Tom:
Is Papago Park the best of the Phoenix munis? I played Encanto a few years ago, and it was enjoyable if fairly mundane, with a nice view of downtown. I see one of the munis is a William F. Bell.
Is $16 a year-round rate?
OK, I'm busted. $16 is the summer rate - it will go up for the winter. I haven't been able to find anyone in the city that will tell me what the as yet unannounced winter rates will be, but I think it will stay under $25 to walk.
Encanto, oldest of the Phoenix muni's is a WP Bell built in the 50's. Pretty much as you described it.
Papago and Maryvale are both WF Bell and both from the 60's. Maryvale is a flat, tree-lined parkland style course, nothing special but pleasant enough and is a nice break from desert target golf.
Cave Creek came along in the 80's, a Jack Snyder design that was built on top of a former landfill. An interesting course that sports the city's only (I think) triple green. I have not been out to Cave Creek since the 80's and would like to see how it has matured.
Aguila is the newest Phoenix muni, a Gary Panks designed desert course that opened in 1999. I have not played it.
Papago is certainly my favorite with fairways that pitch and roll with the natural contours of the site and scenic views of the city and the nearby Papago Buttes. They keep talking about a new clubhouse, but I hope they renovate and keep the oddly unique and funky 60's style building that for me, seems to fit with the surroundings perfectly.
Like many municipally operated golf courses, Phoenix's seem to suffer from underfunded maintenance budgets. But what do you want for $16?
Tom