Played here 7/31/23.
This is not a 2.1 course as previously reviewed. I get the impression last review was based on bar service rather than the course itself.

Overall, very good condition, albeit a little soft and soggy in spots.

Tees were a little long but lush.

Fairways were excellent. Medium soft Bermuda but very lush condition.

All bunkers visited had plenty of soft sand and were raked / maintained well.

Greens also on soft with medium pace, but minimal ball marks, smooth.

A little bit of a tricky layout in spots, but a decent value for OC. POP was good, at 4 hours and friendly service at check in, pro shop, and courteous grounds crew who stopped mowing / working when ever we approached or were in the area.

Played 7/20/2023.
Lots of very positive improvements here.

Good coverage in fairways, greens rolling nicely and quite smooth. All bunkers I hit from had very good sand. A couple greens are new 15 & 18, I believe, and are much firmer than all others.

Played here years ago and I don't recall exactly what layout changes are, but new routing is pretty solid. First 4 (formerly back nine) are quite tough.
There are a few quirky holes. Par 3 4th plays 200 straight up hill, a fairway below is a mess. The Par 5 7th is among the narrowest around, but all up, a fun course. Back 9 much shorter than front

Enjoyable conditions, good break from hot weather inland.

Understand bar / restaurant / clubhouse renovations are likely complete in September. You won't recognize from previous condition. Looks great !

Played here 5/5/2023.

Excellent conditions right now, and much better than conditions when I played here and reviewed last September.

Greens and Fairways were beautiful. No signs of the damaged or sparse greens I saw in September. Kudos to the crew at Oak Creek.

Enjoy now.

Played here 9/30/22.

Always tough to be critical, but at this point in time, I'd avoid due to poor green conditions. I believe, to Oak Creek's credit, they discounted green fees, as they recognize the greens are not up to their standards. Very poor in some areas, and at best, just below average. Despite condition, rolled better than they would appear, in most cases.

Fairways were excellent, very good coverage and good cushion, but still firm enough to get decent roll out.

Did not hit from any bunkers, but appeared to have ample amount of sand.

No issues with tee boxes.

Beverage cart around a couple of times, could have used one more appearance on back nine.

Grille (reason unknown) is still closed, and was also closed when I played here a few months ago.

Vast grass hitting range, excellent chipping / practice are. Friendly customer service.

Played here 7/13/22. Had 850 tee time, arrived early and got right out as single. I never saw another golfer until the 16th hole. Very quiet, 11 cars in parking lot. Was a little worried about condition if no one playing.

Overall however, very good condition, although many areas between holes need to be cleaned up.

Tee boxes were a bit suspect, #2 in poor condition, but most others were fine.

Fairways were very good,, well defined, and medium firm to get good roll out, but still provided nice lies throughout with good cushion.

Greens were excellent. Medium soft but rolled beautifully, and very pure medium speed.

Bunkers were a little shaggy in spots, but sand was fine, although, had not been dragged / raked for a while.

Excellent layout, well guarded green complexes, with mounding and bunkers, plenty of trees along the way but none really are in play.

Not beverage cart, just a window for check in, unsure if bar / café was open. But if looking for a very good golf experience, good place to go right now. Highly recommend. Enjoy

Played here Friday 1/15/2022. Overall, enjoyable course in good to very good condition. Had perfect 70 degree day with light breeze.

Good driving range, mats and grass, was grass on this day. 2 good sized putting greens all in the same area as range. Easy and very casual check-in.

Some tee boxes were mostly sand and dirt (1, 6 and 11 come to mind) but otherwise in good shape.

Fairways are mostly good coverage although a little thin and shallow in spots. Soft and not much run.

Greens were in excellent condition. Receptive but still rolling very well. Smooth and a little tricky in spots. I tried to find break in some putts and was none. Others looked flat / straight and had more tilt than I could see.

I did not play from any sand bunkers, but looked fine.

Fun and interesting layout. Good birdie chance on straight away 315 yard 1st. Pin placements can make a difference here unless you've played a couple of time and know the shape and contours of greens.

Good mix of short / medium par 4's (tough 4th hole with R/L dogleg and L/R fairway tilt). Reachable par 5 7th, is sharp dogleg R/L, but with on course OB to the left. 600 yard par 5 12th. Uphill, and R/L with severe back to front green. Elevated tee on 370 yard par 4 14th with bunker and pond covering the entire width of landing area, which requires a 260 carry or 190 layup. A lot of R/L holes, so tough on the faders out there.

Nice open air patio restaurant and bar. Good classic rock and roll playing which you can hear all the way to the end of long par 4 10th. Ambulance (beverage cart) was around throughout. Good day, enjoy.

Played here, first time, in the GK / Golf Moose shotgun, 11/15/21.

