Old Papago Golf Course Scorecards (Phoenix, Arizona)

Papago Golf Course (Phoenix, Arizona) scorecards from 1966 and 1982.

Papago Municipal Golf Course Scorecard 1966

Papago Municipal Golf Course Scorecard 1966

Papago Park Golf Course 1982

Papago Park Golf Course 1982

Courses with Best Views in Phoenix

Even though there are no ocean holes, Arizona is lucky to have many courses with unbelievable views from elevated tees and greens.  Sometimes these courses get classified as "hokey" or "tricked up" but they do provide breathtaking views and great photo opportunities.  Here is my list of the top courses in Arizona strictly for views.

1. Quintero Golf Course - amazing set of par 3's that go down severe hills
2. Country Club at DC Ranch - most people will thinking of holes 14, 15, and 16, but you can see a lot of the valley from much of the course
3. Dinosaur Mountain - This was the first course I played in Arizona with significant elevation change throughout the course. The 5th hole can played 50-60 yards downhill.
4. Eagle Mountain Golf Club - Elevation changes are abound starting with the first hole, a par 5 that can play very short from the start.
5. We Ko Pa Saguaro - The fall and rise between the 15th tee and the 16th green tests your complete game, with amazing views of the Four Peaks Mountains.
6. Troon North - Pinnacle - Both Troon North course great views given the high elevation of the course.  So many great holes to chose from.
7. Lookout Mountain Golf Club - Hole 10, which tees off from the peak of a mountain, puts its on this list alone.
8. Ranch Manana - The views here are best in the winter, when you can see the snow capped mountains in the distance.
9. Ventana Canyon - Mountain - Best views in Tucson in my opinion.

Other courses that have great views....

• The Golf Club at Johnson Ranch - A few holes with some big elevation changes in this far east valley course.
• Stoneridge - Prescott - lush desert in the high country.
• Arizona National Golf Course
• Arizona Grand Golf Course - The 18th Hole is a fun downhill par 3 with view of all of Phoenix.

Courses that I have not played that I have heard/seen have great views (and not surprisingly some of the most exclusive and expensive clubs in Arizona)

1. Forrest Highlands - Canyon
2. Pine Canyon
3. Whisper Rock
4. Silverleaf Country Club
5. The Rim Golf Club
6. Desert Highlands

Arizona Amateur Preparation

I am a little over a week out, and my preparation is in full swing, despite the very hot temperatures.  I have played a couple tournaments to try to get the game in top form.  The major focus for my preparation the last week will be putting and driving.  I feel comfortable with my irons, if I can can keep the golf ball in short grass with average distance.  I am planning on playing a practice round next week, and will post some pictures.

Arizona Amateur Golf Championship

On Sunday, I played one of the better rounds of my life and qualified for the Arizona Amateur Championship, which is at the end of July at Superstition Mountain Golf Club, Prospector Course.  I am very excited for this opportunity! 

I will blog a few times between now and then about my practice rounds and preparation. I have not ever prepared for a state championship, so I plan to just go with what I have instead of trying to recreate my golf game.


https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/1914731

Here are some photographs of Arizona golf courses.  I am going to try to add more as I play throughout the rest of 2019.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cBsgkbr254xA1DWa7

I have not posted in quite a while, but have been playing a lot of golf in Arizona.  As of today, here are my top 10 public courses in Arizona.

1. We Ko Pa Saguaro
2. Wickenberg Ranch
3. We Ko Pa Cholla
4. Troon North Pinnacle
5. Quintero
6. Los Caballeros
7. Grayhawk Talon
8. Grayhawk Raptor
9. Troon North Monument
10. Papago Golf Course

The public courses I most want to play.

