Raven-Phoenix (formerly Raven South Mountain), Phoenix, Arizona

I hope to be playing more courses soon, so I should be posting more.

I played Raven-Phoenix in a 4 person scramble for a great foundation called Will4Walk which creates awareness about spinal cord injuries. This was the fourth time I have played Raven, but the first since it has been managed by OB Golf Management, so I know the course pretty well. The course was in exceptional condition and is the must play courses in Phoenix.

Course: Raven-Phoenix

Location: 3636 E. Baseline Rd., 85042

Course: Public Public Course, 18 Hos

Designer: David Graham

Website: www.ravenphx.com

Tees: 4 sets of tees from 5759 to 7078 yards. There is also a "family tee" which allows junior golfers to enjoy the course.

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Practice Facility: Great driving range-one of the best I have hit from. There is also a chipping area and a large practice green. The tournament was full and I had no difficulty finding a practice stall.

Review:

Positives: The best part of the course is setting. It is a course is lined by hundreds of pine trees which provide a completely different feel for a course in Arizona.

The course is in exceptional condition. It was still cart path only even though the course has been open for over a month. Needless to say, the fairways were exceptional. The fairways were smooth as were the greens, which my group had a difficulty reading on some holes due to the proximity of the course to South Mountain. The variety of tees allows all players to enjoy their round but presents a challenge to the lower handicaps. There is also lush rough, which is a rarity in Phoenix. Overall, the turf is just exceptionally well managed, which is a big credit to management by OB Golf Management.

Another great part of the course is its proximity to both downtown and the east valley without overpaying in Scottsdale. I would encourage anyone to check out South Phoenix near the course, which is much improved even in the 7 years I have been in Phoenix.

Negatives: Maybe it is because I am loving the way these bunkers are raked at Royal Melboure (very little sand in the lips and sides of the bunkers), I feel this courses overload bunkers with sand. Between the last 3 times I have played here, I have had 3 "fried eggs" or buried balls in the sand. In my very limited knowledge, it feels like they should raking the sand toward the center of the bunker rather than the lips.

Favorite Hole: No 9, Par 5

The 9th hole is the most reachable par 5 on the course. The drive is protected by bunkers in the fairway as well as the green. The green is very large and slightly elevated so club selection is important on your third shot. This is really the best birdie, or maybe even a eagle, chance on the course.

Recommended For: All golfers. It is a little pricey, but overall a great course in Arizona. The course does get quite cheaper in the summer, where I have played for less than $30, which is a good bargain. Unfortunately, I won't get to play this course that much this winter because the rates are at least $100.

Papago Golf Course (Phoenix)

I have been playing Papago Golf Course recently, mostly because a good friend and plus handicap golfer got a great deal on an annual pass. ($1900 for unlimited practice, unlimited golf after 12:00) I also purchased the Phoenix Golfer Card which has allowed me to play cheap even though the weather is cooling down.

The course is very unique. It sits in the middle of Phoenix surrounded by Papago Park with no houses except for a few condominiums on the back 9 that do not come into play. The course is not exceptional aesthically pleasing, but it is well maintained and provides a good challenge for any level of golfer.

Course: Papago Golf Course

Location: 5595 E Moreland St. Phoenix, Arizona

Course: Municipal Public Course, 18 Holes

Designer:William Francis Bell (same designer of Torrey Pines in San Diego)

Website: www.papagogolfcourse.net

Tees: 4 sets of tees from 5777 yarsd to 7333 yards

Practice Facility: Large practice facility with putting green, chipping green, full driving range. The facility is in a beautiful setting as you hit balls back up into Papago Butte. It is really a remarkable setting for a practice range.

Review:

Positives: The course provides a strong variety of holes including shots into greens uphill and downhill. The greens have been smooth and true, except for the couple times I have caught them being seeded. The bunkers are well kept with the right amount of sand. They both 9 hole and walking rates, which is a real novelty in the Valley. The golf facility overall is well-kept and the people are genuine and friendly.

For me, the best part of the course is the challenge it brings. There are really long par 3's on both sides which require hitting fairway woods with accuracy.

Negatives: For as nice and challenging the golf course is, it is does not present itself strong. The clubhouse is a modular trailer which does not have much for food or merchandise. Although the course is on the mountain, it sometimes feels like it could be more green and lush. It is a municipal course in a city that is struggling finnacially, but this can take away from the overall experience.

