rktkt66

Course rangers need to be more assertive and proactive in monitoring and enforcing pace of play issues - especially when tee times are being booked solid back-to-back-to-back with high volumes of players. We endured a 5-hour round because groups ahead of us disregarded any courtesy of pace for other groups behind them, routinely searching for balls; taking videos on teeboxes; and driving randomly on fairway to balls. When this was mentioned to a course ranger, he only said "sorry" but did nothing to speak to the group or improve the situation.

Although notice was posted about recent aerification of greens, every green showed signs of not only the sandy bumpiness from aerifications but large burned areas of brown grass / bald spots. Likewise, every fairway was full of large expanses of burned brown grass and damaged turf as if irrigation is not being applied regularly. Bunkers contained little to no loose sand and were typically baked to clay hardness. Teeboxes were beaten up. Pace of play wasn't being monitored by course rangers. Golf carts still don't have GPS or ball cleaners. While some of these conditions are to be expected in the heat of Arizona summers, the fees were out of line with the poor condition of the course. I've played this course over 40 times in the past 10 years and this was the poorest condition I've seen it in and the highest fee for a late June date. Anyone considering playing here should prepare to be very disappointed.

Although some of the greens have extreme undulations you'd only see at a Putt-Putt facility, the course is great for honing short game skills - the longest hole is usually 190 with many in the 100 yard range. Fairways, fringe and greens were in great condition. Since it opened last year, it does seem that the service has deteriorated - check-in counter was curt, rangers were non-existant during the round and the beverage cart girl sat at hole 13 texting instead of driving the course. The restaurant service was also woefully understaffed and slow.

After opening from overseeding just 3 days earlier, I expected the fairways and grass overall to be lush. The fairways looked like the only overseeded portions and the Bermuda rough on each side was as yellow as one would expect during summer season.

Pace of play wasn't helped either by the course's decision to: 1) force cart-path only rule despite the poor condition of the rough that would have easily handled cart wear and allowed players to more quickly walk to their ball; and 2) send tee times out that were only 8 minutes apart. With foursomes having to walk, the gap between groups should have been further apart to avoid the backup that inevitably hit our group by the 6th hole.

All in all, the course is a great design and challenging every time one plays it (and I've played it nearly 20 times in the last 8 years) and the fee was reasonable for the course condition and pace of play - but I have to ask: if this was intended to be the kickoff to their winter season, do they really expect players to pay the usual $100+ fee in December? Other courses invest in watering not only greens and fairways during the winter - Dove Valley should do the same or just hold their fees at the $70 range for the current conditions.

For admitted economic reasons, the club has decided to let the Shadow course become fully neglected and deteriorate to the point of it no longer being worthy of fees more than a municipal executive course. With no irrigation, the fairways have become hard-packed, dust-laden and utterly unsightly. If management truly does intend to abandon the Shadow course in favor of building new homes on the land, they should do so immediately and advise any potential customers to spend their money elsewhere. This was one of my favorite courses a few years ago and well worth the drive from south LA but this latest round was my last on this course until it resembles a golf course.

Father's Day weekend may have been the cause for overcrowding and 5-hour round but the course seems understaffed (in the pro shop and on the course). Several fairways (mostly in long valleys) were dried out and unattractive but the greens on all 18 holes were immaculate and in great condition. Practice facility is adequate with ample driving range spots off carpet and large putting green.