 11/5/2023 at 9:38 AM, Golf Pig said:

Ambiente over Padre for sure. We-Ko-Pa is worth it but it's about 30-40 minutes from Camelback. The closest decent course is Talking Stick otherwise north Scottsdale isn't too far away and you have plenty of options there. If you're staying at Camelback you should ask about a reciprocal rate at Wildfire which is also a JW Marriott property.

Id play The Phoenician before Talking Stick 10/10 times simply because the views on the back 9 are awesome... especially for a vacation round of golf. The Phoenician is also super close

WeKoPa is obviously well worth it. I'd also look into Whirlwind. It's probably closer than WeKoPa... The WW courses aren't as good as WeKoPa but I think they are probably as good or better than Ambiente.

DrSchteeve · November 9, 2023

Agree Phoenician over Talking Stick, especially for visitors. Disagree that Whirlwind courses are better than Ambiente - not only is Ambiente a good, interesting layout, it winds through some very high end homes and has some decent views.

puttnforthe8 · November 10, 2023

6 hours ago, DrSchteeve said:

Agree Phoenician over Talking Stick, especially for visitors. Disagree that Whirlwind courses are better than Ambiente - not only is Ambiente a good, interesting layout, it winds through some very high end homes and has some decent views.

You're on really good peyote....please give me some!

Whirlwind is better than Ambiente in a dozen aspects! Not once have I ever cared about the houses around a course!!!

DrSchteeve · November 10, 2023

16 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

You're on really good peyote....please give me some!

Whirlwind is better than Ambiente in a dozen aspects! Not once have I ever cared about the houses around a course!!!

Whirlwind is 2 typical Gary Panks layouts, nothing particularly memorable or notable. Ambiente is a unique, almost links style course in what some would consider an interesting setting. You would have to elaborate on the "dozen aspects".

And while I wasn't trolling, I was expecting a Puttn' response, but I thought the disagreement might be about Talking Stick vs Phoenician.

Edited November 10, 2023 by DrSchteeve
clarification

SilverBullets · November 10, 2023

2 hours ago, DrSchteeve said:

Whirlwind is 2 typical Gary Panks layouts, nothing particularly memorable or notable. Ambiente is a unique, almost links style course in what some would consider an interesting setting. You would have to elaborate on the "dozen aspects".

And while I wasn't trolling, I was expecting a Puttn' response, but I thought the disagreement might be about Talking Stick vs Phoenician.

Oh I get it and I agree with your thoughts on Ambiente. I really do like Ambiente. It's an enjoyable course to play, it's unique and it's something different. But when you're traveling to Arizona, you're not exactly looking to play a weirdly successful attempt at a links course in the desert. As a resident or for someone who has a played a lot of golf in the desert... absolutely.

Whirlwind gives the more traditional Arizona golf experience... which is why I recommended them. Both are good courses. 36 holes of just plain solid/good golf. Nothing over the top, no real incredible/elite holes... but also no real bad holes. Just 2 courses of consistently solid golf holes in a good setting.

Kind of the same principal on why I recommended The Phoenician over Talking Stick. For an out towner on vacation, it just works. It's convenient, it's in great shape, and it provides some of the absolute best views on any course in the valley... certainly the best views of any course in central phoenix (public and private). That's kind of what you want on vacation. Hell, even when I play it as a resident, I start feeling like I'm on vacation sitting on that 13th tee.

The Talking Stick courses are better layouts from a pure golf perspective, but, they aren't all that pretty, they are repetitive, and its almost always a 5 hour round there. So I just skip 'em.

puttnforthe8 · November 20, 2023

On 11/10/2023 at 11:51 AM, DrSchteeve said:

Whirlwind is 2 typical Gary Panks layouts, nothing particularly memorable or notable. Ambiente is a unique, almost links style course in what some would consider an interesting setting. You would have to elaborate on the "dozen aspects".

And while I wasn't trolling, I was expecting a Puttn' response, but I thought the disagreement might be about Talking Stick vs Phoenician.

My main disagreement here is the houses. To suggest that people should play a course because "it winds through some high end houses" is just the peyote speaking. 🤣

As for the elaboration (let me see if I can get to 12):

A better overall setting - out in the open.
Better views (imo) - Ambiente has the view of the mtn, but I think the area views at Gila beat that
2 courses that are good
Better range facility, by a mile
Better practice putting greens, by a mile
Actually 'desert golf' for a visitor
No houses - houses on a course (of any price) are a negative; especially in AZ
Not sure why "typical Gary Pranks" is a negative. They are good courses with a good mix of holes...not just repetitive holes.
Conditions - Always better at WW
While not the course itself, the restaurant (food and drink) are better, by a mile

As a qualifier, I have the CB pass and play there a lot. I don't consider it bad by any stretch. But price to value to experience - there is no match.

As for the other - I couldn't stop laughing, so I didn't comment. 🙂 Just played Phoenician - the front is so bad, the back does nothing to redeem it. The views at the top 3/4 holes are super - but doesn't make up for the rest.