Favorite Hole: No 5, 383 yard par-4

The uphill, dogleg-left, tee shot requires a medium to long shot to have a short iron into the green. The second shot is the gem of the hole. The elevated green is protected by bunkers and a tree that shades the green. The green slops from back to front, so if you can get a little spin on it, you should add 3-4 yards on your shot to put it cl0se.

Recommended For: Golfers who want a secluded, reasonably priced mountain golf course in the middle of the City. It may not be for all visitors who desire a total package golf experience, but it is definitely worth a shot if you are looking for some desert golf.

Troon North Golf Club (Pinnacle)

Last week, I received an email from Troon North advertising a $25 rate to play either Pinnacle or Monument. Having already played the fabulous Monument Course last summer, my two friends, Jesse and Zach, decided to play Pinnacle, and boy were we spoiled by the experience.

Course: Troon North Golf Club, Pinnacle

Location: 10320 E. Dynamite Blvd, Scottsdale, Arizona

Course: Public, 36 holes

Designer: Tom Weiskopf, Jay Morrish

Website: www.troonnorthgolf.com

Tees: 5 sets, from 7025 yards to 4883 yards

Practice Facility: Medium sized practice facility for 36 holes. On a hot, Arizona afternoon, it was empty but I can imagine it gets crowded during the peak season. A large putting green very similar to the greens found on the course.

Review:.

Positives: Where do I start? This was a true 10/10 experience! First, the course was the best conditioned course I have ever seen in August in Arizona. The tees, greens, fairways, and rough were all well-kept. The greens were true and smooth and were running into the double digits on the stimpmeter. The pro shop had numerous items to choose from; the professionals were courteous and helpful with our tee time. Every tee time includes a nice yardage card to help with distances and pin placements. We never waited for a single shot all day, even though there are many places that a ball can be lost on this course.

One of the best parts of this course is looking at the amazing houses on every green and tee. This is almost worth the green fee alone.

Negatives: If one wanted to be picky, the rate online said it included a bag tag, which we did not receive when we arrived. The food and beverage rates were high, but that is expected when playing a course in North Scottsdale.

Favorite Hole: No. 10, 407 par 4. (pictured)

No. 10 is a medium length par 4 in which the player starts with a short carry over desert, but must keep the ball short of a 2 large bunkers that protect the end of the fairway. From there, the player must hit a precise second shot to an elevated, shallow green which is also protected by 2 large, deep bunkers, and an array of desert landscape. Although the green is the most shallow on the course, the contour in the green always presents a challenge for a 2-putt.

Don't be too focused on the golf course on this hole as in the distance is a beautiful view of Pinnacle Peak. (the hole is named "The Pinnacle")

Recommended For: All golfers! There are so many great parts of this golf course that anyone will enjoy their time out there.

Overall: Troon North is a must have golfing experience, if one can choke down the large green fee in the peak season. I would encourage golfers to look around discount web sites and Troon's own website to find the best deal. For myself, I cannot wait to get back and tee it up again at Troon North Pinnacle.

Tell me, what do you think of Troon North Pinnacle?

Mesa Del Sol Golf Course (Yuma, Arizona)

Today, I had my first out of Phoenix/Tuscon golf experience in Arizona as I played Mesa Del Sol Golf Course just outside of Yuma, Arizona. I did not, and still do not know much about golf in Yuma and only found this course through a couple online searches. Even though it is the end of August, I was disappointed in the course conditions, but still enjoyed myself on this day.

Course: Mesa Del Sol Golf Course

Location: 12213 E. Calle del. Cid., Yuma, Arizona

Course: Public, 18 holes

Designer: Arnold Palmer

Website: www.mesadelsolgolf.com

Tees: 4 sets of tees from 6767 yards to 5292 yards

Practice Facility: Small driving range and practice chipping/putting green.

Review:.

Positives: Mesa Del Sol had a variety of holes that had water come into play on many of them. The back nine has a stretch of doglegs that force the player to work the ball both ways to get the best scoring opportunities. The pace of play was excellent as I did not wait on a single shot. The pro shop had a good selection of drinks and snacks. The best part of the course for me was when a man offered me a free Bud Light after I stuck a shot on the 6th hole. Don't see that too much in Phoenix!

Negatives: There must be a disclaimer. The day before I played this course I played Troon North Pinnacle, one of the best courses in the state. So my observations may be a bit skewed, but this course did not live up to its website or the $18 green fee. The course condition was not what should be expected when paying a play a course. The grass on the back tees was so long that have to move up a tee just to play. The greens were very shaggy and slow, and looked as if they had not been moved in at least a week. There were many bear areas of the course where no grass could grow any time of the year.