1. Apache Stronghold
2. Dove Mountain

The private courses in Arizona I most want to play:

1. Forrest Highlands
2. Stone Canyon
3. Whisper Rock
4. Silverleaf

This is a list of all of the golf courses I have played in Arizona in alphabetical order:

      1.         Aguila (Phoenix)

2.         Aguila 9 (Phoenix)

3.         Ahwatukee Country Club (Phoenix)

4.         Ahwatukee Lakes (Phoenix)

5.         Antelope Hills, North (Prescott)

6.         Antelope Hills, South Course (Prescott)

7.         Apache Creek (Apache Junction)

8.         Apache Wells Golf Course (Mesa)

9.         Apache Sun Golf Club (Queen Creek)

10.       Arizona Biltmore, Adobe (Phoenix)

11.       Arizona Grand, Phantom Horse (Phoenix)

12.       Arizona National Golf Club (Tucson, Arizona)

13.       ASU Karsten (Tempe) (closed)

14.       Bear Creek Golf Course (Chandler)

15.       Blackstone Country Club (Peoria)

16.       Boulders, North (Carefree) 

17.       Boulders, South (Carefree)

18.       Camelback Golf Club, Ambiente (Paradise Valley)

19.       Camelback Golf Club, Indian Bend (Paradise Valley)

20.       Camelback Golf Club, Padre (Paradise Valley)

21.       Cave Creek Golf Course (Phoenix)

22.       Club West (Phoenix)

23.       Continental GC (Scottsdale)

24.       Coronado GC (Scottsdale)

25.       Country Club at DC Ranch (Scottsdale)

26.       Desert Forrest Golf Club (Carefree)

27.       Dobson Ranch Golf Course (Mesa)

28.       Dove Valley Golf Course (Cave Creek)

29.       Duke at Rancho El Dorado (Maricopa)

30.       Encanto 9 (Phoenix)

31.       Encanto Golf Course (Phoenix)

32.       Falcon Dunes Golf Course (Waddell)

33.       Foothills Golf Club (Phoenix)

34.       Gainey Ranch Golf Club (Scottsdale)

35.       Gold Canyon, Dinosaur Mountain (Gold Canyon)

36.       Gold Canyon, Sidewinder (Gold Canyon)

37.       Golf Club at Eagle Mountain (Fountain Hills)

38.       Golf Club at Estrella (Phoenix) (18)

39.       Golf Club at Johnson Ranch (Queen Creek)

40.       Golf Club at Vistoso (Marana) - Closed

41.       Grand Canyon University Golf Course

42.       Grayhawk, Raptor (Scottsdale)

43.       Grayhawk, Talon (Scottsdale) 

44.       Ironwood (Chandler)

45.       Ken McDonald Golf Course (Tempe)

46.       Kierland Golf Course(Scottsdale)

47.       Kokopelli (Gilbert)

48.       Las Colinas (Queen Creek)

49.       Legacy Golf Resort (Phoenix)

50.       Legend Trail Golf Club (Scottsdale)

51.       Links at Queen Creek (Queen Creek)

52.       Lone Tree (Chandler)

53.       Longbow GC (Mesa) 

54.       Lookout Mountain Golf Course (Phoenix)

55.       Los Caballeros (Wickenburg)

56.       Maryvale Golf Course (Phoenix)

57.       McCormick Ranch - Palm (Scottsdale)

58.       McCormick Ranch, Pine (Scottsdale)

59.       McDowell Mountain (formerly Sanctuary at West World (Scottsdale)

60.       Mesa Country Club (Mesa)

61.       Mesa Del Sol (Yuma) 

62.       Mirabel Golf Club (Scottsdale)

63.       Moon Valley Country Club (Phoenix)

64.       Mount Graham Municipal Golf Course (Safford)

65.       Mountain Shadows Golf Course (Paradise Valley)

66.       Oak Creek Country Club (Sedona)

67.       Ocotillo (Chandler)

68.       Orange Tree Golf Resort (Scottsdale)

69.       Papago Golf Course (Phoenix)

70.       Phoenician Golf Resort, (Scottsdale)

71.       Phoenix Country Club (Phoenix)

72.       Poston Butte Golf Course (Florence)

73.       Quintero GC (Peoria)

74.       Randolph – Del Urich (Tucson)

75.       Randolph – North (Tucson)

76.       Rancho Manana Golf Course (Cave Creek)

77.       Raven -Phoenix (Formerly Raven at South Mountain) (Phoenix)

78.       Rio Salado Golf Club (Tempe)