Encouraged by the reviews from a few weeks ago, and wasn't disappointed. Not much more to add from previous reviews. Conditions still at high level.

Fairways (I believe kikuyu) were well maintained and very lush. Kikuyu cut short and were nice and firm but still provided a good cushion.

Greens, little bumpy in spots, but otherwise quite fast and smooth, subtlety tricky . Most were tilted back to front so approach shots to the correct level was important.

While I did not venture into any bunkers, they looked great and playing partners commented very positively.

Fun layout and still a good challenge albeit at just over 6000 yards form tips.

Would recommend to anyone who gets a chance to play here.

Played here, first time, on 5/14/2021.

Overall, I loved, not only the course, but the entire Trilogy operated Wickenburg Ranch complex. I left here feeling I could retire on the property. In fact, was looking in the PHX area for a new home, and the one and only downside to this property, is the location. About 45 minutes WNW of Surprise, with nothing in between. The small town of Wickenburg provides some of the essentials, but no 'big box' retail until you get to Surprise.

On to the course.

Gated community, but for now, course still open for public play. The course will eventually become private. Currently managed by Troon Prive'. Very clean and drop off complex which includes a small eatery and larger bar and restaurant. ALL staff inside and out were very friendly and accommodating.

Very large, beautifully landscaped putting area at 1st tee staging area. Also, very nice and huge practice range and short game area.

Starter escorts you to 1st tee and provided just the right amount of course related detail.

Tee boxes were perfect and each tee box had a yardage plate at the back of the tee box with distance to the aiming pole ion the fairway. I played the course at 6200 yards and all of the yardage plates were about 220-240 from the aiming pole. No GPS, so essential you understand that bit of information.

Fairways were nearly perfect. Still very green and lush. Some nice elevation changes and interesting throughout. Homes around the course but never, that I can recall, were in play or obtrusive.

Very good fairway and greenside bunkers, very well maintained and rakes are back !

Greens were very interesting and challenging as well. Medium fast to fast, firm, smooth, and nice undulation which can funnel your shots close, depending on pin location.

Very fair course and can be as challenging as you want to make it with 6 tee sets from 4847-7023 yards, with water in play on 4-5 holes. Fun layout, great views of surrounding hills / mountains, throughout, with an excellent par 5 18th back up towards the amazing clubhouse / restaurant complex.

I haven't even mentioned the Lil' Wick course, which is a very cool 9 hole par 3 course on the property. Didn't play it, looked to be in exact same, high quality condition. It sits around the Watering Hole which is the hot spot for residents to hang out. A peninsula which includes a small bar and restaurant with plenty of seating, and TV's, all outdoors.

One of the most fun locations I've ever played, and just might be where I buy my next home.

Played here 1/28/21. Conditions overall were very good, and much better than review from last July would indicate. Lush green fairways throughout. Just off fairway, was dormant and somewhat thin, but I'm guessing dramatically better than July.
Greens were firm, smooth and medium fast. Very well maintained, with nicely cut apron and first cut around the greens.
Bunkers were excellent, plenty of sand and all maintained and raked.
Played with a couple of PD Resort homeowners and they indicated course is now owned by residents and is managed by Landmark.
Very pleasantly surprised and wanted to give the course a little love. Noticed many grounds crew, working on details around bunkers. Appears much more effort to bring the course up to spec, is underway.
Enjoy now.

Played here, first time, 9/11/20.

Really enjoyed the course, and given this place had been closed for several years, and has only been opened for a few weeks, I thought condition was very good. Certainly rough around the edges, but if I'm only rating the course, 'between the ropes' so to speak, was impressed, and will not nit pick a great deal. Glad to see the course open.

No driving range here, but a nice putting green next to where starer is. A short cart drive under thru the tunnel, and off you go.

As mentioned in other recent reviews, soggy in spots, especially on the front. I hope the course can keep the cart traffic under control a little better, (i.e. Install enter and exit signs to fairway, or ask for 90 degrees with carts) otherwise, they may lose larger sections of the turf to mud and deep cart tracks.

Tee boxes were very good, level and good coverage, but a good amount of unrepaired divots.

Fairways were a little greener than described in recent posts. I found them to be well covered, and green, but again, too wet in spots. Very little roll, and some balls that nearly plugged and bounce backwards.

Greens were excellent, smooth, rolling nicely, with dense coverage. Too soft in spots, so again, deep ball marks which are tricky to repair adequately. Very nice green complexes throughout. I'll repeat the previous opinions: The highlight of the course. A pleasure to play on.

Bunkers were not raked well, but as my temporary (albeit, slightly illegal) solution has been, during the low sand maintenance period caused by an epidemic, I simply move a little sand around to create a decent lie and play it from there.

I really enjoyed the layout, the challenge, and even though some distractions with construction, and areas of neglect around the course, will give it another try very soon.

