ASU Karsten Golf Course

I had heard the ASU course will be developed into a non-golf use in the near future. As such, I wanted to play a college course. I figured the price would be reasonable since late May in Phoenix can be hot and since it was ASU’s course, it seemed too good to pass up. I was prepared for baked and hard conditions but not for greens missing half of their turf. Like most public available tracks, I’m not surprised by unfixed divots, ball marks on the greens, and unrated bunkers, but I do expect greens to be mowed. Some were shaggy, others bare. It looked like the decision has been made to cut maintenance to a minimum.
I liked the layout. Lots of short but tight holes requiring well placed shots. I could see where the greens used to be a challenge when the place was in its prime. A significant amount of water hazards make some approaches intimidating.
Overall, I found the course neglected.

A once hallowed course is not even a shadow of itself.

I have never seen such poorly maintained/burnt out greens.

Sell the thing already and move on

Do not waste your money

I am an ASU alum, avid golfer and have been playing this course since it opened.
I was shocked at how neglected and decrepit it has become. The greens are horrible and bare in places. It looks like they water this course with an eye dropper.
I booked this because the $55 green feel looked like a bargain. It was not. It was July Encanto conditions at a price four times higher.

I have been playing this course for over 20 years. This was my swan song here. Greens were beyond transition, was not even worth putting. Understand the focus is Papago but was sad to see it in this condition.

Greens had been punched recently so not in great shape but overall the course was challenging and fun.

I have played her a number of times, it hasn't been great but it's been ok, But it is for sure going downhill, I played here a couple of months ago in February when most courses are in Great shape in AZ, it was so so. Today May 2nd a friend called and wanted me to go play, so we met up. The weather was Perfect, 78 in May is a dream but the course was a nightmare, from the get go the staff seemed a bit like jerks and the course was in mediocre shape, and the putting surfaces were like putting in the parking lot, the front 9 were rock hard and it hasn't been that hot yet so the greenskeepers are just not doing a good job. On the back 9 a few were in decent shape where you didn't feel like you were putting on concrete. The pace of play was terrible, slow on the front and on the back 9 we were waiting 5-8 minutes on every hole. Needless to say this is the last straw for this course, I will take my money elsewhere, like Legacy and the Raven

From some of what I have read this may be near the end for this course. So that would certainly explain the indifferent attitude from the staff. The layout is short and fun and also has some good local history. Location is noisy between highway and airport plus construction. Some parts in very nice shape and some beat up as others have stated in recent reviews.

My main complaint is them taking a 630 tee time with a large tournament in shotgun scramble format at 8 am. This wasn't disclosed until we had all paid and were literally on way to first tee. I would never have booked it knowing that and neither would anyone. When I called from my cart to pro shop they told me it's their right to maximize rounds on course. Really?
Front nine flew as it should with no one in front of us. Back nine we hit the log jam and had to fit in between the big group with 5-10 minute delays on every hole. Wasn't the players fault and they were ok. But sitting and waiting isn't why I book sunrise tee time.

After round I calmly asked for some form of credit in pro shop since none of us were from area. He said we played in decent enough time. So we should be satisfied, without making eye contact. I asked again saying it was not cool to book times backed up to this event. He said I can give you nine hole green fee future credit. I repeated that we were all from out of town, how about something inexpensive like a hat or visor? He says if you need a hat that bad go ahead and take one. Again without much eye contact. Zero customer service or care for customer. We took the hats for the history here not for the great experience.

I'd say we won't come back,but maybe it's gone next year when ASU moves to Papago, a course I will always play when in town. With much better location and staff.

What happened to this course. Bunkers are unmaintained and the rough is dead. Winter grass is dying because of heat they say. and yet lots of other courses are fine to fair. maybe it is colder at all the other courses. Too bad - great layout.

ASU Karsten is one of our favorite courses in the Phoenix area. We were in the area to watch the Kansas City Royals in spring training with siblings and their spouses. We only had time for one round of golf this year and we chose ASU Karsten.

Course was obviously lacking maintanence. Course closing at years end no need to Put in pristine condition. Play for history only

ASU has a new course and maintenance at the Karsten Course seems to be a bit neglected. Greens were In fair to poor condition due to ball marks. The fairways were OK but anything outside of that was in Poor to fair condition. Given this, I thought $75 late in the afternoon was a marginal value.

Liked the layout of the course, interesting and challenging. However the fairways and greens were not in good shape. This is the second time we have played this course and we were disappointed.

I play this place about 15 years ago and it was much more well cared for with long grass in ruff and beautifully manicured greens. Today the care and attention to detail is lacking.

Rude at check-in. Had to hit their ancient range balls off a mat! Course conditions are poor. Lots of hard pan. I’ve let friends know not to check it out. Very disappointing. I recommend playing elsewhere.

Great course. Some short holes, but hilly terrain means accuracy is crucial. Very fun!

I believed this to be a decent course, but I never suspected the unbelievable unprofessionalism and lack of knowledge of employees. They all are telling you different and contradicting things. Whether it relates to membership pricing, terms or general course details.
Instead of admitting ones mistakes the employees fight you and treat with disrespect. I don't know how one could enjoy a game of golf after such human interaction.
It seems that management is unwilling to do anything about it or just unaware of the situation.
Regardless - if you are going here I advise you to research everything prior yourself, double check and don't make high expectations of this average course.

Even after being closed for overseeding the greens are so poor. A lot of ''holes' and uneven grass - after playing was left with bumpy feel.
Even more surprising is the fact that staff and management doesn't seem to know about or acknowledge the problem.
The price is too high for a course which is constantly criss-crossed by planes and in such a bad shape.
Moreover, even though stated that they close at 6PM alrady 15-20 minutes before that time employee was collecting flags and didn't even notice us. So it was like a cherry on top of the cake to play 18th hole without the flag - good job ASU!