79.       Riverview Golf Course (Mesa)

80.       Rolling Hills Golf Course (Tempe)

81.       Scottsdale Silverado Golf Course (Scottsdale)

82.       Seville Golf and Country Club (Gilbert)

83.       Silverado Golf Club (Scottsdale)

84.       Southern Dunes Golf Club (Maricopa) 

85.       Stoneridge Golf Club (Prescott)

86.       SunRidge Canyon Golf Course (Fountain Hills)

87.       Superstition Springs Golf Club (Mesa)

88.       Superstition Mountain- Lost Gold (Gold Canyon)

89.       Superstition Mountain, Prospector (Gold Canyon)

90.       Talking Stick, North (Scottsdale)

91.       Talking Stick, South (Scottsdale) 

92.       Tatum Ranch Golf Club (Cave Creek)

93.       Terravita Country Club (Cave Creek)

94.       Toka Sticks (Mesa)

95.       TPC Scottsdale, Champions (Scottsdale) 

96.       TPC Scottsdale, Stadium (Scottsdale) 

97.       Trilogy at Power Ranch (Gilbert)

98.       Trilogy at Vistancia (Peoria)

99.       Troon North, Monument (Scottsdale) 

100.     Troon North, Pinnacle (Scottsdale)

101.     Ventana Canyon, Mountain (Tucson)

102.     Ventanna Canyon, Canyon (Tucson)

103.     Verde River Golf & Social Club (Rio Verde)

104.     Verrado Golf Course, Founders Course (Buckeye)

105.     We Ko Pa, Cholla (Fountain Hills) 

106.     We Ko Pa, Saguaro (Fountain Hills) 

107.     Wickenburg Ranch Golf and Social Club (Wickenberg)

108.     Whirlwind, Cattail (Chandler) 

109.     Whirlwind, Devil’s Claw (Chandler)

110.     Wigman (Gold) (Litchfield Park)

111.     Wigman (Patriot) (Litchfield Park)

112.     Wigman (Red) (Litchfield Park)

113.     Wildfire, Palmer (Phoenix)

114.     Wildfire, Faldo (Phoenix)

Which Course?

When playing with others, one of the most common topics of discussion is which course to play when the course has more than 18 holes.  Below are my suggestions for which courses to play, when you only have the chance to play one side.

Troon North (Pinnacle or Monument?) - Pinnacle, although they are both very nice.

Troon North Pinnacle #10

We Ko Pa - (Saguaro or Cholla?) Cholla is a little more interesting, and definitely more challenging. I'll go with Cholla

Grayhawk (Raptor or Talon?) I prefer Raptor, seems to be in a better condition, and more of a desert feel on the course

Wigwam (Gold, Red or Blue?) Always go with the Gold. More distance and an overall better course.

Boulders (North or South?) I like the South. More scenic and holes adjacent to the "boulders."

Gold Canyon (Dinosaur Mountain or Sidewinder) - I much prefer Dino Mountain, with large elevation changes and views of the Phoenix area.

Superstition Mountain -- only played Lost Gold, but heard Prospector might be a little better course.

McCormick Ranch (Palm or Pine?)  - Pine

Camelback Golf Club  (Indian Bend or Padre?)  Padre is better but there are renovating Indian Bend. (http://www.marriott.com/golf-hotels/phxcb-jw-marriott-scottsdale-camelback-inn-resort-and-spa/camelback-golf-club/5256759-HWM/course-overview.mi)

Phoenician (Desert, Canyon or Oasis?) I prefer Canyon with the holes right up against Camelback Mountain.

Talking Stick (North or South?)  North is a better track, but they both have similar feel.

TPC Scottsdale (Champions or Stadium?) No experience like the Stadium Course (for big $), but I think the Champions Course is interesting and fun after the renovation.  For the money, Champions. For the experience, Stadium.

Whirlwind (Cattail  or Devils Claw)  Devil's Claw is the better side in my opinion.


Arizona Biltmore  (Links or Adobe) - Definitely the Links course.


Other courses with 36 which I have only played 18 or not played at all:  Wildfire, Whisper Rock (still dreaming for this one day), Ventanna Canyon, Desert Mountain.