First time playing the course. This is not what I anticipated as being a desert golf experience aside from the cactus and other indigenous landscape. The modern era design is anything but "target" go... Continue »

First time playing the course. This is not what I anticipated as being a desert golf experience aside from the cactus and other indigenous landscape. The modern era design is anything but "target" golf but does offer an enjoyable experience. A good mix of doglegs either direction. Undulating fairways with large greens and little break. Not too many memorable holes of signature type design. The red rock in the distance, however, does make for great panoramic views. On a side note, the low-flying cessnas overhead was pretty neat.

Course conditions: Tee boxes were fine. Fairways were thin, but maintenance crew was in process of preparing for new grass. So lots of cut dead grass did impede roll. Greens were rolling true and fast. I'm sure this course would look great during peak season.

Service was average.

Played last week and able to get on with a time of 8:00 but since I was by myself the starter let me go earlier. I finished the round in less than 3 1/2 hours. I had a couple 3somes ahead of me and ... Continue »

Played last week and able to get on with a time of 8:00 but since I was by myself the starter let me go earlier. I finished the round in less than 3 1/2 hours. I had a couple 3somes ahead of me and a 2some behind me so I just paced myself. Great views here. Loved looking at the red mountains. Pretty private little place except for the planes taking off across the street. I really liked this course and it was in great conditions. I don't think it's a difficult course but it definitely helps to have played here a few times. Tried to cut a few corners off the tee and paid the price for it. Also I'm not sure about this but everything I hit seemed to be half a club farther than I normally hit so it took a little adjustment. Fairways, greens and rough were all in great shape. I paid $75 for this course and thought it was a good deal for it. If I lived here I would make it a point to put this one in my rotation. Not too far from where I was staying and right off the 202. From the guy in the pro shop, bag drop guys and marshall everyone was extremely nice. Nice size range and a chipping green and putting green made this an enjoyable experience for me.

Played Sunday 7/26. When you walk up to the clubhouse, the feel of this club is very different. The carts are all parked under a canopy of desert trees--it's actually shady! Very nice. Modern faciltie... Continue »

Played Sunday 7/26. When you walk up to the clubhouse, the feel of this club is very different. The carts are all parked under a canopy of desert trees--it's actually shady! Very nice. Modern facilties, very large driving range (though a small bag of balls is $6) and excellent putting green. No problem bringing your own cooler, though one is also provided on the cart. Attentive service from the cart guys and the pro shop ("tee off whenever you're ready"--gotta love golf in the desert in July).

Note: I rated the sand traps as a "0" because they are all undergoing a massive renovation and are considered "Ground Under Repair," so they were all unplayable. I read on a another site that this course doesn't have many traps--huh??? There's sand pretty much around every hole and in the fairways at critical spots, not to mention the fact that it's a desert course and if you stray, you're in even more sand.

The tee boxes were thin but still in good shape. A fairway shot was like hitting from a light green carpet--really nice on most holes, particularly given the fact it's late July. I can only imagine how lush it is in November. The greens were as advertised: hard, but smooth and fair to putt on (just hard to get them to hold a shot on from the fairway). This course has A LOT of desert carries, so be prepared. Pace of play right now is stellar: finished my round in under 2 1/2 hours. A good, not great course. Not sure I'd play it when the greens fees go back up, but overall, a course you should play at least once.

CP

Played May 17; temp was 104, and we had a 1040 tee time, due to mens day. This is the first time we have played this course. It was very, very hot. Course was quite dry,but it has been unusually hot... Continue »

Played May 17; temp was 104, and we had a 1040 tee time, due to mens day. This is the first time we have played this course. It was very, very hot. Course was quite dry,but it has been unusually hot and dry this month. The fairways ran, greens were very fast and hard to hold. I liked the course layout, others in my group did not however. Scoring was difficult because of the firmness of the course, the pin placements were challenging as well, not unfair just challenging. Service was good. I would give this course another try. We got a pretty good deal $50 incl. cart and range balls.

Played in 2 charity scrambles 4/19 & 4/25. Overall, golf course is in great condition. Greens were firm & fast. Rolled about 10.5 to 11. Needed a soft high spin ball to hold them. Course has a n... Continue »

Played in 2 charity scrambles 4/19 & 4/25. Overall, golf course is in great condition. Greens were firm & fast. Rolled about 10.5 to 11. Needed a soft high spin ball to hold them. Course has a nice practice area. The staff handled both tournaments well. We finished both rounds in under 4hrs. 45mins. Course usually has reasonable summer rates.

Enjoyable getaway day course. Not far from airport. Conditions were firm and fast- both fairways and greens. Greens rolled very nicely. Was able to get at most flag locations due to ability to pla... Continue »

Enjoyable getaway day course. Not far from airport. Conditions were firm and fast- both fairways and greens. Greens rolled very nicely. Was able to get at most flag locations due to ability to play run up shot if you wish. Am guessing that Longbow does not always play this firm. We were there in April 2009. Great value, although, would not play again if we had to pay 'normal' AZ winter/spring rates. Excellent service as well.

Played on 11/8/08. Course is two weeks out of overseed. Cart path only. Greens still long and slow but putt true. Fairways and greens came through overseed well. Good cover of grass on course. P... Continue »

Played on 11/8/08. Course is two weeks out of overseed. Cart path only. Greens still long and slow but putt true. Fairways and greens came through overseed well. Good cover of grass on course. Pace of play is always a problem here, particularly on weekends. Course had a tournament a couple of hours ahead of our tee time. Took us 5+15 to play the 18 holes. Course has a pace of play policy but does not enforce it. Marshalls are for "show" only; they are ineffective due to no support from Director of Golf. Longbow is still best value for the price in the East Valley.

ive seen it worse but course is so hard like playing british open course. only shots that will stay on the greens are the ones that land 20 yds short and bounce up on. nice layot and green grass still... Continue »

ive seen it worse but course is so hard like playing british open course. only shots that will stay on the greens are the ones that land 20 yds short and bounce up on. nice layot and green grass still lurks

The Ken Kavanaugh designed Longbow Golf Club is a desert style, core layout with no housing intrusion which gives a wide open feel and unobstructed views of the nearby mountains. The course plays fas... Continue »

The Ken Kavanaugh designed Longbow Golf Club is a desert style, core layout with no housing intrusion which gives a wide open feel and unobstructed views of the nearby mountains. The course plays fast and firm with superb turf conditions and is walkable. Generous off the tee, most of the challenge comes from the well bunkered and highly contoured greens complexes. Its location in Mesa means the rates are 1/2 what they would be in Scottsdale. One minor drawback is its proximity to the Falcon Field airport. Highly recommended!