Oasis/Desert at Phoenician, The

This is the second time playing the Phoenician. I am glad to say I got to play all 27 holes before Marriot takes over the property at the end of the year and fully re-designs the course to an 18 hole facility.

But I do welcome the change, as the 27 current holes consist of a few un-appealing/hokey-type set ups. I hope they pick the best aspects of all three 9's and make a great track.

If you do have an opportunity, this is one of......if not the most meticulously cared for, Troon course in the valley......it's a good mix of tight/target style golf with a few parkland style holes, all in a very lush setting with great views. It is very short though.....I hope the Reno addresses that.

Play it if you haven't

It's summer golf in AZ which means low rates and (hopefully)) quick-paced play. But, the low rates encourage some courses to load up the tee sheet, resulting in painfully slow play. Hot I can handle but hot and slow is just not good. Regrettably, that's the story on the Phoenician.

Beautiful setting with great foliage and water elements. Greens are ok but not great and some fairways a little patchy Overall an enjoyable golfing day

The resort is under refurbishment, with a number of holes closed (they normally have 3 loops of 9) the 18 we played were a mix taken from all 3 loops.

Otherwise I would recommend the course, and given the opportunity I would go back.

You were on different courses especially on the 17th and 18th. They are renovating the course and you were driving to another course for the 17th and 18th hole. Frustrating! I wish that was told to me upfront so I could have booked another course.

The course was beautiful and considering it was under construction play flowed very well.

A yardage book was promised as part of the package. The course had no idea nor did they have any yardage books. You would think if something is being offered by such a up scale facility they would follow through on their offerings. It would be great if we received the books as I was visiting my daughter and son in law and will play the course again. Thank you. Sandi Rudenko

I recently played the Phoenician golf course on Easter 2017, Thinking it would be a fast play and should be short of players, that was not the case. They have different courses to play but they put me (a 42 yr old male) above average golfer with 2 seniors females (lol) to play along with. Well lets just say i wasted my time and money that morning. We played 4 holes and they told me to play ahead if i wanted to because well they were NOT good at all (understatement), little did i know the course was busy all the way through. I left after 4 holes because i didn't want to spend 5 hrs on the course on a holiday. I called the clubhouse after leaving as a courtesy not to make a scene and they had no answer just silence and no apology for me, and to that resolve will not recommend this course to anyone, golfers beware poorly run staff.

We enjoyed the first nine holes we played, The Oasis nine. Parkland style, interesting & fun. My problem was with our back nine. The Desert nine is not a desert course in the sense that it runs through the desert. There is desert on the edge (usually one side only) of some of the holes, but you never feel like you are in the desert. This nine has some extreme elevation changes and a couple of good holes, but overall it's more tricked up than interesting & I have no desire to play it again. The Canyon course looks interesting, but was closed due to a major remodel of the resort. I would like to give it a try on another trip one day.

Regardless of cost, when you sit for 15 minutes on the T box hole after hole, it simply detracts from the rhythm of the game. Ultimately the pace of play became extremely slow and we left the course after the 15th hole. Secondly, there is a significant amount of facility construction, and the laborers are clueless about golf etiquette. I would hope someone in management takes their position seriously. No evidence of same on Friday.

We played the Desert and Canyon for our 18. On almost every hole, the view of Camelback Mountain, the valley, Phoenix, and the actual golf holes are breathtaking. People might even pay to just rides the cart and take in the view. The course was fun to play. The staff was friendly and helpful. It was a fun day.

From the moment we turned off of Camelback into the resort we had smiles ear to ear. The resort is beautiful, well laid out, manicured landscaping and ultra friendly staff. It was our first time playing here, and definitely not our last. We played Desert/Canyon 18, the course at this time of year is very green and lush, not burnt out at all. The design is challenging but playable and fair. I read some reviews of it being shorter, it may be, but this is a definite must play in the valley and did not play "short". The practice faculty is also in mint condition, again lush and the greens rolled true just as on the course. I can't say again how happy we are with the Phoenician and can't wait to play here again next time in town. Ps. Bring a camera or a good camera phone, amazing views from many tee boxes!!!

Loved the layout. Staff was very friendly. We were finished within 4 hours. My only complaint is the bunkers. Unfortunately, I was in quite a few bunkers and the material under the sand with showing in a lot of areas. The bunkers need some sand in them. Other than that the fairways were in great condition the greens were running fantastic... great experience. Best compliment anybody can give is... I would go back.