Favorite Hole: No. 10, 432 Par 4

No. 10 is a downhill right to left par 4 that starts off your back side. There is a wide fairway to hit followed by an elevated green. The player must get good distance on their drive in order to attack the pin and have a chance at birdie or par.

Recommended For: Beginners to mid handicaps, but not anyone that is looking for desert golf.

Overall: Mesa Del Sol did not meet my expectations for Yuma golf. I was looking for the best non-private course to play, and I was extremely disappointed with what I found. Next time I come through Yuma, I will likely try a new golf course.

Tell me, what do you think of Mesa Del Sol Golf Course?

ASU Karsten

On Wednesday, I played my unofficial "home course" ASU Karsten, and I was impressed by the course conditions. As detailed more fully below, the course was in immaculate shape for the end of August, and almost as good of shape as I have ever seen it. I would highly recommend anyone looking to play golf in the Valley to get out to this course as soon as possible.

Course: ASU Karsten

Location: 1124 E. Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 8521 (Rural and Rio Salado)

Course: Public, 18 holes

Designer: Pete Dye

Website: www.asukarsten.com

Tees: 4 sets from 4,765 to 7,002 yards, par 70

Practice Facility: Medium sized driving range. Players hit off mats every day except Friday and Saturday. There is also a large practice putting green. The highlight of the practice facility is a chipping area located approximately 200 yards from the clubhouse between the #1 tee and #9 green. Players can hit shots from all angles up to 115 yards.

Review:.

Positives: ASU Karsten was in exceptional condition for this time of the year. The tees, fairways, rough, and greens were lush for August in Arizona. The course provides a good challenge from the back tees as a par 70, with many par 4s over 400 yards in length. The pro shop is well stocked with all types of ASU gear, but there are not many clubs to look at because the course only carries Ping clubs. Speaking of, make sure to get a handful of the white Ping tees that the course provides; this is one of the few places in the world to get these. There is a nice variety of par 4's, but with only 2 par 5's, scoring opportunities are few and far between.

Negatives: The greens did contain some areas that were bumpy, and I have seen them much faster, but this is excepted for Arizona this time of the year. As a Pete Dye course, there are some quirky holes, such as the back to back par 3 (6-7) on the front nine that don't seem to mesh together well. The course is also surrounded by urban development with loud airplanes constantly flying over. If you are looking for peace and quiet during your golf round, this may not be the ideal course to choose.

Once again, the pace of play was extremely slow on the back nine, with no ranger in sight. This was solely due to a single group of 4 men who were directly ahead of us. My group of 2 literally watched every shot of theirs from the 12th tee through the 18th tee. JUST LET US PLAY THROUGH!!! This should not be the case on on a extremely hot day with very little shade in sight.

Favorite Hole: No. 18, Par 4, 4711 yards

No. 18 is a long par 4 in which the player must hit his or her tee shot and second shot over a artificial lake to a green that is overlooked by Sun Devil Stadium and "A Mountain". Both the tee shot and second shot take precision an length, but provide a memorable final hole for all those playing the course. I would recommend hugging the right side of the fairway for the best angle into the large putting surface.

Recommended For: Mid and low handicappers. To truly enjoy this course, I would recommend this course for those more advanced in the game. Water and large pot bunkers come into play on many of the holes, as well as many other humps and bumps that are a signature of Pete Dye. This is going to frustrate the beginner golfer who should enjoy their golf round as much as the plus handicap professional.

Overall: ASU Karsten is a well-maintained, competitively priced course. The staff is very professional, and the pace of play is typically swift. Althoguh I no longer get the student discount at the course, I will most definitely be back to ASU Karsten to take on the challenge that Pete Dye laid out.

Tell me, what do you think of ASU Karsten Golf Course?

Lone Tree Golf Club

Lone Tree Golf Club

This afternoon, in the sweltering 115 degree (in the shade) heat, I played Lone Tree Golf Club n Chandler, Arizona. This course is the host of the upcoming Arizona Mid-Amateur Championship which will take place on August 26-28. (http://www.azgolf.org/tournament/tournamentdetail.asp?tournamentid=757)

Course: Lone Tree Golf Club

Location: 6262 S. Mountain Blvd., Chandler, Arizona (Riggs Rd. & Gilbert Rd.)

