Nice! This might be a perfect course for me!It means when you slice the **** out of the ball off the second tee it lands in the 3rd fairway you can hit your next shot towards the green......What do you mean it is wide open? Does that mean it is more forgiving on people who don't hit the fairway regularly?Talking Stick is okay. It's pretty wide open as it's a resort course. I think there are much better value courses and much better courses in general, though.Thanks! Will be staying just north of downtown on Camelback. I was looking at course at Talking Stick which looks nice but I will check out the others you listed.Which area? Phoenix metro is pretty big.
Off the top of my head, assuming you need public courses and don't have connections, I'd say:
Phoenix proper:
Legacy
Papago
East Valley:
Gold Canyon - Dinosaur Mountain
Trilogy at Power Ranch
North Valley/Scottdale:
Quintero
We-Ko-Pa (2 courses, both good)
TPC Scottsdale (Stadium course is the Waste Management course and good, but crazy expensive as you're paying to play the well known course. It's sister course, the "Champions" course is way cheaper and just as nice).
Grayhawk (2 courses, Talon is better)
West Valley:
Wickenburg Ranch (if still available to public)
Raven at Verrado
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes
South Valley:
Wild Horse Pass/Whirlwind (2 courses - both good)
The link below is a pretty good list. Only course off the top of my head that is a glaring omission is Elephant Rocks in Williams, AZ.
Arizona's 30 best public golf courses for 2023, ranked
Many Scottsdale golf courses make list of best public golf courses in Arizona, but other Phoenix-area courses and Tucson courses are also ranked.www.azcentral.com
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***Official 2025 Golf Thread, tbd*** (12 Viewers)
- Thread starter belljr
- Start date
Zow
Footballguy
Awesome.Nice! This might be a perfect course for me!It means when you slice the **** out of the ball off the second tee it lands in the 3rd fairway you can hit your next shot towards the green......What do you mean it is wide open? Does that mean it is more forgiving on people who don't hit the fairway regularly?Talking Stick is okay. It's pretty wide open as it's a resort course. I think there are much better value courses and much better courses in general, though.Thanks! Will be staying just north of downtown on Camelback. I was looking at course at Talking Stick which looks nice but I will check out the others you listed.Which area? Phoenix metro is pretty big.
Off the top of my head, assuming you need public courses and don't have connections, I'd say:
Phoenix proper:
Legacy
Papago
East Valley:
Gold Canyon - Dinosaur Mountain
Trilogy at Power Ranch
North Valley/Scottdale:
Quintero
We-Ko-Pa (2 courses, both good)
TPC Scottsdale (Stadium course is the Waste Management course and good, but crazy expensive as you're paying to play the well known course. It's sister course, the "Champions" course is way cheaper and just as nice).
Grayhawk (2 courses, Talon is better)
West Valley:
Wickenburg Ranch (if still available to public)
Raven at Verrado
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes
South Valley:
Wild Horse Pass/Whirlwind (2 courses - both good)
The link below is a pretty good list. Only course off the top of my head that is a glaring omission is Elephant Rocks in Williams, AZ.
Arizona's 30 best public golf courses for 2023, ranked
Many Scottsdale golf courses make list of best public golf courses in Arizona, but other Phoenix-area courses and Tucson courses are also ranked.www.azcentral.com
Views, though, are so much better at other courses and I genuinely do think there are better values.
Andy Dufresne
Footballguy
I never need to play 36 holes in one day ever again.
But The Quarry and The Legend up at Giant's Ridge in northern Minnesota are fantastic.
The former is probably my favorite course I've ever played. Literally built on the remnants of an old stone quarry. Leads to a room of elevation changes and interesting shot choices.
But The Quarry and The Legend up at Giant's Ridge in northern Minnesota are fantastic.
The former is probably my favorite course I've ever played. Literally built on the remnants of an old stone quarry. Leads to a room of elevation changes and interesting shot choices.
