Golf!!!2!

[TSXCman]

Thanks!

[nfotiu]

Phoenix area golf prices are getting crazy too. I found the nicer courses in the Tucson area a lot more affordable.

[TSXCman]

I also own a 40ft fifth wheel and a diesel hauler... I could just drive down somewhere and set up for a few weeks! I enjoy Arizona, but could mix it up.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Another option if you're not hell bent on sun & heat is to drive out to Oregon and play some coastal courses like Bandon Dunes.
I haven't done it myself but have heard amazing things.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Another option if you're not hell bent on sun & heat is to drive out to Oregon and play some coastal courses like Bandon Dunes.
I haven't done it myself but have heard amazing things.

Probably booking into 2025 already…

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Another option if you're not hell bent on sun & heat is to drive out to Oregon and play some coastal courses like Bandon Dunes.
I haven't done it myself but have heard amazing things.

And not cheap!

[d00little]

Does anyone have recommendation for 1-on-1 golf lessons? I've done the group lessons from the City already. I see Modern Golf has some pretty cheap package lessons (so cheap they make me suspicious if they are any good).

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by d00little

I see Modern Golf has some pretty cheap package lessons (so cheap they make me suspicious if they are any good).

I had a few lessons with Jeremy Maher, he was pretty good.

Those packages are designed to get you into a more expensive lesson plan/coaching package.

The real value is the included trackman time, if that's your jam.

If money is no object, I would go see Wes Heffernan at dynamic motion.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Fox Hollow has been open the last few weeks (minus a few snow days). Saw a guy on the back 9 yesterday around 4pm.

Golf the par 3 nine at Earl Grey last weekend (three times). Snow on a couple greens, that was it.

[d00little]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I had a few lessons with Jeremy Maher, he was pretty good.

Those packages are designed to get you into a more expensive lesson plan/coaching package.

The real value is the included trackman time, if that's your jam.

If money is no object, I would go see Wes Heffernan at dynamic motion.

Interesting. I was assuming if you liked your initial lessons, you could just buy more regular advertised packages. They are coming out to $60 per lesson, which is not much more than just going to a simulator yourself.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by d00little

Interesting. I was assuming if you liked your initial lessons, you could just buy more regular advertised packages. They are coming out to $60 per lesson, which is not much more than just going to a simulator yourself.

Maybe they've changed the terms. The intro package I got was a one time thing to get you into a lesson plan. This was just after COVID.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Got to play Bear Mountain on Christmas Eve. Cold day, but was awesome to finally play the mountain course there and to be golfing on Dec 24th.
Difficult course, a little beyond my game TBH, but a good time.

[DoubleK]

Bear mountain is awesome. Really need to get back to Victoria to golf.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Probably booking into 2025 already…

Yes. It’s packed all the time. But incredible if you can make it. I played all five courses on a trip in April 2022.

The Phoenix courses are overpriced, for the actual quality of golf, frankly. Though there a few gems out there like Southern Dunes. Desert golf isn’t really my thing, especially having experienced places like Bandon, North Carolina Sand Hills etc.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Yes. It’s packed all the time. But incredible if you can make it. I played all five courses on a trip in April 2022.

The Phoenix courses are overpriced, for the actual quality of golf, frankly. Though there a few gems out there like Southern Dunes. Desert golf isn’t really my thing, especially having experienced places like Bandon, North Carolina Sand Hills etc.

The good phoenix courses aren’t much different than Bandon…



I’ve got a 7 round Scotland trip booked for 2024. Going to be awesome.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Another option if you're not hell bent on sun & heat is to drive out to Oregon and play some coastal courses like Bandon Dunes.
I haven't done it myself but have heard amazing things.

Originally Posted by Bunk

Yes. It’s packed all the time. But incredible if you can make it. I played all five courses on a trip in April 2022.

Played Bandon last year as well. Nice enough layouts, but it still earned a the "O" rating from me. It was Overdone, Overpriced, and Over-rated. From my review the day after finishing up at Bandon.

"The golf courses are beautiful and the facilities are well thought out but you have to consider may other factors Is the juice worth the squeeze? I don't think these courses lived up to the $275 a round, especially when you factor in that you NEED the caddy to know where you are going and the places where you need to aim. When you add in another $150 to $200 bucks for the caddy, that makes the courses come not even close to that total cost. They have marketed the hell out of the property but made sure to keep the dirty little secrets to themselves. The courses are really over-done with the massively deep bunkers and the elevated greens. I get they were trying to emulate Scottish golf, but as soon as you throw those elevated greens into the mix, you're altering the very spirit you trying to create. You then have to ask, are the courses playable? Add in the hellscape winds and the courses become unplayable for all but the very best players. If the courses aren't playable and enjoyable for all, then aren't they over-rated? In then end I'll ask myself was it worth it? I don't know."

A year on and I'm still on the fence about Bandon. Having played some of the top resort facilities on the continent I don't think Bandon cracks the top 10 IMO. To me it is trying to compete with facilities like Pebble Beach and it doesn't measure up. I'd rather drop my cash at the Greenbrier, Pinehurst, or Reynold's Plantation.

There is just so much good golf out there that you don't have to spend your life savings to play ridiculously good courses and have a great experience. When I played Pebble, on the back end of two weeks in Hawaii playing there, we added Pasatiempo on a recommendation for a cheap great round. We went from staying at a huge private condo on the course in Hawaii and at Spanish Bay Inn at Pebble to this little 50's era motel that had no air conditioning and twin beds in each room. The golf course was the best we played and the quaintness of accommodations made it the most enjoyable and memorable of the 14 courses we visited. It was also the cheapest by a large margin.

The Phoenix courses are overpriced, for the actual quality of golf, frankly. Though there a few gems out there like Southern Dunes. Desert golf isn’t really my thing, especially having experienced places like Bandon, North Carolina Sand Hills etc.

Hmmmm, have to ask when you came down and where you were playing? There is some great inexpensive golf around Phoenix at the right time of year. If you're here during the high season then you are going to pay through the nose, regardless of where you play. Too many people flocking down here and not enough golf courses to support demand, so the prices skyrocket. If you come down on the shoulders you can get great weather and reasonable prices at a lot of great courses. Ironically, since Ak-Chin took over Southern Dunes they have made it less and less affordable and accessible. I blame that on the resortification of golf. Still highly recommended as a course to play, and one of my favorites in Arizona, but affordable has been scratched from the list or descriptors about the course.

[dirk diggler]

Interesting review of Bandon, based on the price including caddy, this area was never really on my list anyways. Leaving for some San Diego golf in about 3 weeks, a lot more affordable.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

Interesting review of Bandon, based on the price including caddy, this area was never really on my list anyways. Leaving for some San Diego golf in about 3 weeks, a lot more affordable.

Was just thinking a San Diego trip would be a good idea later this year. Golfing & take my son to the zoo.
Report back with your course reviews please.

[dirk diggler]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Was just thinking a San Diego trip would be a good idea later this year. Golfing & take my son to the zoo.
Report back with your course reviews please.

I will. we have 5 courses selected right now. then will watch the Farmers on the saturday

[Slava]

I really want to go to Bandon and everyone I know who has been raves about it as a golfers Mecca. My issue, kind of related to the costs, is that for the same amount of money (or around the same), you could just go to Ireland/Scotland and play golf. It depends on when you go, but it isn’t really far off.