Longbow Golf Club

Bare parches rough fairways

Geeens 2 puut max

Spiked still not grown back

Imo not worth it stopped after 9 holes

After 15+ years, 100+ rounds, and thousands of dollars spent playing at Longbow Golf Club, I had a strange/poor experience today.

(For context on the day/time, it was late on a Saturday morning, mid-June, already 95 degrees out, and the practice and range facilities were less than half full).

It was a practice session day with my 10-year-old son, and we weren't playing a round. After spending about 75 minutes putting and chipping, I requested an empty basket from one of the cart barn attendants named Scott to help clear the nearly 300 balls that littered the chipping green and beyond. It happens all the time, and I've talked with nearly all of the cart attendants over the years about how many balls collect so quickly on there. Most agree and find it fascinating/frustrating how many balls customers take over there to practice without clearing any when they are done. He handed me an empty basket without any questions asked.

So, like countless days before, after we used the chipping green, I helped gather about half the balls that were out there already (one large basket worth - probably 90-110 balls) while pushing the balance of balls towards the two customers who had just shown up to chip (one of who brought a full medium basket with him).

As we carried our bags towards the range, Scott followed us to the range, and just before reaching it asked if I'd "checked in" at the pro shop. I said no that we weren't playing today, just doing a practice session. He said, "yah, have you checked in for the range?" I was caught off guard. In all of the years I've gone to Longbow, it was the first time I have ever been asked to "check in" for the range. Thinking he was confused or misunderstood, I clarified again that we weren't playing a round today, just practicing. I even shared that the basket of balls I was carrying was the same empty basket he gave me that I had cleared half the chipping area on their behalf, picking balls that were scattered in the dirt and wastelands/brush areas that surround it. He's said something like "yah, thanks, please just go check in."

At this point, my son's face looked as confused as mine, as he'd helped clear the practice area before too. Scott walked away, and I proceeded to walk to the range to drop our bags and set up my son. There were 4 others hitting on the range out of perhaps 16 stalls, with half a basket worth of balls scattered in stalls that previous guests hadn't finished before leaving. I set my son up and he started hitting the left behind balls. I hit a few, then left my clubs and grabbed my phone to take a video of my son's swing. I saw Scott headed my way again. When he got to me, he asked me to "check in" again. While walking towards the pro shop with him, I restated everything I mentioned already, and that in all my years we've never been asked to "check in" for the range. He said he understood but the request wasn't coming from him, but from inside the "pro shop".

I headed in and one of the newer staff was behind the counter. Didn't catch his name. He was nice and all but stated that the range and the putting/chipping areas were two separate areas. We could use the putting and chipping areas without checking in, but if we wanted to use the range, even if there were balls left by a previous guest, or that we picked off the chipping/wasteland/bushes, we needed to check in and pay for the balls. I asked if that was a new policy, and he just said it's a management (aka Thompson Golf Management) decision. I'm not the type to argue or make a scene, so I paid for the basket we had cleared for them and went back out with my son. To be frank, I left Longbow completely shocked on how common sense no longer seems to exist with some people/companies.

As shared, nearly all attendants know us by name, interact with my sons who are avid, competitive golfers, and seem to genuinely care we showed up at their facility. We spend money all over this place, from thousands in lessons with Fisher-Bryan who works out of there, to rounds of golf, baskets of balls when I don't help clear their practice facility, food/beverages, and apparel. I'm the guy who while my son is hitting on the range, I walk down the row straightening all of the club holders, pick up empty baskets and bags, space the hitting areas that have been moved throughout the day, and interact with people that want to. I'm not an employee, I'm just making sure guests that show up during or after us have a clean and tidy range, have a good time, and feel valued.

On a hot day, when attendants weren't clearing the chipping area, and the range was nearly empty, to be asked for the first time to "check in" so they could charge me for balls I picked up on their behalf like 50x before is beyond ridiculous. The word for it is petty. Whether it truly a Thompson Golf decision or staff having a bad day, they should've just said "Thanks for your years of loyalty. Thanks for clearing the chipping area so we didn't have to on a hot day. Thanks for allowing us to focus on guests finishing their rounds. This basket of balls is on us."

The course was getting ready for summer grass and had some bare spots in fairway but the service was great best Bloody Mary’s from the cart girl!!! Can’t wait to play it in the winter

I had heard so many great things about this course and was disappointed to say the least. Punished for hitting the fairway by hitting off of bare dirt. Muddy sand traps.

Avoid the course until it fixes its fairways!!

The explanation I got was they were transitioning from winter grass to Bermuda. Transition shouldn’t happen once it’s dead. I’ve seen much better “transitions”. Or. Close the course for a week. Or. Make sure it’s clear in the reservation that the course is dead.

One of the worse fairway conditions I ever played in Arizona. I’m shocked they charged 65 bucks. Longbow use to be such a great and fun course.

Solid course just not right now - little to no grass on fairways and around greens, tee boxes are in great shape, and greens are just bad. Outside service employees need a lot of work - no one at bag drop, no help getting to our cart, not even a good morning from any staff member, small bucket of balls has maybe15 balls in it, no joke.

A fast green and a nice driving range, but fairway was bad. No grass and just dirt.

Really disappointed.

I enjoyed my round at Longbow. The course always exposes me when I am not good off the tee. Regardless, the greens were in pretty good shape. The fairways were a bit tough but the staff told us about that before we headed out.

Fun round on a nice track! Greens are in good shape. Fairways getting a little brown but not too bad. Layout is challenging but fair. Longbow is an excellent value option in the East Valley. Friendly and helpful staff as well.

Not at all what one would expect in a Troon managed course; sure we’re a desert, but the condition of the course fairways being dry and in many places barren was not acceptable for what has always been a well kept course.

One green looked like it had been struck by lightening, with circular dead marks around what was obviously former pin locations, but outside a dimension of a normal placement/replacement.

Course was very good shape, layout is nice , bunkers were nice and sandy, greens rolled fair and good.. Staff was friendly and attentive… , practice area was also very good..! would def play again.!

Tee’d off at 11:45 - finished just over 4 hrs. Never had to wait on a shot or hold up groups behind. Marshall passed us 4 times - wish every course monitored pace of play. Fairways had some browning. Greens were in excellent shape.

You have bunkers wrapped around the puttng greens and if you land in there, good luck. Had a great time!