jsimmons65

I only play when I am in town. I now live in Arizona, but grew up in Pasadena. As memory serves me, I'd say you were above average for a municipal course that gets a lot of play. Some bear spots, but that's to be expected, but by-in-large the course seemed to be in good shape.

Basically you've got two separate courses in one to deal with. The first nine is a convoluted layout of grassy hills and water that tests your ability to play hilly banks to your advantage. The back nine shifts to a desert course that demands that you hit straight shots in order to avoid hitting your ball into the desert, i.e., two separate challenges on the same course. Think less power and more accuracy and you should score better. Oh yeah, the last hole give you tremendous view of the Valley of the Sun from the tee box.

This was my first time playing Dobson Ranch in several years, and three of our four players walked. It was hot, but not unbearable. However, the length, plus the heat can start to affect your game if you are walking and are not in fairly good shape. Take plenty of water and sun screen, and look for the shade, while standing and waiting your turn to play. Bumkers are somewhat crusty in the summer, bu playable, but by-in-large the greatest challenge is the length. It's nice if you have a decent drive and second shot on the longer holes.

This is one of the more challenging executive courses in the Valley. The up and down tee to green configuration requires more accuracy with irons than on most executive courses. Several desert out of bounds areas provide added difficulities to those whose errant shots find their way into one of these rocky areas. Over clubbing on certain holes is required, regardless of what the yardage marker states from the tee box, unless you are particularly strong with your short irons.

Play this course quite a bit, and I would say it is one of the better values in the East Valley. Good length, challenging with water hazards on three or four holes, and the trees always seem to come into play, if you have an errant shot. Greens were aeriated a couple of weeks ago, so they were bumpy, but that happens all over the Valley right now.

Although some of the mobile homes surrounding this course are in various stages of disarray, the course itself is in pretty good shape, and it is a nice challenge for your short game. Be careful crossing Sossaman however. It is a busy, busy street.