Course: Semi-Private, 18 holes

Designer: Darryl Wilson

Website: www.lonetreegolf18.com

Tees: 4 sets from 5001 yards to 7007 yards

Practice Facility: Large, double sided driving range with practice green. Practice balls were not included in the green fee booked on golfnow.com.

Review:.

Positives: Lone Tree provides an enjoyable golf experience For Arizona in August, the greens were fairly smooth and quick, and exceeded my expectations. For what they lacked in undulation, the made up for in speed and consistently. There were only a few bumpy putts throughout the day, and I would expect these greens to only improve as Arizona moves into the winter months. The fairways were soft enough to get a small divot, but well played tee shots got 30-50 yards of roll. The course was setup nicely, likely due to the fact that there was a PGA P.A.T. occurring while I was there. The tee boxes were well-kept and flat, and provided an excellent surface to both tee the ball high and low.

Negatives: Be prepared for extra fees. There was no mention that there was a $2 GPS fee for each player when I booked the tee time. It is frustrating for me to go to course after course and get nickeled and dimed over a GPS. This should be a part of the standard green fee at all course. Further, the GPS was not full screen or color, and only provided very minimal information about the course. It did not show any carries or give accurate yardages to the pin locations. I was literally left guessing on many of the approach shots because the pin colors were not matched and the GPS was not accurate. Range balls were also not included in a standard green fee.

The pace of play was extremely slow on the back nine, with no ranger or golf professional in sight to get the groups moving. This should not be the case on on a extremely hot day with very little shade in sight. (hence the name Lone Tree) There was no drink cart nor outside service assistance at either the club drop off or at the end of the round.

Favorite Hole: No. 12, Par 3, 181 yards

No. 12 is an island green par 3. The domed green is surrounded on all sides by water and a player must be accurate with a low to mid iron on his tee shot. If the iron shot is accurate, the player has a legitimate chance at birdie on this visually stimulating hole.

Recommended For: Mid to high handicaps, and primarily locals. This course does not present the challenge that a low handicapper is looking for in the Valley. There are very few "desert" holes, with almost all of the holes surrounded by homes on both sides. There are no difficult carries that a low handicapper is looking to challenge his skills.

For an out of town guest, I would first look to other true desert courses when visiting the valley. After a few desert courses, this may be a nice play to go to mix things up and see a different side of Arizona golf.

Overall: At this point, I am not sure if I would come back to this course. The course was in excellent shape for a hot and dry day, but there are a few amenities that were lacking that I seek when spending my money and time on golf. Whether I would come back would strictly be determined by the cost of the round and the time of the year. If it was anything over $35, I would likely pass on the opportunity to play here.

Tell me, what do you think of Lone Tree Golf Club?

Somerby Golf Club

Yes, I realize this is a a blog about Arizona golf,but I have had the opportunity to play at Somerby Golf Club in Byron, Minnesotaover the past couple weeks so I decided to give it a review.

Course: Somerby Golf Club

Location: Byron, Minnesota (5 miles outside Rochester, Minnes0ta)

Course: Private, 18 holes

Designer: Tom Lehman, John Fought

Website: www.somerby.com

Tees: 5 sets from 5739 yards to 7209 yards

Practice Facility: Full driving range and three practice greens, all included with the golf.

Review:

The course is not your typical Minnesota country club. It is a a wide open surrounded by well-groomed fescue that often does not come into play. As Esteban Toledo from the Nationwide Tour once said, "This is a bomber's paradise" and "You could land a 747 on most of these fairways." There are 70+ sand bunkers on the course that both line the fairways and surround the greens. There is also a winding water hazard that can be problem on 12 of the holes.

Positives:

The course is very well maintained. For late in the day, the greens were smooth, quick, and true. It has a nice variety of holes highlighted by a stretch from 14-18 in the back side that contains holes that require both accuracy and length. The course is easily walkable with short distances between tees with the exception of 9 and 10. As a Lehman designed course, the track seems to favor a left to right ball flight, but players of all skills levels can enjoy the course. The pro shop was well stocked with reasonably priced merchandise and clubs. The teeing areas and fairways are both comprised of bent grass which provides a superior playing surface.

Negatives:

There are a few things the course could improve. First, there was excess sand near the lips of the bunkers which allowed for plug lies to occur. In just 18 holes, I had 3 bad "fried eggs" from the soft sand near the lips of the bunker. The fairways looked as if they were dying off and were brown in many spots, although I was able to take full divots on every shot. The Pro Shop closed early (7 p.m.) which did not allow for any shopping after our early afternoon round. Although a member of my grounp had a yardage book that I used, the Pro Shop sold the books for $10, which was overpriced for the information that was provided.

