Michael5704215

Course was in great shape. If you’re willing to drive a little longer than usual (past Lake Pleasant), it’s worth the trip. The course is challenging but not unreasonable. One of the best in the state, including the private courses.

Greens were in nice shape, not too fast. Everything else was average, at best. I don't recall this course having such a slow pace of play. The 10th tee box had THREE groups waiting, plus the groups playing the hole. Never seen that in AZ.
This used to be worth it during high season. I could drive an hour away (instead of 15 minutes), and I'd still make it home before someone playing Stonecreek.

Tee time was at 2:30 so we weren’t expecting to finish, although the starter said the 2:30 group had been getting 18 in over the last few days. We were behind a threesome and had to watch them tee of on EVERY hole. Called the pro shop around the 4th hole. Course Marshal drives up a few minutes later and asks how things are going. We politely informed him of what we’d been experiencing. After making the turn just after 5pm, we played the front-9 again. Last putt went in 1 hr 40 mins later to barely get two 9s in before dark. If not for the ineffectiveness of the Marshal, this would have been a 4-Star rating. The sand traps were like hitting out of a quarry. Greens rolled true but wouldn’t hold most approach shots (including wedge trajectory shots). Fairways were immaculate, and layout is great. Challenging but fair. If they can’t control the pace of play, then at least get all the rocks out of the traps. I’d play it again for the rate we paid, but wouldn’t recommend it to a friend until they get someone out on the course to have slow groups skip a hole.
And keep your practice area stocked with range balls. I had TWO guys take from my bucket. I don’t think they were even playing that day. The 3rd and 4th guys, I had to deny because I was about to run out. In 25 years, never had that happen before. Annoying since the first two guys asked “....mind if a take a few...” as they’re walking away with the balls. Not sure that really constitutes a question.

About an hour drive from the Valley, don’t expect paved cart paths, GPS on the carts, or a beverage cart on the course. But you can expect nice elevation changes, great course conditions form tee-to-green, and a good pace of play. I think it’s worth the drive this time of year when comparable courses in the Valley are charging between $150-$200. Friendly staff, laid back atmosphere. Perfect day.

Temporary pro shop (shed) is next to the 1st tee box. I’m sure the restroom door slamming shut has caused a few people to re-tee. If you get a tee time in the PM, expect to wait on a golf cart right up until you’re group is on the box. So you’ll need to lug your golf bag up the hill to hit practice balls and pay your fees. That or (as the bag drop attendant suggests) go into the restaurant and have something to eat. Thanks, pal.
The good news is the greens are in good shape for a public course. Rolling true and fast. The fairways are in decent shape - cut a little short so you get more roll, but less ‘fluff’ when you make contact with your irons. There will be patches of dirt just off the fairways or near sand traps. Basically if you hit it where you’re supposed to, you’ll be fine. If not, bump it onto the nearest piece of grass. Sand traps are inconsistent, at best - stones and shallow. Traps were the worst part of the course. Tee boxes vary from perfect carpet, to small and choppy, to no flat surfaces. For the most part, the boxes were fine, but expect variability. Carts don’t have GPS, no yardage books for sale, and sprinkler heads might or might not be marked. GPS and sprinkler head re-marking don’t have an immediate return, but yardage books would generate revenue. The regulars don’t need them, but the rest of us could use the help. I’d play CW again because of the greens. If that goes south, then it’s not worth the drive.

Tee boxes are beat up but at least there are flat areas off which to tee it up. Fairways are in poor condition. The sand traps are good - deep, soft sand. Greens are rolling true and quick. The Palm course doesn’t look like much but from the tips, it sneaks up on you. There’s not a lot of water, but it’s in the right places. You have to carry it on two of the par-3s - at 200+ and 190+ yds. No island greens but there are greens with water in front and on the side. Not a big deal on most courses except on Palm, those greens are crowned. Adding to this is the fact the greens don’t hold approach shots very well. And I’m not talking about low trafectory 4-irons. I can recall 8- and 9-iron hit before the pin and end up on the back fringe.
I’d play this course again only if I had limited options. It’s generally on the more affordable side,and the main reason I’d play it.

