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Golf Course Review We Ko Pa Golf Club SAGUARO Fort McDowell Arizona

We_Ko_Pa Golf Club (Saguaro)

Golf Course Review We Ko Pa Golf Club SAGUARO Fort McDowell Arizona

Reviewed by: jamesph99, Redmond

Golf Playing Conditions 7.78 GREAT
Golf Playing Conditions 7.78 GREAT

Took a Thanksgiving trip to Scottsdale with the family.  Walked the purple tees at the Saguaro Course at We Ko Pa last Tuesday morning (11/20/18).

The Review

I really enjoyed it as conditions were very solid all the way around. Greens were fairly quick to me but rolling very true, with hardly any un-repaired pitch marks. They held well struck shots nicely, and were very consistent throughout the course. Fairways were very nice as well, giving a decent amount of roll as well as great lies, with the exception of the un-filled divot that I found on #10. Rough was dormant and not very long, but I still found it somewhat difficult to make solid contact when I missed a fairway. Bunkers were pretty good (I found several, both fairway and green-side), and tee boxes very nice as well. Our foursome (me walking, a father and his 2 sons riding) got around in a little over 4 hours, never waiting and letting a twosome through on on #12.

The Facilities

The range here is very nice (balls are included with the green fee), and there looked to be a really nice short game area that I didn’t have time to check out. The putting green next to the 1st tee was very good, and very representative of what you were going to find on the course. Customer service was excellent, lots of help checking in and getting the clubs cleaned after the round. Saw the beverage cart 3 times, and also had a pretty good hot dog at the turn.

I really liked the layout here.  There seemed to be a pretty good mix of long and short holes. It is quite forgiving off of the tee, as you need to be pretty wild to find the desert. Approach shots need to be good though, as there are lots of green-side bunkers, and fairly large greens making 2 putts difficult at times. They market this course as walkable, and they did have some push carts available for use at the first tee. While it is walkable, it isn’t the easiest walk as it isn’t a flat course. There are some decent hills to go up and down, as well as a few forced carries where you’ll have to walk down into an arroyo and then back up and out of it. For a few of those I was happy to hop on the cart with one of my playing partners to save up some energy.

Parting Thoughts

I paid the rack rate to play here, and mainly chose it because they let you walk, plus the family and I were staying at the resort. While I got a slight break on the price, I think it was just a little bit steep. If I lived in the area I would definitely play it, but I would probably save it for special occasions.

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Golf Coruse Review TPC Scotsdale STADIUM Scottsdale Arizona

TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)

Golf Course Review TPC Scottsdale STADIUM Scottsdale Arizona

Reviewed by: sdscratchorbust, Scottsdale

Golf Playing Conditions 8.53 GREAT
Golf Playing Conditions 8.53 GREAT

Played here twilight during the week last week. Stadium is PURE

It’s cart paths only and they have begun erecting the scaffolding on the closing holes. The bare bones of the stadium is up and you get to walk through the tunnel into the arena. It’s quite a feeling hitting a shot even inside the scaffolding.

The conditions are just about as pure as it gets. The bunkers look refreshed from the maintenance. They rough is super thick and tasty as they grow it out. Greens were near perfect. Fairways have fair amount of divots and some wear which is the only thing holding it back before being tour ready. It is quite a difference when you play on tour quality grass and sand.

Currently caddies are required during the day and the price is steep. But it is beginning to have the tour feel.

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Golf Course Review San Pedro Golf Course Benson Arizona

San Pedro Golf Course

Golf Course Review San Pedro Golf Course Benson Arizona

Reviewed by: sprcoop, Tucson
Played 10/14/18. $19 TeeOff.com price. The course had opened 2 weeks earlier recovering from over-seeding. Also, it had been closed the last two days due to rain. Would have been cart path only even without the rain. The fairways were a little shaggy plus soggy so no roll out. We played Lift, Clean, Place (LCP) as every ball was a mud ball.

Playing the whites at 6200 yards and played every bit that long. I have played when dry and plays shorter. There are a couple forced carries but nothing too daunting except for 18 where I played around turning it into a PAR 5. Hit my 3rd to 6 feet and missed the PAR putt.

Considering the conditions course was in great shape. Greens were slow but very good. Bunkers had some puddles (took relief) but still playable. Fun track with well placed fairway bunkers that keep you focused. One side of most fairways is dead/guaranteed lost ball. Local rule is play as lateral rule 26-1. Highly recommend it.

Editor’s Note: Be the First to add photos of this golf course and its facilities!

