[Bill_McBride]

What is the best way to arrange play if you are a solo golfer?. Are stay and play packages more reasonable than rack rates/booking services and cheap motels?.    I have some time between closing out a rules workshop in Vegas on 2/19 and starting a tour from Tucson on 2/15.  Tentative is Wickenburg, Duke, Southern Dunes, then switching base to We-Ko-Pa.

You will like Wigwam Gold out Wickenburg way.  Excellent remodel by Forrest Richardson. 

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Pete,


Wigwam Gold is about an hour from Wickenburg. I know because I live near Wigwam. Lehman just did some  work there.  It's a classic RTJ original design. I'm usually available so let me know. BTW, the newly renovated nearby Maryvale will be open by then and it looks like a winner.

[Pete_Pittock]

Pete,


Wigwam Gold is about an hour from Wickenburg. I know because I live near Wigwam. Lehman just did some  work there.  It's a classic RTJ original design. I'm usually available so let me know. BTW, the newly renovated nearby Maryvale will be open by then and it looks like a winner.

Thanks, I have a friend who was out at Maryvale yesterday(?) marking the course. 
Still to be answered is the best way to schedule - a la carte or stay/play

[Bill_McBride]

Pete,


Wigwam Gold is about an hour from Wickenburg. I know because I live near Wigwam. Lehman just did some  work there.  It's a classic RTJ original design. I'm usually available so let me know. BTW, the newly renovated nearby Maryvale will be open by then and it looks like a winner.

Thanks, I have a friend who was out at Maryvale yesterday(?) marking the course. 
Still to be answered is the best way to schedule - a la carte or stay/play

Play with Steve. 

[Pete_Pittock]

Pete,


Wigwam Gold is about an hour from Wickenburg. I know because I live near Wigwam. Lehman just did some  work there.  It's a classic RTJ original design. I'm usually available so let me know. BTW, the newly renovated nearby Maryvale will be open by then and it looks like a winner.

Thanks, I have a friend who was out at Maryvale yesterday(?) marking the course. 
Still to be answered is the best way to schedule - a la carte or stay/play

I was planning to, but I don't expect that  to be for five days, which is why I am still looking for the answer to my original question.


Play with Steve.

[Mark Chaplin]

I'm in Scottsdale at the moment, it's a tough gig but if you come across a friendly Whisper Rock member don't turn down their invite. It's worth the visit just to look at the members handicap list!

[Ira Fishman]

Bumping up thread because we will be in Scottsdale in two weeks.  We Ka Po Saguaro, Talking Stick North, and Southern Dunes already booked.  Deciding among Ambiente, Sunridge Canyon, and Papago for our final round.  Neither my wife nor I particularly enjoy "target" desert golf.  Votes for one of the three?  Much appreciated.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

My vote among the 3 you've mentioned is Papago. I'd describe it as more of a parkland course in the desert.

[Ryan Farrow]

Bumping up thread because we will be in Scottsdale in two weeks.  We Ka Po Saguaro, Talking Stick North, and Southern Dunes already booked.  Deciding among Ambiente, Sunridge Canyon, and Papago for our final round.  Neither my wife nor I particularly enjoy "target" desert golf.  Votes for one of the three?  Much appreciated.

Absolutely NO! on Sunridge Canyon.   If I were you I would pick Papago for #3, I like Camelback Ambiente a lot but Papago is a more rounded, interesting golf course on some great land.

[Mike Hendren]

Talking Stick South is underrated - C&C's pre-brand version of "traditional" golf course architecture and an interesting juxtaposition to the North course. 

[Jason Topp]

Bumping up thread because we will be in Scottsdale in two weeks.  We Ka Po Saguaro, Talking Stick North, and Southern Dunes already booked.  Deciding among Ambiente, Sunridge Canyon, and Papago for our final round.  Neither my wife nor I particularly enjoy "target" desert golf.  Votes for one of the three?  Much appreciated.

Papago.  It is a fun course in a nicer setting than you would guess.  Hitting balls on the range with a red rock backdrop might be the most memorable part of the experience but you will enjoy the course and not be playing target golf.

Sunridge Canyon is a beautiful golf course but you will spend some time in the desert and I recall the greens requiring precise aerial approaches. 

[Joe Zucker]

Talking Stick South is underrated - C&C's pre-brand version of "traditional" golf course architecture and an interesting juxtaposition to the North course.

