TommyKrepelka

Exceptionally friendly staff. Under 3 hours playing time, course is in decent shape and the greens roll true.

I seldom take the time to review a course in the valley, especially during the summer. I understand the difficulty in getting golfers to book times after 8 am in 117 degree heat. But this course is neglected, poorly managed, understaffed, and aesthetically unpleasant to look at or play. It's getting water, 2 feet off the fairway I sunk in a mud puddle up to my ankles (and ruined a decent pair of golf shoes). This puddle is indicative of a lateral line leak, unmarked, and obviously unrepaired. The fairways are wet, but the pictures show, the greenkeeper's staff is just watering dirt. Aeration attempted, but 1/4" deep aeration doesn't do much. The greens haven't seen the blades of a mower in the last 3 days.
The only positive to this morning, the cart girl (woman) was pleasant, courteous, apologetic (she even said as bad as this course is, it's better than last year), and available, serving everyone with a smile and a great attitude. The pro shop has second hand clubs for sale on a cash only basis, and the $5 price tag was $4.95 too high. Aside from a few AGR collared shirts, and golf balls; there's nothing in the shop. I've seen better equipped pro shops at neighborhood garage sales. No starter, flooded practice greens, and sand traps that rival California coast where it meets the Pacific Ocean.
If management isn't willing to improve this course, then save your money and play somewhere else. I will not return to this "resort" until ownership chooses to invest some time and care into their product.

Tee boxes are horrible; uneven, patchy
Fairways in bad shape throughout the course. Hitting tight lie wedges off of dirt in the middle of the fairway isn't worth the price. I understand inflation, but this course isn't worth $50 in the condition your keep the fairways and tee boxes, If you blew your entire greens keeping budget on aeration, what's overseeding going to cost?

Nice condition for the 2nd week of September. The overall quality of the faciltiy is well maintained, and quite nice. If there is one drawback to this course and management it is this: If you are going to be open to the public and list tee times available, then keep close to your schedule. As a single player, it is bothersome to be between two groups of 3, never being called to the tee box, or afforded the opportunity to make either of the groups sandwiching me a foursome...and since these groups were "member" groups, they never allowed me to play through, and pushed me from the back...if you're going to be a private club...then stop offering tee times to non-members.

Course: greens aerated recently, and fairways mowed way down...easy layout with wide fairways that could accomodate a small airplane...however:
No shade, not a drinking fountain in sight, no water coolers available outside of the clubhouse-which is a novel concept, but how long do you think a 12 oz cup of water should last with 105 degree temps during the summer. Now, if you'd consider allowing us hydration-challenged golfers to bring our own gatorade or water bottles....
just an idea huh!
This isn't my first time playing your course, I played it a year ago during your "peak" season, when you were thoughtful enough to grace our presence with beverage cart...but it may very well be my last.

The course was in excellent shape, with a fairly easy layout. The scorecard makes its recommendations for which tee to play from right on the scorecard, and based on my day...you'd be wise to heed the suggestions. The practice facilities are excellent, sporting a driving range, and separate greens for your chipping or putting pleasure. The staff was extremely friendly, and very professional...if you'd like to enjoy a morning or afternoon of excellent golf...give this course a try. (PS, I'm a 12 handicap, shot 87 because I left some strokes out on the course...club selection is important, and with some course knowledge under my belt I look forward to scoring better the next time I play)

Course plays over 7200 yards from the tips and is well bunkered. While I have the length to play the back tees, this was my first time playing there, and would have been better served playing from a different tee box, but the group I was paired with had played there once before and wanted to play from the back tees...my mistake for caving in to group. I scored poorly, but that was my fault, not the courses. Looks like the greens were aerated recently, but are starting to fill in, and they all held fine, rolled true, and had very subtle undulations that a first time player may tend to over-read. Around the bunkers, the greenkeeper has chosen to let the rough grow to about 4", and while it may keep your ball from rolling in the bunker, it is definitely punitive (I'd rather have had a bunker shot than hack it out of the thick rough). The course is well marked, and indeed accurate based on the range-finder the group had. Club selection is important, as is positioning the ball off the tee to improve approach shots, something I will be better doing now that I've played the course. A great summer rate for a top-notch course, I will play it again, and recommend it to my friends...worth the drive.

Short, Short, Short...played the entire day without breaking out the driver...greens wouldn't hold a wedge...although they rolled true. Not terribly impressed for the money, and I paid GolfNow pricing...I'd go back for half the price and not a penny more...the course isn't worth it, although the staff was/is very friendly and accomodating...Bravo Zulu to you.