Favorite Hole: #18, par 5, 590 yards

This a truly great finishing hole. Fairway bunkers protect the right hand side of the fairway off the tee. With a solid drive, a player has a chance to reach the two-tiered green in two. A successful layup will require an accurate third to this deep and tedious green. The beautiful clubhouse shadows the 18th green and reminds you of how lucky you are to have played this course.

Recommended For: Somerby is an enjoyable experience for all levels of golfers. It is a good challenge from the tips, but there are many holes which a good score can be made. For the beginner golfer, the course may be frustrating because of the quick greens and the sometimes unforgiving bounces.

Overall: Highly recommended. If you get the chance to play this course in the Rochester area, take advantage of it.

Tell me, what do you think of Somerby Golf Club?

Top 10 Public Courses in Arizona

Here are my current top 10 public courses in Arizona.

1. We Ko Pa (Cholla)
2. Gold Canyon (Dinosaur Mountain)
3. Grayhawk (Raptor)
4. TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)
5. Grayhawk (Talon)
6. TPC Scottsdale (Champions)
7. Boulders (North)
8. Troon North (Monument)
9. We Ko Pa (Saguaro)
10. SunRidge Canyon

Golf Scores

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Arizona Courses

Here is a current list of courses I have played in Arizona. The current Golf Week State Rankings are in parentheses.

• Ahwatukee Country Club (Phoenix)
• Ahwatukee Lakes (Phoenix)
• Apache Creek (Apache Junction)
• Arizona Biltmore, Adobe (Phoenix)
• Arizona Grand, Phantom Horse (Phoenix)
• ASU Karsten (Tempe)
• Boulders, North (Carefree) (10)
• Club West (Phoenix)
• Continental GC (Scottsdale)
• Coronado GC (Scottsdale)
• Dobson Ranch (Mesa)
• Duke at Rancho El Dorado (Maricopa)
• Foothills (Phoenix)
• Gold Canyon, Dinosaur Mountain (Gold Canyon)
• Gold Canyon, Sidewinder (Gold Canyon)
• Golf Club at Estrella (Phoenix) (18)
• Golf Club at Johnson Ranch (Queen Creek)
• Grayhawk-Talon (Scottsdale) (15)
• Ironwood (Chandler)
• Ken McDonald Golf Course (Tempe)
• Kierland 1 (Scottsdale)
• Kokopelli (Gilbert)
• Las Colinas (Queen Creek)
• Legacy Golf Resort (Phoenix)
• Links at Queen Creek (Queen Creek)
• Lone Tree (Chandler)
• Longbow GC (Mesa) (21)
• McCormick Ranch, Pine (Scottsdale)
• Moon Valley Country Club (Phoenix)
• Ocotillo (Chandler)
• Orange Tree Golf Resort (Scottsdale)
• Papago Golf Course (Phoenix)
• Phoenician Golf Resort (Scottsdale)
• Raven at South Mountain (Phoenix)
• Riverview Golf Course (Mesa)
• Rio Salado Golf Club (Tempe)
• Rolling Hills Golf Course (Tempe)
• Sanctuary at West World (Scottsdale)
• Scottsdale Silverado Golf Course (Scottsdale)
• Southern Dunes Golf Club (Maricopa) (6)
• SunRidge Canyon Golf Course (Fountain Hills)
• Superstition Springs Golf Club (Mesa)
• Talking Stick, North (Scottsdale) (7)
• Talking Stick, South (Scottsdale) (19)
• Tatum Ranch Golf Club (Cave Creek)
• Toka Sticks (Mesa)
• TPC Scottsdale, Champions (Scottsdale) (8)
• TPC Scottsdale, Stadium (Scottsdale)
• Troon North, Monument (Scottsdale) (2)
• Ventana Canyon-Mountain (Tucson) (11)
• We Ko Pa, Saguaro (Fountain Hills) (1)
• We Ko Pa, Cholla (Fountain Hills) (3)
• Whirlwind, Cattail (Chandler) (25)
• Whirlwind, Devil’s Claw (Chandler) (23)

First Blog

This is my first blog about Arizona golf. Soon, I will be posting a complete list of courses that I have played in Arizona. Follow me on Twitter @azgolfblog.