3 hour lunch
Footballguy
Add Troon North, it’s like playing on carpet.Thanks! Will be staying just north of downtown on Camelback. I was looking at course at Talking Stick which looks nice but I will check out the others you listed.Which area? Phoenix metro is pretty big.
Off the top of my head, assuming you need public courses and don't have connections, I'd say:
Phoenix proper:
Legacy
Papago
East Valley:
Gold Canyon - Dinosaur Mountain
Trilogy at Power Ranch
North Valley/Scottdale:
Quintero
We-Ko-Pa (2 courses, both good)
TPC Scottsdale (Stadium course is the Waste Management course and good, but crazy expensive as you're paying to play the well known course. It's sister course, the "Champions" course is way cheaper and just as nice).
Grayhawk (2 courses, Talon is better)
West Valley:
Wickenburg Ranch (if still available to public)
Raven at Verrado
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes
South Valley:
Wild Horse Pass/Whirlwind (2 courses - both good)
The link below is a pretty good list. Only course off the top of my head that is a glaring omission is Elephant Rocks in Williams, AZ.
Arizona's 30 best public golf courses for 2023, ranked
Many Scottsdale golf courses make list of best public golf courses in Arizona, but other Phoenix-area courses and Tucson courses are also ranked.www.azcentral.com
3 hour lunch
Footballguy
Quarry is great. Top 5 in the state for sure.
Zow
Footballguy
Drink whisky. Have fun. Make birdies.
TLEF316
Footballguy
I'm sure I'll probably do the same stuff when I'm 75 years old, but it really cracks me up(and honestly annoys me when I'm playing with them, even though I try not to let it) when older guys just refuse to acknowledge that they're playing from the wrong set of tees.
Jumped in with some randoms at the club yesterday on a last minute day off. Ended up with one guy around my age (wasn't good, but could get it around) and 2 older dudes. they decide to play from the white tees which are like 5,800 yards. Our course tends to play longer as we get very little roll and have a lot of elevated greens.
Right of the bat, its clear that neither one of them can carry it 180 yards. First drives, very short and in the rough (which is pretty thick) And of course, rather than just hitting an iron to a good distance, both of them pull out a 3 wood that they somehow think they're gonna magically hit 275 yards. Both of them duff it 75 yards, leaving them another long shot in. And that was pretty much the trend all day. I'd hit and then I'd have to sit around for 5 minutes while they walk to their cart...drive down....find their ball....hit 2 bad shots....walk back to the cart.
I've come to realize that I probably take my golf score way too seriously. (I dont have a lot of buddies that play, so I dont really get the "go out on the course and just get drunk" experience very often. When I'm out there, I'm trying to make a score). But man its just hard to stay focused when you're seeing nothing but bad swings for 4 hours and have to wait 3x as long as normal to hit every approach shot. My approaches were terrible all day (dumped wedges into front bunkers after each of my best 3 drives of the day) and I'm pretty sure that's why. Obviously the mental game is a big part of golf, so that's mostly just exposing a weakness on my end. But man.....just swallow your pride and play the gold tees. You'll have SO much more fun if you have a prayer to make a par every once in a while. My dad is an 11 handicap(doesn't totally translate to longer courses, but he can hit it 210 yards, which is usually enough to get around) and he and his buddies at his club play the golds every day and have a blast doing it.
Jumped in with some randoms at the club yesterday on a last minute day off. Ended up with one guy around my age (wasn't good, but could get it around) and 2 older dudes. they decide to play from the white tees which are like 5,800 yards. Our course tends to play longer as we get very little roll and have a lot of elevated greens.
Right of the bat, its clear that neither one of them can carry it 180 yards. First drives, very short and in the rough (which is pretty thick) And of course, rather than just hitting an iron to a good distance, both of them pull out a 3 wood that they somehow think they're gonna magically hit 275 yards. Both of them duff it 75 yards, leaving them another long shot in. And that was pretty much the trend all day. I'd hit and then I'd have to sit around for 5 minutes while they walk to their cart...drive down....find their ball....hit 2 bad shots....walk back to the cart.
