dowles

Have played here every spring break for over a decade. Used to be first class in every way: layout, course condition, service, overall experience. Not any more. Still a great layout but course condition is very average with mediocre greens. Service is non-existent compared to the past. No bag drop, no starter, saw bev cart once all day, GPS had pin locations all wrong. When we stopped at the turn and mentioned it, we were told “Yeah the pins are never accurate on that thing.” Really? Somehow, though, they’re still charging $250. Luckily we paid half that on a hot deal but still felt overpriced. I get the staffing challenges of Covid but there’s better options for the money: Ventana, Sewailo, even Star Pass. Too bad because it used to be a special experience to play here.but we probably won’t be back next year.

Course itself was OK, average condition and layout. But everything else about it is just BRUTAL. Can't believe Troon manages this place this poorly - friendly outside staff but ignorant inside staff. The problems included:
Played on a perfect Wednesday at 11:50 and it was a 5-hour round. Foursome in front of us was brutally slow with nobody in front of them. Course stacked up behind them. Inexcusable.
No ranger on the course.
No beverage cart on the course.
Canada course never returns to clubhouse during the entire 18, so having nobody on the course at all means you're on your own for 5 hours. If staff in pro shop had at least mentioned that nobody was working on the course at all we could've at least prepared. Bad customer service and bad business - we would have bought food and drink from them prior to tee off.
Course has no yardages marked anywhere other than the 100/150/200 markers. No sprinkler heads are marked, no GPS on cart, no yardage guides... nothing. Not even a map of the holes on the scorecard, so you have no idea where holes go or how far anything is. Very frustrating, especially when playing holes where it's not all right there in front of you to see off the tee. Again... maybe something that the staff should mention before sending us out.
Inside staff is clueless. Every interaction with them made it clear they are inexperienced or poorly trained.
At one point I tried to call the clubhouse from the course. The phone number on the card goes to their tee time reservation system and puts you on hold for 3-5 minutes. It took three calls before someone ever picked up. Even then, once I was finally transferred to the pro shop, I got some clueless kid who said he was all alone in there. His only solution to the myriad of problems was to talk to the head pro when we finished. Needless to say, we will NEVER come back - especially with so many other options for golf in the area. Just a terrible golf experience. Nothing but a money grab by Troon and the city of Oro Valley with no regard for customer service.

Played Desert/Canyon nines on a gorgeous Friday a.m. - course was crowded but pace was fine (4.5 hrs). Desert by far the best nine with some incredible views from the side of Camelback Mtn., Canyon course was good but holes not quite as interesting as Desert. Course was in great shape. Resort itself was beautiful, but F&B prices on course were ridiculous ($6 for an Arnold Palmer). Paid $120 which was in line with rates for that time of year for that caliber of course (a notch below the high end public courses like Troon North and Grayhawk). Don't be fooled by shorter yardage - it's a challenging par 70.

Really nice course with big elevation changes. Excellent layout with many interesting holes. Only drawback was playing a day after rain. Cart path only because of the rain made for a long, slow round... Not a course conducive to that at all. And its not a course you can walk. Still definitely worth playing. Easily the best course in central Illinois.

Playing on a weekend morning during an opening in their permanents is great for pace of play. 4:00 - 4:15 max for 18 holes walking is a nice pace. Very easy course to walk too. No need to spend the extra money for a cart. Good deal for residents - only $36 to walk on weekends.