Arizona Grand Resort

There are a few nice holes on the back 9 but overall not a great track

Enjoyed playing here. Front and back 9's are very different (back is more difficult/narrower).

Course is kept in very good condition. Only gripe is that many of the tee boxes are pretty chewed up, but fairways and greens are good.

Bar/restaurant inside is good too.

Four of us played at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix. Located in a truly grand old fashioned resort, the course was a combination of lush fairways, desert wastelands on each side and lighting fast undulating greens. Some great and some not so great shots but local knowledge would have been useful. Most of us would welcome a return trip. Outstanding vistas of the valley and one par 5 with massive tiered sand traps. Water comes into play on many holes.

It’s one of those courses you need a replay to understand where you should try to hit your shot. In good shape really fast greens. No one in the pro shop after the round and I wanted to buy a couple of shirts they had on sale.

The only warm up area is hitting off mats in a cage. 😚. Practice putting green is small. There are two distictly different 9s. The course conditions were very good but not lush. The greens were firm and fast and true but with some blemishes. I am 9 hcp and played blue tees and usually had 100 yard approach shots. The first 9 was fairly tight with construction on #2 and some well positioned but poorly maintained penalty areas. Interesting slopes and elevation changes; blind shots on #1,2,6. I liked the course design rewarding shot shape and distance control. The second 9 was completely different with very scenic holes, pedestalled tee boxes, larger greens, elevation up and down, bordering mountain with hiking trail. #18 tee box is a fantastic photo op looking down on the green and out towards downtown. Well worth the $100 greens fee.

I have played here before and enjoyed it. Today was different. They had overbooked the course and didn't manage pace at all. We had a 1:00 tee time and got off late. We followed another group playing from the wrong tees and waited on every hole. We eventually left with 4 holes to go and on the way back to clubhouse each tee box had 2 groups waiting.

When we got to the clubhouse the outside service staff was indifferent to our issues. There was no one in the shop to talk to.

Add in no range to warm up, and a very cumbersome bag drop area and it was a less then favorable day.

Everything was fine. After passing a group on the third Teebox, we put five holes on them. We were done in four hours. The greens were nice. Most of the grass is a little dormant or matted down but everything worked out fine.

First the positives, the greens were pretty good and consistent. Fairways were in reasonable shape and the bunkers seemed to have an ample amount of sand. Carts included GPS and speakers for pairing your phone for music. The staff were friendly and courteous that I interacted with. The course has quite a few elevation changes if you like that type of layout. Pace of play was okay, we played as a threesome so waiting at a few tee boxes was expected.

Now the negatives, too many blind shots off the tee/fairway and the GPS layouts didn’t seem to match up with the actual hole layout. The course design takes the driver out of your hand on too many holes. The signage is poor to know where the next hole is in a few cases as well. The tee boxes were in poor shape, they need some water and maybe the course has a water restriction, I don’t know. The residential buildings are too close on a few holes and there are no screens to protect them. If you played the course a few times I guess you would learn where to hit it but I found it frustrating and not that enjoyable to play.

A little pricey on the beers but overall coure is worth the money thus the 5 stars. I bet it is a great place to stay.

Way too much money for this course the greens are horrible for $120 plus the drinks are over $10 each no way!!!

Course was in nice shape. Greens were running well. A few bunkers needed a little attention. But over all, a nice course. Pace was perfect.