I've come to realize that I probably take my golf score way too seriously. (I dont have a lot of buddies that play, so I dont really get the "go out on the course and just get drunk" experience very often. When I'm out there, I'm trying to make a score). But man its just hard to stay focused when you're seeing nothing but bad swings for 4 hours and have to wait 3x as long as normal to hit every approach shot. My approaches were terrible all day (dumped wedges into front bunkers after each of my best 3 drives of the day) and I'm pretty sure that's why. Obviously the mental game is a big part of golf, so that's mostly just exposing a weakness on my end. But man.....just swallow your pride and play the gold tees. You'll have SO much more fun if you have a prayer to make a par every once in a while. My dad is an 11 handicap(doesn't totally translate to longer courses, but he can hit it 210 yards, which is usually enough to get around) and he and his buddies at his club play the golds every day and have a blast doing it.
TLEF316
Footballguy
Oh, this happens for sure. But generally speaking, the younger guys that are slow because they're playing from too far back aren't going to suddenly get much faster by moving up 300 yards. They're not gonna start hitting 3W or an iron off the tee to keep it play, they're just gonna keep spraying driver all over the planet.
Instinctive
Footballguy
Looking at planning a ~8 guy golf trip in Jan/Feb - any advice on locations in U.S.?
Under consideration: Tucson (@Zow ), anywhere in Florida, other in AZ, and Vegas...possibly San Diego? Thinking about Alabama but mid 40s in the mornings I may as well stay in TX. Not sure about SC either, perhaps?
Thought I'd ask for any experiences here. Ideally not blowing it out but doesnt have to be cheap cheap either.
EDIT: Ok likely narrowing into Tucson or Scottsdale.
Under consideration: Tucson (@Zow ), anywhere in Florida, other in AZ, and Vegas...possibly San Diego? Thinking about Alabama but mid 40s in the mornings I may as well stay in TX. Not sure about SC either, perhaps?
Thought I'd ask for any experiences here. Ideally not blowing it out but doesnt have to be cheap cheap either.
EDIT: Ok likely narrowing into Tucson or Scottsdale.
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Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
That is always an issue.
My buddy who can drive the ball 280 "maybe 1-2 times a round" and is a 11 for 9 holes always wants to play the tips. I tell him you can`t break 90 from 6000 and you want to play 6800??
The guy planned an outing 2 weeks ago. When we get there he says "We are playing the tips" It is a difficult course with heather everywhere if you miss fairway. The tips were almost 6900 and it had rained heavy the day and night before so it was soggy. I am a 12 right now and shot 95 and that was with making 3-4 10-15 foot putts. I hit my rescue and 5 wood more than i had in five previous rounds combined.
My buddy shoots a 106. They had 2 -230 yard par 3s Everyone's scores were high due to wet conditions.
Golfers should play the tees where they are capable of hitting at least half the greens in regulation. Not hitting them but capable. Why high handicappers want to beat themselves up hitting 180-190 in on Par 4s all day puzzles me.
the moops
Footballguy
Visiting my folks down here in Ft Myers. They live on an executive course - really short - a lot of 100 yard par threes and drivable par 4’s. Course is in great shape though. Went out for a quick 9 last night after having several drinks by the pool. Shot even par. Two birdies, two bogies, 5 pars. One bogey was a three putt from 25 feet. Missed a 4 foot birdie putt too. Used my dads clubs which are senior flex. Think i need to reshaft my clubs down to something with more flex. Getting too old to try and muscle my irons with my stiff shafts.
Phil Elliott
Footballguy
My HC is right around 10...sometimes dips to 9.x. I am developing an early extension due to my bad left knee. I am getting it replaced in January. Right knee was replaced about 6 years ago. Mostly affects just my drives-starting to hit fades or pulling shots left. I can correct by widening my stance and bending my knees more but then my right hip flexor acts up. Trying some more stretching. Usually play 2-3 times a week.
FWIW - the course is a par 71 with a rating of 70.2 for member tees of 6,053 and slope of 137.