I agree with this.  I really enjoyed both courses at Talking Stick when I was there a few weeks ago.  However, my once complaint would be that they were kind of soggy.  This was the day before the rain that washed out LA made it to Phoenix and there were many soft spots.  I'm not sure if this is typical, but it's worth a play either way.

[Steve Fekety]

I would take Ambiente every day of the week over the other two.  Typically plays fast and firm, although I have not been out there this winter to confirm.  I will second the NO on SunRidge.

[Jerry Kluger]

Ambiente was redone not too long ago and they did a very nice job - interesting for a fairly flat piece of property and not overly desert golf. Verde River should also be considered - it had some work done by Tom Lehman's group not too long ago and while not great it certainly should be considered.  Papago is good and it is close to the airport but further from Scottsdale.  Any one of the three would be ok and I would let cost be the determining factor.

[Ira Fishman]

Many thanks for the recommendations. Now trying to squeeze another round in based on them.

[Stewart Abramson]

Bumping up thread because we will be in Scottsdale in two weeks.  We Ka Po Saguaro, Talking Stick North, and Southern Dunes already booked.  Deciding among Ambiente, Sunridge Canyon, and Papago for our final round.  Neither my wife nor I particularly enjoy "target" desert golf.  Votes for one of the three?  Much appreciated.

If you don't like desert target golf, Ambiente and Papago are both good choices.They are different than most of what you find in the area. I played both a couple weeks ago.  Here are links to photos of each


https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/albums/72157677027444563  Papago Pix


https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/albums/72157680363977686  Ambiente Pix







Papago #7 dogleg left zoomed from tee





Camelback Ambiente #14 from tee par 5 485

[William_G]

TopGolf is right next to Talking Stick have fun!

[Mike Wagner]

Bumping up thread because we will be in Scottsdale in two weeks.  We Ka Po Saguaro, Talking Stick North, and Southern Dunes already booked.  Deciding among Ambiente, Sunridge Canyon, and Papago for our final round.  Neither my wife nor I particularly enjoy "target" desert golf.  Votes for one of the three?  Much appreciated.

Papago .. hands down.  Greens are perfect.  Fact is, if you haven't played it, you're sort of missing a Phoenix "rite of passage" place.

[Buck Wolter]

Supposedly many Phoenix Threads but I couldn't find much recent.


Spring Break trip in late March to help my son get 'ready' for High School Golf Season in MN. We'll be playing Gainey Ranch, Anthem and Seville. Any thoughts on the better course at Anthem?


I am thinking we'll also hit Talking Stick or Wee-Ko-Pa depending on who has the best Junior deal as my C&C resume is pretty thin. Staying one night at the Boulders -- is it worth the $$$$? Never hear much about the resort courses in the area.


Buck

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Buck,


I haven't played the 2 courses at Anthem. I played Seville years ago and have no memory of the course except for an island green, Gainey Ranch has 27 holes and is a decent resort course.


Talking Stick and WeKoPa are not inexpensive in prime season for non residents if cost is a factor. Neither is The Boulders. The South course at Boulders is generally regarded as the better one there and it's convenient.

[Jeff Schley]

My dad just played Estrella and really thought highly of it.  A true desert course.

Also played Ak-Chin Southern Dunes last month and was in great shape.  Both are Troon facilities and IME they keep the courses in good shape.

Estella maybe a little drive out west to get to Goodyear and SD down in Maricopa, but traffic to those locations isn't bad.

[Jerry Kluger]

I would call Wickenburg Ranch and see what they will do for you and your son since he is a student.  It is a very quirky and fun course which was a first design for the architect and was actually built nearly 10 years ago but only opened 2 years ago. They also have a short course which I understand is fun and I believe they have lights for it they also have a 36 hole rate.  It isn't around the corner form Scottsdale but worth the drive.  I believe I was told that Wickenburg is known for its cattle roping competitions.

[Dave Givnish]

Pete - Wickenburg Ranch should be in your mix


Ira - Papago over Ambiente, and it's close to the airport. ASU baseball plays right next to it so you might be able to catch a game after your round. They are starting work on the practice area to get ready for ASU golf moving there and the new clubhouse is under construction so you may see some dust.


Verde River is a great deal at this time of the year.

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