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GK Guru Recap Sun City West Golf GRANDVIEW Sun City West Arizona

Sun City West Grandview Golf Course Arizona

Sun City West Golf (Grandview)

Sun City West, AZ

Reviewed by: sixpez, Rancho Mirage, CA

Golf Playing Conditions 7.76 GREAT
Golf Playing Conditions 7.76 GREAT

GRG - A GREAT GK Review Guru VisitWe had a fun time on Grandview for the GK Plays. We had a really good turnout with a number of AZ GK’ers in attendance and a lot of new faces, as well. Good to see the Arizona GK crew growing each year. I was in the 9:30 group and it was a good overall pace of play around 4 hours total.

As others have already noted, the course was in good overall condition. For good value courses, they sure do a great job keeping these in really nice shape throughout the summer season. Tee boxes, fairways and rough were all good and consistent. The newly remodeled bunkers had really nice new sand. The greens were firm. Rolling way too slow for my tastes, but consistently conditioned and obviously kept longer to survive the heat.

This was my second time playing Grandview. It’s a solid course and will give you your money’s worth every time. Not a destination course in an area loaded with spectacular and dramatic layouts, but a good value pick. Always friendly people in this community and just a positive overall vibe.

Sun City West Grandview Golf Course Arizona GK Coupon
Sun City West Grandview Golf Course Arizona GK Coupon
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GK Guru Recap The Boulders (NORTH) Carefree Arizona

The Boulders (North)

Carefree, AZ

ALERT: Overseeding
Will be overseeding 9/17 – 10/7, reopening 10/8 and likely cart path only for 2-3 weeks after reopening.
* Although Greenskeeper.org researches all alerts before posting, we ask that you please contact the golf course for confirmation.

Reviewed by: JohnnyGK, Thousand Oaks

Golf Playing Conditions 6.70 GOOD
Golf Playing Conditions 6.70 GOOD

Great time on Friday teeing up with GK’ers Daveygolf123 and rjmart at The Boulders Resort North Course. Since there was very few golfers playing, we joined up at times to make a fivesome (not allowed) with GK’ers sixpez and mpisarski01. Tons of fun.

Regarding the golf course, I think we caught the perfect storm…at the wrong time. The place got absolutely slammed the night before by monsoon rains/micro bursts. It was very wet, there were busted branches, washed out bunkers, downed cactus, and areas being cleaned up after flooding. To the golf course’s credit the grounds crew members were hustling and all over the place. Also you could tell the fairways were being less tended to with overseeding approaching (not uniformly lush as expected). So I need to circle back and play this track again. It was however in very good shape. Greens being the highlight mostly smooth, firm and moderate speed. Something tells me had they been able to cut and roll the greens instead of dealing with storm damage they would have been much better.

I’ve seen photos of The Boulders for years, however those signature pictures are almost all taken of the South Course, not the North “members” Course we played. The North course is still a very good fun layout but does not have the “wow” effect of the South Course. I snapped a few pics anyway.

GRG - GK Review Guru GoodService was excellent. The Clubhouse feels like a country club and they even have a separate looker room for The Boulders members. The breakfast burrito was outstanding, thank you GK’er rjmart for picking that up for me. I did not get a chance to use the driving range but it looked nice, all grass and lush. Word of advice, use the bag drop. The members parking takes up the majority for the front parking lot and the walk from the back lot to pro-shop is long (especially in the summer).

To repeat, I need to play this place again and catch it when it’s in its typical condition. I also need to play the signature South Course. Maybe 36 in one day? That would be a blast.

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Golf Course Review Laughlin Ranch Golf Club Bullhead City Arizona

Laughlin Ranch Golf Club

Bullhead City, AZ

Reviewed by: rob1563, Las Vegas

Golf Playing Conditions 7.63 GREAT
Golf Playing Conditions 7.63 GREAT

Played on Friday, 8/10, with a 7am tee time. Joined by John_T, Famed02, and Andy.drew621, using the phenomenal GK coupon, which cut the price in almost half.

Arrived around 6:20 and told the tee box was ours whenever we wanted it but there was a high school qualifier going out as soon as we teed. Paid and headed out, joined by a local to make a 5some. He was great, has a house overlooking the 7th green/8th tee area, and joined in on the trash talking. Only saw the drink cart once.

Tees and fairways were incredible. Fairways like carpet, lush and dry with plenty of run. Rough was about 1-2 inches. Bunkers were fine. Greens were aerated in the last week, not with the small tines they said on the phone, so they were sandy and bumpy. I can never get here when they are good.

Overall, LOVE this course. Awesome views. Great conditions (if I can get here when the greens are pure). I’m willing to make the drive every couple of months.