FWIW - the course is a par 71 with a rating of 70.2 for member tees of 6,053 and slope of 137.
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3 hour lunch
Footballguy
Scottsdale is probably “easiest”. Palm Springs a good option (may be a bit chilly) or Streamsong in FL
Zow
Footballguy
I know the places in AZ (obviously good) and I've done guys trips to Vegas, San Diego, Palm Springs, the Twin Cities, and Reno. I can lay those out for you if you'd like.
A dark horse thought here is Mesquite. For 8 guys the lodging at the casinos is pretty good and there's about 5-6 really sneaky nice courses in that area. This place probably surprised/impressed me the most. Wolf Creek is the famous one but I'd put Conestoga, Coyote Springs and the Utah courses (Sand Hollow, Coral Canyon, etc.) all right there with Wolf Creek.
Zow
Footballguy
Listen, guy, for a select few of us the bold are not mutually exclusive concepts. I feel attacked.
Mookie
Footballguy
I played in a two man tournament a few weeks back. Steady rain all morning, but they didn't call it off. I had a brief "warm up" but just got soaked. Shotgun start, and we head out to our first tee of the day on #12 which is a short par 4 lined with giant blue spruce trees on both sides. We are group 12A, and there is another group waiting on the tee (12B).
I'm a bit rushed and nervous, but I also don't want to stand around in the rain, so I pull out my new 3 wood, which I've only had in the bag for a few weeks, take one practice swing, and the club flies out of hands into one of the many spruce trees about 30 feet to the left of the tee and about 30 feet high. The club disappears.
After a quick look, I can't see it and have no way to get up there even if I could see it as these trees are so dense that they are unclimbable. With another group waiting on the tee, I hit a provisional and leave it, playing the rest of the round with no three wood. I looked for it again when we finished, but still couldn't see it. I spoke with the pro, who had a good laugh and then said they would mark the tree and see if it turns up. My hopes were dim.
Yesterday, I got a call that they had found my club, so I stopped by the course. Turns out they had found a DIFFERENT club in the tree! It was an old driver with an incredibly worn grip - WTF. I went back and looked some more but by now, I'm not completely sure which tree it flew into - there are about 4 possibilities. I guess it's time to go shopping.
I'm a bit rushed and nervous, but I also don't want to stand around in the rain, so I pull out my new 3 wood, which I've only had in the bag for a few weeks, take one practice swing, and the club flies out of hands into one of the many spruce trees about 30 feet to the left of the tee and about 30 feet high. The club disappears.
After a quick look, I can't see it and have no way to get up there even if I could see it as these trees are so dense that they are unclimbable. With another group waiting on the tee, I hit a provisional and leave it, playing the rest of the round with no three wood. I looked for it again when we finished, but still couldn't see it. I spoke with the pro, who had a good laugh and then said they would mark the tree and see if it turns up. My hopes were dim.
Yesterday, I got a call that they had found my club, so I stopped by the course. Turns out they had found a DIFFERENT club in the tree! It was an old driver with an incredibly worn grip - WTF. I went back and looked some more but by now, I'm not completely sure which tree it flew into - there are about 4 possibilities. I guess it's time to go shopping.
Zow
Footballguy
I assume it's good. It's similar to Vegas. So, yeah, probably frost delays but mid-60s by midday.
3 hour lunch
Footballguy
3 hour lunch
Footballguy
Mesquite average Jan high- 60
St George average Jan high -53
CGRdrJoe
Footballguy
I'm playing in a scramble tomorrow which always seems to negatively impact my overall game. I woke up this morning with a stiff back (probably sneezed wrong yesterday) so I can't wait to play hobbled while loaded up on advil and wearing an icy hot wrap
Andy Dufresne
Footballguy
Played a scramble with some guys that hit it farther than I've ever seen. Like pro level drives.
It messes with your head playing with guys like that. You know you can't keep up but still try. It's the worst I've played all year.
It's so different playing wedge shots into every green. I think I prefer hitting 8 or 9 irons.
