Riverview Golf Course - Mesa AZ - Closing March 19

[Tom Yost]

Riverview Golf Course, the City of Mesa 9-hole Gary Panks designed muni, will host the final rounds of its 25 year history this weekend, closing on Monday March 19 to make way for construction of the new Cubs spring training facility.

The City is running a special "1987 Green Fee" price of $10.50 this Saturday and Sunday.

I actually attended the opening day ceremonies and played a round on that first day of operation in 1987. The course opened with 9-holes and a plan to expand to 18 after the Loop 101/202 freeway alignments were finalized. As it turned out, the final plan for the freeway did not leave room for that second nine, so the course remained a 9-holer. It was always an affordable and easy to get on after work option. Played many rounds as the sun set. We affectionately named it "RiverPhew" in honor of the adjacent water treatment facility.

I'm playing in a tournament Sunday morning, but I just may swing by after for one last time. It will be neat to say I played it on both opening and closing day.

Sad to see it go.

[Matthew Petersen]

I have driven by there many a time, but never played there. (I live in a completely different part of the Valley.) Always wondered what the place's story was given its proximity to two major freeways and all the other buildings in the area.

[Howard Riefs]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765558385/Cubs-complex-means-Mesa-golf-courses-end.html

[Jon Spaulding]

Sorry to hear this, but the Cubs and their lowly fans likely need it more than golf nerds do.

Gary Panks reminds me of the scene in Tommy Boy where he passes with a D-minus but is elated.

[Tom Yost]

Nothing really to mourn from a GCA perspective, but it was a solid, if unremarkable budget option for a quick 9-holes.  We do have plenty of Panks remaining here in the PHX.

I guess I should smile at the thought of the Cubs fans, while taking away my golf course, they will be able to still enjoy the distinctive aroma from the next door neighbor.  

[Tim Nugent]

I have driven by there many a time, but never played there. (I live in a completely different part of the Valley.) Always wondered what the place's story was given its proximity to two major freeways and all the other buildings in the area.
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Matthew, perhaps I can help shed some light.  I used to live a driver/9 nine iron from Riverview when it was built in my ASU days.  1st, there were no freeways.  The closest one was the 360 going out to Apache Junction.  However, there was a corridor for the north/south freeway.

The only other buildings were the Vortec Radar and the sewage treatment plant.  I think a second was contemplated west of the course but never built.  The course was able to use the effluent from the treatment plant.

The course was a good, short course  without much in the way of troulbe that was well suited to the locals.  Popular with women and older gents.
It nicely filled the niche below that of Dobson Ranch.  Much like Tempe's Rolling Hills over by the Zoo.

I feel sorry for all those people in Mesa who used to rent out their parking for Spring Training, it will be a big loss of supplimental income and that area will probably go downhill -further.

[Tom Yost]

On a day where a winter storm brought cool temperatures, and blustery wet conditions, I played my last round at Riverview Golf Course on its final day of operation.  Since I had played there on opening day in 1987,  I figured it was appropriate to bookend its 25 year history by playing on closing day.   Showed up as a single and got immediately grouped with a pair in a cart and another walking golfer.  Teed off about 4:15pm and the weather held out until the 7th hole when a squall blew in that was gusting about 40mph with horizontal driving rain.   The two in the cart bailed, and that left the other walker and myself to finish it out.  By the time we got to the 8th tee the rain had stopped and then by the 9th tee the wind died down and the sun peeked out and we played the final hole in relative calm.   Suddenly inspired, I split the fairway with the tee shot, dropped a 3/4 gap wedge to six feet, then left the putt dead center, one roll of the ball short of a final birdie.  Dang.

Some pics of the day:



Putting green and pro shop


Empty patio where many a post-round beverage had been enjoyed


Last chance to practice a few chip shots


Par-4 Third from the tee


Approach to the fourth:


Looking back from behind the Fourth green


Approach to the fifth:


Looking back on the fifth:


The seventh with iconic water treatment plant that will remain for the Cubs fans to enjoy.


Ninth hole:


Future of Riverview

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[Jud_T]

End of an era and beginning of a new one.  Love it!

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Tom,

Good stuff.

It was warmer yesterday in Chicago than here in the Valley of the Sun.

[Matt Ingraham]

I have to admit, I was sad when I read Riverview was closing.  Growing up my mother worked about five minutes away so I spent many afternoons at Riverview learning how to play golf.  In the early to mid 90s it was between 2 and 3 bucks for a junior to play 9 holes.  In the summer the head pro would put on a tournament (the Soda Pop Open) for the kids whose playing abilities were not yet on the level of playing in AZ Junior Golf Association events.  

While in college my wife worked there as a beer cart girl.  She made a killing in tips.  On an average day she made two or three times as much as the cart girls that I worked with at Longbow.