WEdler

This is a good course: well laid out with a good mix of length and accuracy required. We played the Green/White tee combination so length was not really an issue. Ended up with a mid to short iron in my hand for most of the par 4s. Par 5s are reachable for longer hitters and it has one driveable par 4.

What really makes this course though are the greens though. They are well contoured and relatively quick. Pin positions can be tucked and there are not a lot of straight putts on any of the greens. They rolled beautifully throughout.

Only complaint would be the greenside bunkers: they had to be either missing their full measure of sand or they had to have been soaked the night before. In any case, it was difficult to judge the correct strike to extricate the ball consistently.

Certainly not the cheapest course in the valley but it is one of the better ones. I highly recommend a visit, it is well worth the trek out to the east side of town to try it.

Took off this morning on a 7:56 start. My playing partner ( a great guy but chronologically challenged) was unable to be at the tee at the appointed time so they sent the group after us out without any fuss or complaint. The staff, from top to bottom, was courteous, friendly and professional.

Playing the course: the fairways were generally excellent - only the expected divot areas where balls would naturally collect and Phoenix's golfers have yet to figure out why there is a bottle of sand on the cart (I believe most people think its there to put out small fires) but that's another rant. The rough was spotty but its winter in AZ and almost no one overseeds all of the rough areas too.

My only complaint would be the greenside bunkers - they were very inconsistent, some light and fluffy and others felt as they were lightly dusted concrete. This may be due to all the rain we have had this winter but they still need some attention.

The greens at this course always seem to run pretty true, generally pretty quick for a public course but they roll very well. They will, like most desert courses, become fairly hard in the summer months when they bake out during the day but they are always well maintained. The cups typically are fairly positioned, with colored flags to let you know a front, middle or back pin.

Overall, this is a good track; nestled up against South Mountain, that gets dissed by the Scottsdale crowd because there isn't a Starbucks or a Pottery Barn within reach. That's okay by me as it makes the tee times easier to get. The layout is relatively straightforward but with more terrain change than might be expected when driving into the area. There are no blind tee shots and most of the trouble off the tee is in plain sight. The bunkers are punitive and well positioned. There are a few water holes but they are very manageable. There are no real dogleg holes but it is a course that rewards tee balls played to the right areas of the fairway. The par threes are good also, a little short overall but 17 is 200' when the pin is back (blue tee) and it is a small, well protected target. The others are pretty short though (115'-160').

The cart guys are great, quick to meet you on the way in and they get your bag down to the staging area pronto. I haven't eaten there but I have heard the food is good also. Snack shop and on-course refreshment servers are efficient, friendly and professional. Pro shop staff is equally efficient, accommodating and courteous.

The practice facility is very good also. Good practice tee, putting green and chipping green (with a bunker). I'm told their instruction is very good also.

All things considered, this is a course well worth the drive to.