It messes with your head playing with guys like that. You know you can't keep up but still try. It's the worst I've played all year.
It's so different playing wedge shots into every green. I think I prefer hitting 8 or 9 irons.
CGRdrJoe
Footballguy
yep, my buddy averages 280 on the fly off the tee and since the scramble is probably from the whites (red,white,blue,champ) we usually are looking at driver wedge when he is in the fairway. What's funny is that when we play the same courses on a weekend then he decides to go 3 iron or 3 wood when he plays the same tee's as us. It's cause he gets jammed up with his wedges.
Zow
Footballguy
Ah, yeah, probably a little bit chillier than ideal.
Arizona is definitely littered with good options. I'll get a post up when I have time.
Zow
Footballguy
As somebody who can drive it relatively long and has played in many scrambles where my teammates don't have the same length, as to your bold I'd note that you shouldn't be trying!
Instead, the best play is for you to hit before the longer hitter and just put something out in the fairway. This way, the longer hitter can swing even more freely.
Zow
Footballguy
Dude, stop...
Andy Dufresne
Footballguy
We started out like that and it went pretty well until I started hozzle rocketing everything.
It did go back to normal on the back nine and I actually started hitting some beautiful drives. Not that it mattered.
The bigger problem was the wedges. I had been hitting those pretty well but not on Saturday. Still, it was a good time. I gave everyone good reads on the putts I didn't make!
belljr
Footballguy
You joke but the leadoff putter #1 goal is to hit a good putt. It goes in is just a bonus....... nothing worse than a leadoff putter, blasting one 9 feet by or 6 feet short or not even close to the line you were suggestingWe started out like that and it went pretty well until I started hozzle rocketing everything.
It did go back to normal on the back nine and I actually started hitting some beautiful drives. Not that it mattered.
The bigger problem was the wedges. I had been hitting those pretty well but not on Saturday. Still, it was a good time. I gave everyone good reads on the putts I didn't make!
belljr
Footballguy
Just got back from kentucky...... played really well for the most part - my worst round of 88 was more of completely hungover and tired than playing bad - just hit shots a tiny bit fat all day and hit 2 bad shots that cost me 5....
Some local course that was pretty nice and cheap Kearney Hills https://www.lexingtonky.gov/kearney-hill-golf-links
Played Big Blue (UK) - almost finished recovering from aeration - wish we knew - great track putting was suspect. https://www.uclubkentucky.com/big-blue/
Keanes Trace (home of the barbasol) https://www.keenetracegolf.com/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=81&ssid=100075&vnf=1
Boon'es Trace - absolutely loved this track. Would play here everytime if I could https://btngc.com/
Of course I shot the 76 on the practice round lol.... 81,hungover and sore and tired 88 and a tired 82 to end things..... overall my putting was a bit meh (too timid) and really hit only a handful of awful shots.....
Lost 3 balls total the whole week. Count that as a win.
Some local course that was pretty nice and cheap Kearney Hills https://www.lexingtonky.gov/kearney-hill-golf-links
Played Big Blue (UK) - almost finished recovering from aeration - wish we knew - great track putting was suspect. https://www.uclubkentucky.com/big-blue/
Keanes Trace (home of the barbasol) https://www.keenetracegolf.com/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=81&ssid=100075&vnf=1
Boon'es Trace - absolutely loved this track. Would play here everytime if I could https://btngc.com/
Of course I shot the 76 on the practice round lol.... 81,hungover and sore and tired 88 and a tired 82 to end things..... overall my putting was a bit meh (too timid) and really hit only a handful of awful shots.....
Lost 3 balls total the whole week. Count that as a win.
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encaitar
Footballguy
This is so true. Even more so to find someone who hits true putts. I find that like 50%+ of golfers out there either put a little draw or slice spin on their putts, which makes you think the greens break in a way that they really don't.You joke but the leadoff putter #1 goal is to hit a good putt. It goes in is just a bonus....... nothing worse than a leadoff putter, blasting one 9 feet by or 6 feet short or not even close to the line you were suggestingWe started out like that and it went pretty well until I started hozzle rocketing everything.
