Arizona's Hidden Gems...

[Tom Yost]

Has anyone played a course in Northwest Phoenix called, I think, The 500?   It has some connection to a nearby racetrack.  I liked it a lot, pretty flat but some cool holes.  Cheap.  Very easy walk and no housing.   That made it unusual. 

www.the500club.com

Yes - the backstory behind the 500 Club as I understand is that it is/was owned or co-owned by former Indy 500 racer Tom Sneva. It's been many years since I lived not too far from there, but he had the most tricked-out golf cart that allegedly could reach speeds of 100+ mph.

I enjoyed the golf course but it wasn't an architectural marvel. I always felt they could've gotten more from the site but it was a good, affordable public golf option in the north/northwest valley.

They keep tinkering with the course, and almost always making it worse. They now have an island green par 4.

But their "Futures Course" 9-holer makes for a nice stroll and is a good place to take a beginner.

I actually liked the little island green, made a 3!

It was a better hole previously, but there's no arguing with success.

That's ACE McBride you are talking to!   

Just to add some GCA flavor, I have The 500 Club attributed to Brian Whitcomb, one of four courses he did in the PHX area.  Whitcomb might otherwise be known as a former President of the PGA America.

[Mike Wagner]

Vista Verde is my #1 "hidden gem" in Scottsdale/Phx.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Mike,

Vista Verde is "Arizona's Best Kept Secret" according to their website: www.vistaverdegolf.com     ; however it's been discussed here many times.

I think the lack of amenities has kept tourists away.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Just joined the Vista Verde email club and got a coupon for play on Mondays and Tuesdays this month for $50.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Played Emerald Canyon in Parker, AZ yesterday. A very interesting course nestled in the canyons near the Colorado River. Unfortunately, I can't say that I enjoyed playing there on perhaps the worst weather day of this magnificent winter we are enjoying in the desert. Winds of 20-40mph slowed down play to the extent that a 5.5 hour round occurred. The course was packed and there was a 4 foursome backup on the par3 second hole and lesser backups on other holes. Some groups in front of us dropped out after 9 due to the windy conditions. The front 9 for my group was 3 hours.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJVox2eUZTs

The nearby Blue Water Casino/Hotel provided a good distraction. 

[Forrest Richardson]

Re: The Heritage (Red Course) at the Wigwam. It was Red Lawrence, but mostly completed by Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin who worked for Red at the time. The only changes to my knowledge was work our office has done to the 12th, 13th, 15th and 17th. The most noticeable was shifting the 12th to a new location, and making it a true "short" hole. The other work was largely subtle. The course was always intended to be a development course and the routing always assumed that. SunCor and other developers needed slightly reworked boundaries, and that was what set in motion our work to the 12th-13th.

Re: Arizona Hidden Gems, in general, this is a weak list — not in course terms — but it should be a much longer listing. There are many courses across Arizona that could be considered hidden gems.

Re: The Wigwam Range. Take away their drivers!

[Bill Buthorn]

Speaking of Greg Nash.  I played a course called Union Hills Country Club the other day.  I was completely prepared to be underwhelmed, but was very pleasantly surprised.  Really nice green designs, with many subtle and not so subtle rolls to make the fairly short course interesting.  My only objection was the number of right to left holes, negating my preferred fade.  The course was very firm, making for lengthy drives and tricky approaches.  Fun course, definitely a gem.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Bill,

There are a few decent courses in Sun City, Sun City West and Sun City Grand that are worth a play in prime season as their rates are lower, Union Hills among them. Others are Palm Brook and Riverview in Sun City, Grandview , Trail Ridge, Hillcrest & Corte Bella in SC West, Cimarron in SC Grand and Copper Canyon in SC Festival. However, I wouldn't call them "hidden gems." I'd call  them good "value" courses. I'd pick Corte Bella(Greg Nash) as the best among this group.

[Bill Buthorn]

OK, I stand corrected.  What qualifies as a "Gem?'  Where does "value course," leave off and some superior level kick in?  While I have not played all the courses you mentioned, I have played the courses at Sun City Grand.  I find those interesting, but for lack of a better word, contrived.  I thought the shot values off the tee, the way the greens fit the holes and the overall golfing experience made for a way better than average day on the links at UHCC.  Hardly major championship material, certainly not up to Vista Verde, but similar to Wigwam Red, with better greens.  Add to that I had never heard of the place, and I thought it worthy of a mention.