A lot of dirt areas awaiting new grass according to the starter. Fairways in decent shape, and the greens were rock hard and glass like fast. I spun a ball 35 feet back off the green..looked like a PGA pro, but I'm not nearly that good. Got 60 feet of roll off a 60 degree lob wedge from 60 yards out...and I didn't thin the shot...nice and high, hit the green 7 feet from the pin, and rolled off the back side of the green...so a bit of frustration there. No practice green to putt on (under construction)...this course is filled with potential, and when that potential is realized they will be able to justify charging their winter rates...until then, they should discount their green-fees.

It may have taken the worst rain storm in 30 years, but this course finally had enough water on it to fill-in the fairways, green up the rough, and soften the greens. This was the best condition I've seen this course in years. Now, if the rain could've softened the personalities of the staff...this would be a premier east valley course.

The overall condition of the course can be summed up in a word: POOR. Greens still play like a plinko board, fairways very inconsistent, tee boxes could use some tending to, and if the sandtraps were groomed once in the last month I'd be shocked. The threesome I played with had fun, and played slow, but nary a marshall to be seen, and food/beverage cart non-existent. Even for a decent price, this course needs work...I understand the ownership is "new", maybe they should invest some time and attention into their investment.

I booked an 1 1/2 hours prior to my tee time. Drove to the course and arrived about 25 minutes before my tee time. I checked the GolfNow site and the Johnson Ranch site for any news or notes, course conditions, and dress code? I wore a grey nike sports tee shirt as temps were expected to exceed 110 degrees. When I arrived and was loaded onto a cart, I was told a collared shirt was required...and I wasn't provided the bucket of range balls that came with the booking fee. Bottom line, with green fees, no warm up, and a collared FJ shirt, it cost over $85 to play a course that has some beautiful scenery, but barely hit average across the board in every other category. I would recommend this facility if they fixed their web site, or provided an opportunity to purchase a shirt in the pro shop that didn't cost an arm and a leg.

Fairways and greens in excellent shape. The only course drawback; wet, heavy sand...and it hasn't rained in a while. Staff was exceptionally friendly, and the BevCart was out...even if our group didn't see her until #16. Pace of play fantastic, but we were the 3rd group out and only experienced one delay as we made the turn to the backside. Would like to see better pricing for a muni, but compared to the price gouging seen in AZ during the winter, this isn't bad. Great course to walk if you're so inclined.

Straight away golf, small greens that were bumpy or had patch-work resodding. The bunkers were heavy mud or hard pan dirt (and there are bunkers around every green). The fairways were in decent shape although number 3 was flooded even though there hasn't been rain in weeks. If you're working through a swing/grip change and don't care about score then play here. But only with a GolfNow deal, anything more than $30 is overpaying even during peak season.

The greens and tee boxes were in TERRIBLE condition. Some greens were so shaved down, the green's keepers laid green painted sand down for appearance purposes only. Unfortunately, they should have placed some of that sand in their bunkers instead, hard as a rock and no depth at all. The fairways were in great condition, so the poor conditions presented quite a question mark. Biggest upside to playing here, the beverage cart was always coming around.

Greens & fairways in great shape. Starter was very friendly, while the pro shop staff wasn't. Green's contours make it difficult to find a flat spot to shoot for, but they held most shots.

Dual greens, one fairway. Poorly marked course, greens in poor condition, and hard as a rock. Couldn't hold a skied lob wedge. A very long drive through construction. Until the construction ends, the greens get better, and the course markings improve I would stay home if I had to pay a dollar more than the smokin' deal I got on GolfNow. (paid $8 to walk)

Ten A.M. tee time, took almost 5 hours to play. Practice facility almost non-existent, enough space for maybe 10 golfers on the range with a very small, flat putting surface. The greens wouldn't hold a soft wedge from 100 yards. In spite of the close cut on the greens, they were very slow. No real hazards on the course with a lot of space play...However, the pace of play was ridiculously slow, impossible to get into any kind of rhythm throughout the day...maybe I'd play here again at half the price...but only if I could go out in the first or second group.

The fairways & greens were in excellent shape, while the rough was typical Arizona Winter Dead. The pace of play with an early tee time was fantastic, as part of a threesome, we played in just under 3 1/2 hours. The staff was exceptional. When I arrived at the course about 50 minutes before my tee time, the driving range was closed while it was being mowed which was somewhat disappointing. When it opened about 20 minutes before tee off, the staff brought out a small bucket so I could loosen up on a chilly morning. The beverage cart was out and about all morning, the marshall kept groups moving along quite nicely...overall a very enjoyable experience and I would highly recommend this course to any skill level.

The fairway and greens were in fantastic shape for a well played municipal course. The rough was worn and not kept up, but the carts were allowed on the rough or cart path only. I'd play here again in a second.