Dinosaur Mountain at Gold Canyon Golf Resort

Been a iong time since I last played this course. Still think one of the best courses in Phoenix. Greens were aerated about a month ago but they still rolled true and very fast. The views are still fantastic as always. Play this course now. Take advantage of the Great resident rate going on.

Never disappointed with course conditions.
First group off, threesome, played in less than 3 hours.

I've played this course many times over my 17 years in the valley and always enjoyed it thoroughly, until today.

THE BAD
1) Pulled up to bag drop, there were 3 employees at the drop off point and not a single one of them could be bothered to help us, they didn't even acknowledge our presence until I started to pull out the bags. So we unloaded our own bags, and then after the round there were 2 employees sitting there, neither one got up to offer to assist in any way, so we loaded our own clubs back into the car.

2) Course conditions were absolutely horrid. I know it's summer, but most courses this year have been great. This place used to shine in conditioning year round, what happened? I don't even know why they were mowing the fairways today, there is so little grass it seems like a waste of fuel. Greens were incredibly bumpy, rolled terrible and worst of all, were really slow. I would have to peg them at about an 8 on the meter, which means you have to bang it hard.

3) It's time to buy some sand guys. Every single bunker I was in today was completely different. One was pretty much dirt, the other was hard as a rock, and the 3rd had enough sand to bury a llama up to it's neck. Consistency in these things is nice. Go take a drive over to Camelback Ambiente and ask them where you can pick some up.

4) Not a single container of water on the course, are you kidding me? The housings for the water are now used to surround trash cans on each tee and still have the water signs on them. Guys, it's the desert, it's hot, what the heck?

THE GOOD
1) Guys in the shop were super friendly and the starter was a really cool guy. Got us going a little early and incredibly friendly.

2) Food in restaurant was good and so was the service from our server, nothing to complain about here.

This course used to be one of the best places to play in the valley, but it looks like those days are either coming to an end or completely gone, not sure which at this point. Sure hope it doesn't continue to degrade further, would hate to see such a wonderful place ruined by bad management and extreme apathy for both your customers and the facility.

I would like to give it another chance, but I won't risk giving them more money for a sub-par experience. Perfection is not expected, but some effort is.

This is must play course for anyone in the Phoenix area. The view from the tees are breath-taking and you'll not get a better view of the Superstition Mountains.

Hot 'em straight and enjoy.

Course layout is awesome. Best views. Must Play. More down hill shots than any course I have every played. Very exciting

Played on 8/2/2014...greens were punched at the beginning of July-so they've recovered nicely. The course plays fast and firm as most desert courses. Pay close attention to pin placements and keep your ball below the hole as downhill putts are very challenging. The elevation changes and views are stunning. I liken the course to WeKoPa with more forgiving fairways and green complexes as well as a bit more elevation change. Lots of tee box options for all handicaps! Strongly recommended!

Gold Canyon Dinosaur Mountain is a treat. The tee box views are second to none. The course is challenging but fair. Definitely worth the trip to Gold Canyon and the value through Golfnow rate
was outstanding.

If you want a wow round this is the place. Every hole has a million dollar view. Course is challenging but playable for intermediate golfers. Played with my son and the staff was very helpful and welcoming.

Great course
We are not great golfers so we wanted a challenge and a naturally beautiful course and we received both.

Greens were recently airated causing putting issues. The views and layout are great. Very fair course if you play the recommended tees.

Played here a few times before. Always enjoy coming back. Challenging layout and great views on Dinosaur. This time the greens had not fully recovered from being aerified earlier, but were still playable. Overall put this one on your list of must play courses every year.

the greens were in very poor condition lacking grass. It had been aerated over 2 weeks ago and should have been much better. The fairways were also pretty sparse There also was no drinking water on the course and could only be obtained by buying it from the beverage cart. Very unacceptable for a quality course in the desert---and very dangerous for golfers out in the sun for 4+ hours. Although I would recommend the course for a friend, I would caution them to check out the conditions before committing to a round.

I was very disappointed to arrive and find that the greens had been aerated - punched - within the last week. Other areas around the greens were punched as well. The result is that the course was not in the condition that I had expected, that is, as it was for all of the time I spent on the "mountain" when I lived here in 2000. This information should have been available at the time of booking so that I could have considered my decision to play when I did.

This coure was Amazing. The staff couldn't have been friendlier. The views were incredible. The course was challenging but fair. The best golf experience I've had in Phoenix area. Just sad because weather closed the course and we played only 9 holes.

I have lived in the area for nine years and had heard wonderful things about the course. With summer rates, I felt we could finally play the Dinosaur. We had been warned that the greens had been top dressed. The greens were not that bad. The fairways are lush and the views all around are amazing. Since the greens were not in top condition, we were given and coupon to come back to play for $25. Now I am anxious to return.

This is a beautiful course that is very challenging. A must place for the avid golfer who likes different course layouts and difficulties.

We had a 6:00 AM tee time on Dinosaur Mountain, Apparently they were preparing the course for plugging. Was directed to go to the putting green to put before heading out but as we arrived to the practice green it had just been scalped and fertilizer was being added. No problem but obviously the staff did not even know. Then we started noticing That all the greens had been cross cut making them slow and hard to putt on any line. Once we got to 15 the fairway had been freshly plugged and all around the green as well making it impossible for short game around the green and approach shot.

Communication is key and if it had been posted on golf now or at a minimum communicated at check in I would not be so bitter. I would have just played Side winder or taken my business elsewhere. Nothing worse than paying $50+ for a course that is not up to par.

I had a 7 year gap since the last time I played dinosaur and forgot how great this course is and the experience. First off, the starter understood how to manage players and saw an opportunity to get us out early. He did not pressure us but explained we would have a faster round. This was exactly the opposite experience from when I played sidewinder in which the group in front of us which was 8 players on 2 tee times were running late. We were ready and offered to go to help the flow and the young gentleman was very aggressive and said no, we ended playing a 5 hour round. If you play gold canyon, play the dinosaur course because the pace of play is managed better.

Playing in June at 2 pm in AZ.... You asking for trouble. Yes it was HOT.....However, to play Dinosaur Mountain at such a discount?? Heck ya. Course was in awesome shape. Greens were rolling true. We saw deer on the course and they kept bringing Mango soaked towels. They felt SOO awesome. Even through the course was tough( Always is ) It is still one of my favorite courses in the valley.

Play for first time in ten years conditions were excellent, forgot how great the views are from this course. Only downside they had recently fertilized with chicken manure making the smell unbearable. Just the price you have to pay for green grass with less water usage.