It did go back to normal on the back nine and I actually started hitting some beautiful drives. Not that it mattered.
The bigger problem was the wedges. I had been hitting those pretty well but not on Saturday. Still, it was a good time. I gave everyone good reads on the putts I didn't make!
encaitar
Footballguy
We did a Mesquite guys trip in late February a few years back. Frost delays every morning. Courses were fun... Sand Hollow in St. George is one of the most underrated gems in the country. Just wish I wasn't wearing 3 layers during every round.
We all agreed if we chose Mesquite/St. George for our yearly guys trip again it would be in mid-late April instead. It's definitely a must as a location for a golf trip though. Would recommend every golfer hit up that area at least once in their lives.
I played We-Ko-Pa today in Fountain Hills AZ and it was awesome. I didn't play great but it was a diffficult course that I had never played before so hit into some sub-optimal spots off the tee. Still managed 6 pars but too many double bogeys and one triple. All my bad holes were due to lost balls as it was not very forgiving. Think I shot a 46 on both sides for 92.
Weather was great in 70s and overcast so no sun beating down on us. Going to play Ak-Chin Southern Dunes in Maricopa tomorrow and it is another good course I have never played.
Weather was great in 70s and overcast so no sun beating down on us. Going to play Ak-Chin Southern Dunes in Maricopa tomorrow and it is another good course I have never played.
Judge Smails
Footballguy
Can you share the courses you played?
TLEF316
Footballguy
I cant believe they're actually gonna make the whole world play inferior golf balls just so the pros dont make a mockery of that goofy course at St. Andrews once every 4 years (and the reality is that most of them will just take the opportunity to learn to swing harder so they can hit the new ball the same distance anyway)
Just absolute insanity.
Just absolute insanity.
Zow
Footballguy
I thought I read that us regular joes can still play balls with the current technology. Did I read that wrong?
TLEF316
Footballguy
You did. Once it goes into full effect, its a total roll-back for everyone
It hasn't been officially announced yet, but every leak is saying pros will be rolled back in 2028 and then everyone else 2 years later.
I mean....its obviously WAY in the future....but man....47 year old me is gonna hate LOSING distance at that point. I'll probably just quit.
WDIK2
Footballguy
Other than pride, why not just move up a tee box at that point?
WDIK2
Footballguy
This ended up being a lot of fun. The temp was a non-issue. Took us a while to figure out "putting" (which is actually hitting wedges to flags at different distances), but we got the hang of it.Playing in a Toptracer Scramble this afternoon. Sounded like a fun idea when we signed up a couple weeks ago. Today the weather is in the mid-20s and the bays are only "warmed" to about 40-45.Bringing an old driver so I don't dent the one I currently use.
Will be playing in another around Christmas.
Judge Smails
Footballguy
Man - some good and bad. My swing had gotten short due to protecting my shoulder pre rotor cuff surgery. Driving distance suffered. So started working out with Golf Forever training aid to make a much bigger turn. Also adjusted set up to get more behind the ball and have better tilt to hit up on the ball. It’s worked. Driving it much longer and straighter. I’m really going after it now.
The problem? The last three rounds I’ve tweaked /re-tweaked my mid right back each round. Must be stretching muscles with the new motion. Going to back off a while and try to stretch more and strengthen.
The
The problem? The last three rounds I’ve tweaked /re-tweaked my mid right back each round. Must be stretching muscles with the new motion. Going to back off a while and try to stretch more and strengthen.
The
TLEF316
Footballguy
Other than pride, why not just move up a tee box at that point?
I mean yeah.....that's always an option if we get to that point.
Just seems like a totally unnecessary change for amateurs.
Zow
Footballguy
My golfing buddies now have me worried because they're claiming the dial back changes will result in a much more spinny ball which is terrible for me.Other than pride, why not just move up a tee box at that point?
I mean yeah.....that's always an option if we get to that point.
Just seems like a totally unnecessary change for amateurs.
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