Arizona Grand Resort & Spa

Due to the fencing off for cart access on so many holes, it made it so much like a cart path only day and was exhausting.

Fun layout. Back nine very picturesque, weaving through the foothills. 18th tee box is quite elevated and looks out over a huge panorama of the Phoenix valley. Stunning!

Why not a 5 star? Like most courses these days, they don't hire rangers to keep pace of play going. On my last round our threesome whisked through the first 10 holes and then caught the inevitable pack, then twittled our thumbs waiting...and waiting...and waiting on each tee box. Then, about 45 minutes before dark, a message appears on the cart GPS telling golfers to finish the hole they're on and clear the course.

The thought comes, "oh, you won't monitor the course by preventing the slowest golfers in the slowest group from inconveniencing all the rest of the golfers on the course (fear of upsetting the slow golfer by telling them they are a slow golfer) but it's ok to tell all the rest of the golfers that it's too bad that slow golfers prevented them from finishing the round but it's time to clear the course."

This doesn't spoil the course but spoils a portion of the round so...4 stars.

This is definitely a more challenging curse than others in the South Mountain area. The back nine especially is a challenge of desert target golf. It would not be my pick for the first course to play if you're coming from the north but it would be on the list to play while in the area.

The greens are appropriately Not Huge. The long holes are fun and truly interesting. This course is for those that love exploration... Two ways to play, one is to be looking for your ball as you try to hit distant targets. Second, play song the steps and sometimes tee off with an iron because the dog-legged greenisn't revealed from the tee box.

No need to show off your distance skills... Show off your exacting shots. Greens do not require extraordinary skills to sink your cup, so enjoy the pace getting there. Soak in the majestic Arizona landscapes, especially on the back nine. As per the amenities, clubhouse, and other things at the a Arizona Grand... Meh, I'm a local and I go home afterward or to the Asian district in nearby Mesa.

By the way, don't be fooled, they DO NOT have a driving range or practice greens (a netted enclosure and one little spot on hole 1 do not count as warmup areas or practice areas for those used to such amenities).

Course is much tougher than our usual one at home. Yardage is the same but with the elevation changes and carries, it was harder

Course is in great condition. This is a pretty challenging course, very small and narrow greens as well as some small fairways. Par 3s are fun

The fairways and greens were in good shape. Tee boxes need some work.

Cart girls weren't stocked with enough lunch time food., so we had to wait until after our round (245pm) to eat.

No range. 2 beat up mats, no tees, and a net.

Putting area at first tee.

They make up for the lack of distance with a lot of target golf. I think I may have hit my driver on only about 8-9 holes, and I only hit it 220-240, So a lot of people would hit it even less than that. I enjoyed the course but I’d definitely feel better about it after playing it a few times. A lot of blind shots. Even though I played with three regulars who told me where to hit it, it was still uncomfortable at times. The greens were also very slow, which took some getting used to. I think I’d cut 5 shots next time just from experience of this round. (I had played there once a couple years ago, but still needed the guidance because I didn’t remember.)

The course is relatively short, but between elevation changes and turns, it is a test for all clubs. The greens are nice, the fairways are in good shape, but the traps could use some work. We chose this course because it was close to the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on our last day of a week-long golf vacation. The other courses we played would rank above this one if/when we visit Phoenix again.

Complimentary bottle of water would be a nice touch

Don’t waste your money here. There is a roped off construction area on the 2nd hole that takes up half the fairway and has been there for a year. The layout is terrible with holes next to busy freeways. Some of the tee boxes were giant patches of dirt. The greens had 3 different kinds of grass/weeds growing on them. This place is old and tired. You can tell they’re doing poorly financially. They don’t have proper signage or well kept paths. Pace of play was 5 hours for 18. There was a ranger on the course who did nothing to help the situation. We arrived at the 18th tee box around 6 pm(sunset 615). As we are about to hit the ranger pulls up and runs into the tee box saying the course was closed. After a brief exchange all we could do was laugh and promise we wouldn’t be back. Do not play here under any circumstances

We started at 2:40 and got through mid 15 holes before the Marshall came, literally picked our ball up right before the green and told us to get out. At that point we still had daylight left, I get that they don’t want unsafe golf in the dark but they could be way nicer than they were. However the course was ok and the valet guys who held our rental clubs were the one of the nicest people.

The course looks nice, in great condition, however, if you dont like playing blind tee shots or approach shots this isnt the course for you. Im also not a big fan of courses that have too many hills and slopes all over the fairway. A few too many times I'd hit a great tee shot only to be punished with a bad lie on a slope. Im on vacation not a tournament, i don't feel like struggling during my round.