Best Course Close to Sky Harbor Int'l Airport (Phoenix)

[Carl Nichols]

I will be in Phoenix in mid-May for a non-golf weekend, but a few of us will likely try to squeeze in a quick round on our arrival day.  I've played a bunch of courses in North Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa, Vista Verde, etc., but for this trip am really looking for something close to the airport.

PS:  How hot will it be May 11th?

[Kalen Braley]

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/History.aspx?month=5

Looks like May 11th is still relatively cool for Phoenix standards....

[Carl Nichols]

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/History.aspx?month=5

Looks like May 11th is still relatively cool for Phoenix standards....

Thanks Kalen.  I have seen that the average high is 92 . . . . I was looking for a little more local flavor on whether that's baking b/c of the sun, not so bad, etc.

[Jason Topp]

Papago, Raven at South Mountain, Vistal and ASU Karsten would be the first courses that come to mind as close to the airport.

I am not a fan of ASU Karsten but like the others as relatively budget friendly and decent golf courses. 

I like Vistal the best of the group but could see an argument for any of them.   

[jonathan_becker]

You should play ASU Karsten just to say you've played it.  It's reasonably priced and there's some interesting stuff out there (bad and good).

[Tom Yost]

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/History.aspx?month=5

Looks like May 11th is still relatively cool for Phoenix standards....

Thanks Kalen.  I have seen that the average high is 92 . . . . I was looking for a little more local flavor on whether that's baking b/c of the sun, not so bad, etc.

92 in May will come with a relative humidity of <20%, meaning quite pleasant.  Average is just an average of course, it could be in the low 80's or in the 100's.   But still dry and not yet reaching the "scorching" level.

Papago would be the best/closest.  A muni, so don't expect plush conditioning or upscale amenities,  but built on a wonderful property.

Karsten seems to be a love it or hate it.  I find it fun and amusing, but not something I would want a steady diet of.   The immediate surroundings are somewhat industrial with an adjacent power plant and power lines bisecting the course.

[Tom Yost]

Should add the best within 20 minutes would be Talking Stick North.  Probably 15 minutes away with no traffic, all freeway.

[Matthew Petersen]

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/History.aspx?month=5

Looks like May 11th is still relatively cool for Phoenix standards....

Thanks Kalen.  I have seen that the average high is 92 . . . . I was looking for a little more local flavor on whether that's baking b/c of the sun, not so bad, etc.

Depends on what you're used to, mostly. Anyone who lives here all summer is going to tell you 95 is pleasant. But that may feel real hot to someone used to 70s.

Time of day makes a big difference. It's the dry desert as Tom said, so in May it's still cooling down significantly at night meaning that high isn't reached until the later afternoon. A morning tee time would be quite pleasant that time of year.

My vote would go to ASU Karsten, which is to me the most interesting (if ugliest) of the courses very near the airport. Vistal has some nice holes, as well, but nothing unique.

[Brian Stewart]

Not to argue with anyone (because I almost always agree with one person who said it) but ASU Karsten is a horrible golf course in every way I can think of.  It is ugly, awkward, pace of play is often ridiculously slow and it is often in questionable shape.  I wouldn't send anyone I considered to be a friend there to play for fear that they'd never talk to me again.  So, yeah, I'm not a fan   

Any other suggestion you have received is fine IMO.  May and June are my favorite times of year here but I am rarely down in that area.  92 is not what anyone that lives here would consider hot though.  As Tom said, the humidity will be nothing and it will still get cool at night.  I haven't lived near Tempe in almost 14 years but it was fine then.  Realistically I would say that you can get to Longbow in 20 min as well if you are looking for another suggestion.  It will be close to that anyway.  Legacy is another option that I like better than a lot of places mentioned.

[Carl Nichols]

Because I'll be in Phoenix for a short work trip later this week, I ran a search for post about golf near PHX--and found this thread I started several years ago.  I ended up not making it to Phoenix in 2012, so the only thing I can add to the suggestions is that Vistal is apparently closed now.   

[Brian Finn]

Go to Papago.  It would seem to check all of your boxes and more - close to the airport, pretty solid design, fun to play, and the cost is quite reasonable.  I really enjoyed it last time I was in the area.

[Steve Fekety]

I have to agree that Talking Stick North is where I would go, not much to write home about at the others.  I will add one more which has received some conversation of late, Grand Canyon University Golf Course.  It's about 20-25 minutes from the airport but is totally worth it (unfortunately it is in a terrible part of town).  The John Fought redesign has some of the best greens in valley now.  Depending on the time of day, you would be looking at less than $50.  They did a great job with the redesign.


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[Mike Wagner]

I have to agree that Talking Stick North is where I would go, not much to write home about at the others.  I will add one more which has received some conversation of late, Grand Canyon University Golf Course.  It's about 20-25 minutes from the airport but is totally worth it (unfortunately it is in a terrible part of town).  The John Fought redesign has some of the best greens in valley now.  Depending on the time of day, you would be looking at less than $50.  They did a great job with the redesign.


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You would be hard pressed to find better greens in the COUNTRY right now.

[Doug Wright]

I make occasional day trips from Denver to PHX this time of year, and Longbow in Mesa is a course I like to visit. Depending on the time of day, you can get to quite a few courses from the airport in 30-40 minutes.

[Andy Shulman]

I'm with Brian that Papago is the clear choice, especially if by "close to the airport" you mean less than a 15-minute drive.  I played there last week and it's a very good course in excellent condition.  While Talking Stick North is probably a bit better - and is worth seeing just for the par-5 2nd hole - it's 20+ minutes from Sky Harbor.


Oh, and Papago is walkable and no one will ask any questions if you choose to do so.  I did for $78 + tax, which ain't bad this time of year in PHX.

[Carl Nichols]

I'm with Brian that Papago is the clear choice, especially if by "close to the airport" you mean less than a 15-minute drive.  I played there last week and it's a very good course in excellent condition.  While Talking Stick North is probably a bit better - and is worth seeing just for the par-5 2nd hole - it's 20+ minutes from Sky Harbor.


Oh, and Papago is walkable and no one will ask any questions if you choose to do so.  I did for $78 + tax, which ain't bad this time of year in PHX.

I was leaning that direction, but then it rained this afternoon and I headed home instead.


Thanks for all the thoughts.

[Bill_McBride]

How long is the drive to Southern Dunes?   Really good course. 


36 minutes from PHX rental car center per Maps app.