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3.8
369 Reviews (369)
5 Stars
93
4 Stars
177
3 Stars
58
2 Stars
19
1 Stars
22
Conditions
3.6
Value
3.8
Layout
4.1
Friendliness
4.1
Pace
3.5
Amenities
3.9
80.2%
Recommend this course
296 out of 369 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Traditional
Par 70
Length 7002 yards
Slope 131
Rating 73.8

Editor's Note: Course closed for business in May 2019.

ASU Karsten Golf Course features a Pete and Perry Dye-designed links-style course characterized by design features that challenge, such as Dye's mounding and bunkering - making it important to pick the right golf clubs if you don't want to run up that score. Big-name PGA and LPGA Tour golfers like Phil Mickelson, Billy Mayfair and Grace Park have all played this course.

ASU Karsten Golf Course offers several holes one could call "signature," such as the short par-4 fourth, the tough par-4 ninth, the daunting par-3 16th (248 yards from the tips) and the challenging par-4 final hole. The water on the left side is the reason this is called one of Arizona's most difficult finishers.

After a round at the ASU Karsten Golf Course, check out the 21,000-square-foot Sun Angel Clubhouse, which tempts players with its Southwestern and American fare in the Trophy Room.

Course Details

Year Built 1989
Fairways TiffDwarf Grass
Greens TiffDwarf Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Pete Dye (1989) Perry Dye (1989) Forrest Richardson

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
GPS No

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Caddies No
Golf School Academy Yes - "PING Learning Center"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Discover
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Collared golf shirt, shorts if worn must be mid-thigh and hemmed, no denim, no tee shirts or athletic wear.

Food & Beverage

Snacks, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Reviews

3.8
369 Reviews (369)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 23
Patio Dining 21
Brunch 14
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 71
Water Hazards 51
Narrow Fairways 35
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 47
Locals 41
Playing Multiple Courses 21
This Course's Location is:
On a College Campus 64
Convenient to the City 62
Near the Airport 60

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

An absolute GEM! Mr. Dye is a legend

Amazing golf course! Greens are immaculate, fairways are great as well! It's challenging but really fun. It's a shame it's closing. Play here before it closes!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 78
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played

A great day.

I have not played Karsten in 5 years. The course was in very good condition. There are some great holes on this challenging course. All parts of your game are tested throughout the round.
As for conditions, fairways and greens were great. The traps were a little thin in places but well-groomed.
As I stated before, I really enjoy this course and I would recommend Karsten to anyone.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Monday morning post overseed

Course came back really nice from overseed, greens repaired nicely since summer. No pace of play issues for a Monday am. 90 deg rule in effect but probably ending soon enough.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A little surprised

For a University sponsored course I thought it would be in better playing shape. Although fairways have been over seeded recently I expected a more manicured course overall. A nice layout
Just needs more TLC to be a top eschelon golf course.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 22
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Going down hill

Unfortunately this course has been in continual decline for a few years. Which is too bad because it was a favorite of mine. If you get a great price maybe give it a try, other wise I would play somewhere else.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fun Course

Course in excellent condition. Played the Champion (black, in front of the tips and behind the gold) tees. For some of these tees there was no yardage but not a problem with a rangefinder. However the total yardage for the course from these tees is incorrect. Still a neat course to play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Noisy!

So loud you can’t hear your partner! Great conditions, but not worth the extreme headache! Never again..

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Don't believe the negativity

ASU Karsten has received many bad reviews online lately. I have seen that the course has let itself go, is in disrepair, and is in general horrible shape. I can tell you this is not true.. I played yesterday 9/25/18 and had a wonderful round. Karsten, for the time of year is in just as good, if not better, shape than many courses in the valley. There is a tad bit of brown here and there, but for the most part the tees, greens, and fairways are very green. The only thing I noticed was a few greens had a sizeable repair area. But, the hole was cut no where near this. I landed in it a couple of times and putted through it and my ball rolled true. I do not understand the lunar landscape reviews I have read. Karsten is still a great track to play.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 84
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Really nice course, look forward to playing again..

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 222
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 30
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Used cart

ASU Gem

Never made it a priority to play Karsten and now I am kicking myself for that. Great price to play summer golf at ASU's old stomping grounds. Fairways are in great shape. Greens have some bare spots but didnt take away from the round. Very hilly course and driving the ball well is a must. You really have to think your way around this course. Staff was great and I will be back to play again real soon.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Great Round of Golf

Had a great day. The course was in good shape for summer golf in Phoenix. The greens were a bit fuzzy due to the course was scheduled to punch them later in the day. Still the rest of the course was great.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens

The greens were quite long and didn’t play very true

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Don't do it !!!!

I have played there many times in the past 10 years,this is absolutely the worst conditions I have seen in a Arizona golf course in a long... long time.the first problem is the price,then they charge $8 for range balls,that are sub par to say the least.then you tee off.... which is ok ish !! Then you get to the green,which only half of it has something close to grass,maybe the next hole won't be so bad... wrong.... the front 9 holes on this course should be closed down,not even worth trying to play.conditions were ridiculous at best.the cart paths are all buckling up,you need to slow down to get over the humps.then you get to the back 9... I have to say is a little better than the front 9... not much... but a little.a very little.... then I looked at the score card and realized that Pete Dye designed that course,unbelievable,I guarantee he does not know the condition it's in now,nobody would put their name to that course at all,not even me !!! Anyone paying more than '$20 including practice balls,should assume they have been ripped off.i will never play this course or recommend it to anyone ever again.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
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