Laughlin Ranch Golf Club Bullhead City Arizona GK Coupon
Laughlin Ranch Golf Club Bullhead City Arizona GK Coupon
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Golf Course Review Verrado Golf Club FOUNDERS Buckeye Arizona

Verrado Golf Club (Founders)

Buckeye, AZ

Reviewed by: Nickesquire, Rancho Mirage, CA

Golf Playing Conditions 7.41 GREAT
Golf Playing Conditions 7.41 GREAT

Rode the Silvers (6833/71.9/130), playing 36 holes as a single in 5H. The weather was clear and hot, 116 when I finished @ 530pm.

I had planned on playing both courses, but passed on Victory after finding over that they punched their greens about 10 days ago. Founders was punched about 3 weeks ago and was 95% healed.

I like desert golf and John Fought designs, so it’s not shocking that I really liked this course. Tom Lehman was a co-designer, first experience on one of his courses.

Some tight holes, but nothing too bad. Many holes have upscale homes around them, but they are far enough away that they blend in and are not noticeable. Some big traps to avoid and desert scape no mans land surrounds almost every hole.

This course featured 17 3/4 holes of good to excellent golf. Hole 13’s green being the exception. Short, 291 yard par 4 from the Silvers, severely uphill.

For those of you familiar with Rustic Canyon, this green was a combination of the worst features of the greens on holes 12 & 15 @ RC. The pin was on top of a severe mound that would remind you of #12 @ Rustic Canyon, except larger. The big difference is that on #12 @ Rustic, you just roll down to a flat area if you miss the table top. This green had a front like #15 @ Rustic, where you could run a putt or chip a few feet by a pin close to the slope and end up 30 yards down the hill in the fairway. Trust me, I’m speaking from experience!

The Bermuda tees were mostly lush and well maintained. Same for the fairways.

First time in awhile I have played in Bermuda rough that was allowed to grow up. The ball usually sat down, and anything but whacking it out and trying to advance it maybe 125 yards was usually out of the question. I dropped out from a sprinkler and the ball sat down so much in about 4″ tall rough I was lucky to gorilla a SW back into the fairway.

The Bermuda greens were firm and medium speed. I had a hard time with the speeds even the 2nd time through.

The customer service was excellent from everyone. Cart gal out making the rounds. All grass range with complementary balls, nice practice area. Many tees are a long ways from the last green, so even if it was not scorching, it would be a challenge to walk. Definitely recommended.

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Golf Course Review Gold Canyon Golf Resort SIDEWINDER Gold Canyon Arizona

Gold Canyon Golf Resort (Sidewinder)

Gold Canyon, AZ

ALERT: Aeration
Will be aerating the greens on the Sidewinder Course 7/8 – 7/12, reopening 7/13.
* Although Greenskeeper.org researches all alerts before posting, we ask that you please contact the golf course for confirmation.

Reviewed by: jciapa02, Mesa, AZ

Golf Playing Conditions 8.78 GREAT
Golf Playing Conditions 8.78 GREAT

My twosome played 11:03 am July 29 for $26.63 (with a $10 gift card given to us at arrival). The staff welcomed us as soon as we approached the club shop with a cart and directions. This course is tucked away in the Gold Canyon mountains, beautifully located in the mountain’s crevices. At the pro shop we checked in and were given the mentioned gift cards. The drive to the first tee of the Sidewinder is a bit convoluted but the cart guy gave us some solid directions and we arrived.

The Review

The carts are equipped with a small cooler, club/ball cleaner and a really nice touch screen GPS system. All of these prepared us to conquer the perfectly manicured resort course. The tee boxes were lush, well outlined with walk-up rocky paths that accepted a tee at any point of our pleasure. The course allows for five to six different tee off locations, with Gold being the tips and the newest (latest addition as the distances were listed on any of the hole’s mapping near the tee boxes). The fairways were soggy in FEW locations but otherwise very green and firm, lush in many areas without any bare spots to truly be seen. Though with no divot fill seed on the carts we didn’t notice many if any divots on the fairways. The greens were perfect, accepted literally any shot creating a pitch-mark (I drove a green with driver and the roll-out was MAYBE 15 feet after it’s crater of a pitch-mark). The roll was true whether it was from a putt, approach or one of many well manicured and fluffy bunkers. The rough was 1″-2.5″ inches but well manicured.

Some Advice

The course is relatively straight forward, could definitely be difficult for those who can’t consistently carry driver 175+. Can’t say there are any more than one or two memorable holes besides the 8th with a tree in front of the green in the fairway posing threat to any approach shots not placed off tee correctly; and the last par 5 18th that climbs up the slope nearby the Dinosaur’s first tee box.

The Final Words

A fun track that can twist and twine in between the suburbs and craters of the hilly mountain terrain well, I’d advise you take the trek out eastward and play this resort yourself.