Beverage cart out, and on course Ambassador was visible and doing a nice job keeping the pace going.

From what I understand, the old buildings will be taken down, and the original 3rd (9) will be transformed into foot and disc golf. I'll look forward to the process improvements, but still can recommend play now.

Played here Thursday 8/27/20.

Overall in good shape but overly soft and wet. I counted 6 balls that completely plugged (near green and just off fairway).

Tee boxes were chewed up, lots of un-repaired divots. I've always felt it is a 50/50 responsibility between players and course crew. and I think players are failing badly at filling / repairing divots on tee, fairways and greens.

Fairways were thin matted down grass in many areas, on top of soft ground or mud, to the point my group of 4 decided to play the ball up (lift, clean, replace) on the back side. I hit several approach shots from fairway with mud on the ball on the front side.

Greens were also super soft, and while they (obviously) held shots, were slow and only smooth in spots. Many ball marks throughout, made for difficult day putting. Pool noodles in cups, which is less than desirable but I understand.

Bunkers were very good, with only a couple of exceptions. Full of sand and raked well. Course provided a rake on every cart as part of the covid protocol.

Fun layout with front 9 more tree lined through homes, which do not come into play. Back nine though a much more natural setting and plays about 300 yards less from blue tees.

Patio open for lunch ad drinks, was a big plus. Very good service throughout.

Played here, first time, 8/12/20.

After playing at the very green, lush, tree-lined, lake view Coeur d'Alene, I made the 3 hour drive, west, on mostly 2-lane highway, to Gamble Sands. I knew going in, what to expect here. A links style David McLay Kidd design, which would be a completely different experience than the day before. As expected, it was, in many ways.

I still can't quite figure out if I enjoyed this course or not. Mixed with some elevation changes, blind shots, and fast, super firm turf (and more left to right winding holes than any other), I left somewhat puzzled and somewhat disappointed, but also had an eagerness to play again, armed with more intelligence and strategy.

I chose the Sands combo tee set (Back and Regular combination) at about 6400 yards. I think course will always play shorter than yardage with the firmness of the fairways. Course stretches to 7227 at the tips. I had excellent weather, warm, and breezy as the day went along. Started at 840am.

Conditions:

Tee Boxes were excellent, and many tee options to choose from. As with every other part of this course, tee boxes are firm and firmer. (I bought the yardage book in Pro Shop and recommend for first time out, although fairways have a good number of easily located markers.) Even with fairway markers, you'll benefit from the book and the slope / hill indicators.

Fairways were the fastest and firmest I've ever played. Great for runout and extra distance, however, that extra distance can sometimes lead you directly into a very difficult fairway bunker. I saw a few dead straight, down the middle drives from my group, that ran and ran and ran, right into trouble. (One frustrating aspect). One the other hand, it lend to a nearly 380 yard drive on #18. So some give and take.

Greens were again, as firm as I've ever played. Starter warned all of us to play 20-30 yards short and don't attempt to fly shots to the pin. He was right. Green complexes are gigantic, and in a lot of cases, you could putt from 30-50 yards out or even more. Easy to get GIR, but difficult to 2 putt, as you are likely to have many 100 footers for birdie, and many 8-10 footers for par.

Bunkers were difficult and some had many small stones in them. Conditions of sand varied a lot. First greenside bunker at #2, was deep (as most are) with wet dark dirt. Others were much lighter and drier. Avoid if you can.

The layout is the tricky part to assess fairly. As mentioned above, I'd like to play a second round, the day after the first time here, as it'll get you to thinking your way around better. I arrived the night before my round, and played the next morning, however, I'd suggest staying at the resort guest rooms 2 nights, and play the course, at least twice.

Lots of twists and turns, a few odd blind approach shots, sometimes from the middle of the fairway, and a 160 yard par 3, 4th, which if you follow the Pro Tips in the yardage book, requires a firmly struck PUTT (?!). I didn't notice the recommendation when I teed up an 8 iron, and now wish I could go back, just to try the putter off the tee. Very low rating and slope from the Sands tee (69.4 / 111) and I'm guessing next time I'll be more efficient, but I did not find the course to be that easy.

There are very nice rooms available on site, right next to a huge, and fun 18 hole putting course which offer a west facing view of the Columbia River, and great sunsets. I stayed in one of the 37 available, very well appointed rooms.

There is another 14 hole short course to be opened soon (Quick Sand), and from what I understand, would have already been completed if not for the C19 annoyance.

As I write this review, I've now decided, I'll certainly give it another try, stay a couple of nights, and play twice. Great food at the Danny Boy Grill near 18th hole. Get a group of (4) and enjoy. Not a particularly easy location to get to, but I recommend for all, and especially for those that enjoy treeless, link-style, close to ground play.