Apache Gold Casino Resort
About Apache Gold Casino Resort
Apache Gold Casino Resort, located an hour's drive east of Phoenix-Scottsdale near the southeast edge of the Tonto National Forest, is owned by the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Apache Stronghold Golf Course, designed by architect Tom Doak, is located on the property. Other nearby attractions are the Picke Post Mansion and Boyce Thompson Arboretum, as well as Miami and Globe, two western boomtowns from the 19th century. The hotel features 145 guest rooms and suites, and amenities include an outdoor pool, fitness center and nightclub.Facts
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Golf courses at Apache Gold Casino Resort
Images from Apache Gold Casino Resort
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Could be a good course with a little watering
Greens and Tee Boxes are the only areas watered. Fairways have not seen water since the last rain.
Fairways have bare spots down to gravel. Greens have some damage, however are challenging. Cart paths rough riding. There were water bottles in coolers throughout the course, which was nice, since the water fountains did not work.
The course is diaapointing.
They have green tee boxes and greens.
Everything else is brown. Areas on some of the greens need work. Courses layout is nice but needs attention.
January play
Winter grass cobditions. Dirt cart paths soiled the golf bag and equipment. Good greens.
Have not overseeded?
First time playing this course. They have not overseeded. First hole we played, tough to figure out where the fairway was? Looks like it was probably a really nice course but it's not being looked after. Not worth the drive. Too bad, potential is huge.
Good Value and Layout
Nice design and priced well. If they invested some $$$ could be a top course in Eastern AZ.
Good place
The course was not overseeded so the rough is dead and the fairway is brown. Not a very pretty course when it’s like this but I don’t feel my score suffered at all just not a pretty course when its brown. The layout of this course is excellent I really enjoyed it. They have free range balls and water on the course which was a nice treat. The food was pretty good as well. If this course was closer to the valley I would play it every week. Really fun and enjoyable.
Course layout is nice
Course is good, not as nice as it is in the spring/summer staff is always friendly
Winter golf in Arizona desert
Very fun and challenging course to play. The greens are fantastic the fairways on a few holes need some work but not to bad. Can't wait to play this course in spring when it greens up. The staff is awesome Rudy as always knows what's going on and very informative. Great course to play.
Excellent greens that will challenge the best putters
Played the course in winter condition. Fairways were not overseeded but in good shape. Nice roll and the ball generally was positioned well. Greens were in good to very good condition. ( one green had some issues and had under repair ropes up.) This is a long course that winds though the desert mountains. What it lacks in modern features ( gps on carts,yardage markers on every sprinkler head, ball washers on the cart and paved cart paths)....it more than makes up for beautiful senery, challenging golf, constant elevation changes and a super friendly staff.
This course should not to be considered a top tier level of course found here in the Phoenix area ( We-Ko-Pa, Troon Courses, The Phoenician, The Kierland Resort) but definitely as nice for me to play as McDowell Mountain, Tatum Ranch, and The 500 Club.
Biggest draw-back...distance from my home. It is easily 1 1/2 hrs from east Mesa..Going through small town's main streets at 25-30 mph adds a ton of time to your trip. ( And each town had a law enforcement person with someone pulled over...just saying)
But if you have the time and are willing to take a drive out east..then I would say you wont be disappointed. AND you can always hit the casino after your game. It shares the parking lot with the golf course. Cha-Ching!
Best condition in years
Course is coming back nicely. Greens in great shape. Well worth the drive. Good value.
Pass on it for now
This is the most run down course I've ever played in the Phoenix area. It's a shame that the one Doak course we have has come to this, but it has. Im sure the location of the Casino this course is associated with is the cause, but that doesn't change the reality.
It's practically unplayable. The greens weren't actually to bad where they had grass, but every one had some dead areas, a couple even had areas roped off. I guess if it were around the corner I might put up with some of the issues, but at 90 miles away it just isn't worth the time. I'd like to say we should support it just to get it back in shape, but I can't. The place needs a million dollar over haul, but I'm not sure that would turn it all around. It's just to far away and there really isn't any other reason to go out there. With 4 major casinos in the east valley, two of which have world class golf. This place is destined to fail, unfortunately.
refreshingly unique course
every hole has its own character with no holes being remotely the same.very tough greens sand traps are much improved..course just needs some water and T L C.
Great high deserrt course, that is challenging to the average golfer like myself. Greens is excellent shape. Has 5 different tee locations .
Had a great time and will return to play the course again sometime in the future.
To use a phrase, A Diamond in the Rough
We tried this course based on some other reviews. We wanted to get out of town and play a desert type course.
They haven't over seeded the fairways so they are brown, but very playable. The greens were in better shape than many of the valley courses we played this last week. Another review had said their sand traps where bad, they must have repaired them since then, they where better than many others.
They are in a recovery phase, and it shows, but when they get it all fixed it will be great. The views are worth going out for and the staff we met are great. Rudy, the starter/cart guy that was on when we went out was awesome, and Greg that was on when we came in was great to talk to, also, very interesting fellas.
As the fountains were not working out on the course, they not only start you out with a bottle of water, free, they have coolers stationed around the course with bottled water for you.
The dirt paths are as smooth as some of the so called paved or gravel paths at other courses.
The summary of all this, give it a try. Don't go out expecting a fancy course, but it is fun, scenic and a little rustic but we had a great time. No crowds either. The drive out is worth it too.
Diamond in the rough
This course use to be a top 75 public course you could play in the U.S.i can understand why. Great layout that is on it's way back.Back tees play at 7500 yds. Worth going to those tee boxes just for the views! If you play the rough spots as ground under repair especially the bunkers you will enjoy the experience. The staff is very friendly. It's a ride from the valley but if you tie it to a casino visit you can justify the ride. Look for "Hot Deals" on Golfnow. Took 4 hrs to play because we spent time checking out the views from the back tees. Had the place virtually to ourselves and could of finished in 3 1/2 hrs.
Challenging and not crowded
Greens are in very good condition, fairways are a bit rough, but not bad and fairly open. Some wet areas on the fairways need to be avoided with carts and balls will plug in these areas. Markings on the course between holes is a bit lacking, but getting lost isn't an issue. Staff is very friendly and helpful.
Every hole has character!
Played the course on October 19, 2013 and enjoyed it. The large undulating greens were fast, smooth and soft. The fairways were in good shape and although the rough was high enough to bury the ball, once I found it, I could hit out of the rough fairly well. Each hole has character, especially the many holes with elevated tee-boxes and those with elevated greens. I found the cart paths a bit rough and I can imagine the second cart in a group would eat a lot of dust, but all in all, this was a very enjoyable round. I recommend the course to all! BTW..Rudy was awesome and the ladies in the Pro Shop and Bar were nice and friendly. I played at 9am and got a good discount over the 10am rate and will definitely make the trip up from NW Tucson to play the course again!
would be a great layout if maintained better
The course is well laid out but not in great shape .Greens were okey ,but fairways were dry and in poor shape, bunkers are very poor.
Better
They've got the greens running nicely, but traps and fairways are not very good. Such a great design, however, that I don't care! Wonderful course for the price.
7500 yards, a challenging any type of golfer
the course still needs some work. I have played there on and off for the last 5 years. The improvements have been great.