If Vista Verde is the standard for a hidden gem, that is a high bar.  My own thoughts lead to places with not much fanfare, maybe not out of the way, but for whatever reason great bang for the buck, solid bones, and features that make you think.

[Greg Holland]

For you locals, are there any good courses in or around Chandler?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Greg,

Southern Dunes and Whirlwind(2 courses) are near Chandler.

[Matthew Petersen]

Bill,

There are a few decent courses in Sun City, Sun City West and Sun City Grand that are worth a play in prime season as their rates are lower, Union Hills among them. Others are Palm Brook and Riverview in Sun City, Grandview , Trail Ridge, Hillcrest & Corte Bella in SC West, Cimarron in SC Grand and Copper Canyon in SC Festival. However, I wouldn't call them "hidden gems." I'd call  them good "value" courses. I'd pick Corte Bella(Greg Nash) as the best among this group.

I like Hillcrest quite a lot out that way. One of the few westside tracks where each hole is not surrounded by homes and on the border holes, OOB is well out of play and not much of a factor. There are also some truly fun greens and as I recall some good risk/reward holes.

[Ari Techner]

I know it's not a hidden gem around here because people on GCA know about the course but to me the easy #1 hidden gem in AZ is Apache Stronghold.   Seems like they are starting to fix up the conditioning.   I paid $30 to play all day about 6 weeks ago and just had a fantastic time.   I absolutely love the layout.   I haven't played one in AZ I like better.   My favorite part about the place is how nobody in AZ has ever heard of it and look at me like I have literally lost my mind when I tell them I am going out there.   

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I think I may have found one- a Red Lawrence design, NOT Tres Rios, the Maricopa County muni in Goodyear. I'm playing there tomorrow and will report, hopefully with some pics.

[Bill_McBride]

Greg,

Southern Dunes and Whirlwind(2 courses) are near Chandler.

Southern Dunes is terrific, great bunkering by Curley & Schmidt. 

[Jerry Kluger]

Bill: Southern Dunes is a refreshing change from the typical desert courses.  The last time I played there they using the driving range as a par 3 course in the afternoon which was to encourage new players to the game. 

[Steve_ Shaffer]

This course technically does not qualify as "hidden" as it's in the Phoenix metro area. The original article by Bill Huffman that I referenced  in my post that started this thread mentioned courses outside the Phoenix area; however, given that many have posted choices within this area, I will mention a course that's not been previously mentioned and is certainly "hidden" away in the West Valley and not well known. It's a 1972 Red Lawrence design that's a blast to play and serves the community well.  It shows the Flynn-Wilson- Lawrence linkage on the bunkers and greens. Since Lawrence died in 1974, his then associates, the late Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin, may have done some work there.  It's a Par 59/60 Executive Course @ 3493y from the "tips." Yes, it's Bellair GC:
www.bellairgolf.com


Here's the routing: http://bellairgolfclub.tripod.com/bellair2.jpg


Here's the scorecard: http://www.oobgolf.com/courses/scorecard.php?id=342


Pics to follow...

[Matthew Petersen]

This course technically does not qualify as "hidden" as it's in the Phoenix metro area. The original article by Bill Huffman that I referenced  in my post that started this thread mentioned courses outside the Phoenix area; however, given that many have posted choices within this area, I will mention a course that's not been previously mentioned and is certainly "hidden" away in the West Valley and not well known. It's a 1972 Red Lawrence design that's a blast to play and serves the community well.  It shows the Flynn-Wilson- Lawrence linkage on the bunkers and greens. Since Lawrence died in 1974, his then associates, the late Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin, may have done some work there.  It's a Par 59/60 Executive Course @ 3493y from the "tips." Yes, it's Bellair GC:
www.bellairgolf.com


Here's the routing: http://bellairgolfclub.tripod.com/bellair2.jpg


Here's the scorecard: http://www.oobgolf.com/courses/scorecard.php?id=342


Pics to follow...

Weird that their web site is showing photos of a course clearly not anywhere in the Phoenix area (and yet not exactly awe inspiring golf photos, either).


I have played Belair a TON over the years. It's just down the road (Bell) from where I used to live and when my wife and her/our friend were learning the game, we all played it many times. It is fun to play and has some interesting holes. For a good player many of the par 4s present an interesting question of whether trying to drive the green in the right option, and the par 3s are varied and several are quite fun. Back when I was playing it often it tended to be in pretty rough shape, but totally playable. It was an excellent course for beginners and very encouraging of them.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Does scoring your age count on a Par59 course?