From the minute you get into your cart, it feels like a top resort or private course. Typical Troon-managed facility. Fairways and greens were great. A couple of sand traps were low on sand, but that might have had something to do with the 40-MPH winds that day (had to wait on a few holes for visibility to clear up because we couldn't see the group in front of us). Fair course - not easy or too challenging. Worth the drive - already booked a tee time in two weeks so I can play it without the haboob.

Played this course several years ago, and remember it being nice. What I experienced this time was completely different. The tee boxes looked like elk had tap danced on them, fairways were dried out, and the greens were beat up. Pace of play on the front was average. But the back-9 came to a halt. Both par-3s had TWO groups on the box when we pulled up. We had a 1:16 tee time and barely finished. We were the last group to finish 18. Whoever runs this course needs to put a ranger out on the course. And while they’re at it, go take a look at some other courses in the Valley. It’s February! Your course looks like a Phoenix municipal course in August. The golf management company taking care (if they can call it that) of this facility has a great sense of humor. Disappointing.

Course was in nice shape. Staff was friendly and helpful. Pace of play could be better. A little overpriced for this course, but during this time of year, it's expected.

Started off with a rude ranger yelling our last name on the practice facility telling our group to hurry up to the first tee box (which was actually the 10th tee that day, but the pro shop didn’t tell us upon checking in). When I asked him what time it was, he snapped back “8 minutes till your tee time’”. Of course we had to stop 20 yards before the tee boxes because the group ahead of us was still teeing off. So instead of hitting another dozen balls on the range for the next 5 minutes, we get to talk to the nice ranger. What a jerk.
The greens looked like the surface of the moon. Either no one fixes ballmarks anymore or the greens keepers do a poor job of fixing them. It’s a shame because this is easily one of the best publicly accessible courses in the state. Sand traps were fine, fairways were in good shape, challenging but fair, although pace of play could’ve been better. I’d play it again. Maybe after the ranger returns to the Monterey Penninsula with his attitude.

Great layout. Challenging but not unfair (especially from the tips). Greens roll true but too many ball marks left unrepaired (I had to fix at least as many as I made). One thing I wish management would address is the sprinkler head yardage marks. Many are not marked so if you don't have a range finder, you're stuck with best guess on some approach shots. It's an easy fix, and shouldn't be at an unreasonable cost (as opposed to installing GPS on the carts). Other than that, this is a great option for a public course.

I was the first group out (6:45) so the course should have been as good as it gets all day. Tee boxes were average (some were uneven, others had blotches of grass and dirt). Fairways were as close to perfect as could be expected for a public course. Greens were a bit slow, and had more than a few ball marks either unrepaired or repaired poorly.
Overall the course was in good shape for this time of year.

Booked an 8:16 tee time for a foursome on a Sunday, finished ahead of pace, and decided to play another 18 holes (as a threesome). We played behind another threesome most of the 2nd round, but still finished before 4:00 (under 8 hours for 36 holes) - above average pace for a Sunday in February. Fairways and greens were in great shape. The only criticism I have is the sand traps. Many did not have a lot of sand, and had quite a few small rocks / large pebbles. Had to move 2-3 of these little stones away from my ball a couple of times in order to avoid dings in my sand wedge. In more traps than usual because there are a number of short par-4s guarded with traps, so we were swinging for the seats whenever these holes came up. Made the course more fun, although no one reached a par-4 green off the tee.
GolfNow rate was about $120. The course's policy states the replay rate is 60% of the initial fee. Fair value for the two rounds. Enjoyable course (much more so than when it was Sanctuary). I'd play it again.

The course is in nice shape, considering it's August in AZ. The greens are coming back nicely (it looks like they were punched within the last few weeks). Pace of play was a little slower than I would expect but we were told there was a tournament two groups in front of us. We received the Starwood discounted rate of $59. That's a little high for this time of year, but my playing partner (visiting from NY) wanted to play Kierland.

You can't get away with greens like these in mid-March. There are better alternatives at lower prices (Legend Trail and Vista Verde, to name two). If you play TPC Champions, assume gimme putts inside of 10 feet.