Played Ocotillo (Gold 9 to Blue 9) for $50 on Friday June 5th around 8:06am on a beautiful mid-90's June summer day in AZ. Driving up to the course the parking spaces are ample for this 27 hole comple... Continue »

Played Ocotillo (Gold 9 to Blue 9) for $50 on Friday June 5th around 8:06am on a beautiful mid-90's June summer day in AZ. Driving up to the course the parking spaces are ample for this 27 hole complex that hosts many other events than just golf. This Mickelson golf property (one of the few in AZ not private) has present staff at bag drop, two rangers and a good not great clubhouse. The driving range (not included in the tee time any longer) is a good size, I didn't use it but it looked in decent shape. There's two practice putting greens scattered in front of the bar/grille area and they're similar to the course's greens for a good intro pre-round.

Onto the course conditions; absent of rain the course was rather soaked throughout. I overheard there was a city championship coming here and they were definitely trying to green the course up. The tee boxes were lush and overgrown in some areas, no major divot damage except par 3's, with ample space to find grass however. The fairways were generally in good/decent shape however throughout some of the areas you could find yourself begging for more grass as there were some dried out burn spots. The rough was present even though around this course there's more water hazards than penal rough. The bunkers were of good consistency, not muddy but not tour fluff/soft bunker sand. The greens held their own, a few pitch marks and fringe problems on a few greens. They were slow/soft but a breeze to putt on nonetheless.

This course is one of the most inconsistent courses I know of, one month it can be picturesque and the next visit will be like today where it's definitely playable but it's not exquisite. I know I'm nitpicking (like with the fringe and fairway burn spots in non-landing areas) but a complex of this caliber and management, I expect more. It's a fun day for sure and I have a sense of sentimental feelings towards this place but for the prices charged there's still better shape and quality courses in Arizona.