Played this course at 10:44 am on June 10, 2018 for $22 tee fee. The course staff was very accommodating even though we had a disastrous time getting to the course due to our own fault and being late, yes late, to the tee time. The course was open and scattered players throughout, we allowed one single player to pass through on the front.

The course conditions were sparse and kind of inconsistent. In my last review I mentioned to come back and play in a year, well ironically enough without thinking of it that's what I did. The renovations including the revamping of the waste area of hole 9 and new green complex on hole 6 were complete, providing a nicer complete ambiance, nothing that changed play in my mind. The fairways were really thin, teetering with some lies being straight off burnt under watered grass. The greens were amazing, they were soft and receptive of all shot types and I got up to a 4 iron to make a pitchmark. The tee boxes were divoted pretty bad on par 3's, some par 4's where people have to lay up. The rough was minimal, basically if you didn't hit the fairway you were PROMISED a terrible lie to spin a wedge instead of PROBABLE from the fairway.

In general, this course is great during the morning when watered and dries out quickly in the afternoon. The prices show that they are still generally competing with nearby courses but have completely fallen out as the Q-School hosting course they once were. The challenge still makes this course a course that's fun to play and makes you humble, but its mainly characterized by the following: extremely dry fairways making drives go 280+ from run out, bunkers that are layered on top of each other near the penny sized greens and lakes that simply aren't being maintained.

I like this course and recommend a visit, just to see how you may like it because of it's playability and resemblance of early 2000's charm.

Played the newly renamed course O'odham (formerly North) for $31 at 2:18 pm on a packed Sunday 05/27. First things first is we called and booked to play the Piipaash (formerly South) because that course is easier and the one my dad wanted to play. Pulling up before the tee time and speaking with the starter Scott, he mentioned to us that Piipaash will be playing slow all day because of the amount of people and O'odham is open, as we looked over at the first tee of Piipaash and there were 2 foursomes waiting. So we took him up on the offer and changed courses. I didn't mind and I think it showed awareness that the starter gave us the choice.

What Scott mentioned was Piipaash was just host of the Scottsdale Open about a week ago and the course was in "peak" condition. This links course was definitely that. Every tee and fairway was firm and made every shot sit up. The greens were amazingly pure and running around an 11+, really fast compared to most courses pre-summer heat. The bunkers were free of debris and texture good enough to play the shot you wanted regardless of bunker location (there is a lot of them, not Ak-Chin Southern Dunes a lot but there are some tucked away and placed in the fairways).

The strategy and design of this course is difficult enough to make you grind all day. Not a course per say where you'll have a lot of triple or bigger for bogeys but it seems like you can never get your footing to score. The first hole is easy and straightforward, however right after you have the hardest hole par 5 second according to women's handicap and the following par 4 is the hardest hole according to men's handicap. The first par 3 is a mid-iron bunker guarded green at the 6th. Every shot needs to be calculated (can be thanks to on cart touchscreen GPS) and every 4 foot putt lined up. The holes seems to play off each other well and by the end of the day you realize it's been an incredibly wearing 18 holes, without any water. HUH, crazy...a course can be difficult without water.

The pace of play (below 4 hours and 10 minutes) and customer service provided makes this course pleasant, while the challenge of the design and landscape makes this a must play in the summer when most won't drop $150 come Winter/Spring peak.

Played with my dad and my girlfriend's dad all through a GolfNow rate of $10 a person for a 1:07pm tee time on 05/20. Great price for this course with a few nearby courses that can attempt to eat up competition (Gold Mountain and Superstition are nearest big dogs). Cartbarn guy was there to welcome us and the pro shop let us out whenever we were ready. There was no cart girl (haven't seen one for the summer in the afternoon ever) however plenty of water stations situated every four holes or so.

This course has been making some improvements around the desert brushes and trees so there's a little bit of plant carnage laying around for now. Once cleaned up the ambiance of the nature will seem cleaner. The tee boxes were all clean and green, easy to plant a tee at your choice of height. The fairways have ample sprinkler heads in the middle which causes green middle and dried out edges of fairways. The landing areas were clean and if there were any divots they seem to be filled by the maintenance team. The rough isn't the longest however the main defense of the course is the desert dirt that usually lies a few ten yards off the edges of the fairway. The greens were the truest I've seen this course, with only one or two par 3's with severe pitch mark damage but the rest were smooth and running around a 9.

This course is uniquely simple. Large driving range with great green grass to hit from into dirt, 3 practice greens with bunkers and the course is pure. Maybe there isn't some flashy 3 hole finish or crazy long par 5 gimmick; but I feel like being out playing golf under $30 in the summer with no houses nearby, a road running along what feels like at most 4 holes and a course that is actually impacted by wind severely in Arizona...feels right. This feels like the desert golf people from Florida would describe, and I enjoy it every time.

Called into the pro shop on a Wednesday for the Saturday April 7th, booked 2 players for $29 at 2:45 pm. The course is tucked away in the Papago (fitting name for the course) Mountains near the Phoenix Zoo and military base. When pulling into the sparsely marked parking lot, you'll see a lot of construction mid-process due to the transition of ASU Golf coming over and making this course its home. New clubhouse, large practice facility and further details to be unveiled are in the works. The cart barn guys are quick to welcome you and grab your bags. Go into temporary clubhouse and you'll be on your way. One of the employees guided us from the lot to the first hole and ran through a few rules of the course. Clubhouse to greenskeepers were courteous and present.

The tee boxes are large with a wide choice of tees to choose from (4 men's tees and 2 women's tees) all level and lush. The fairways were cut consistently and rolled out a few yards when landing. The rough was consistently an inch or so, with anything 20 yards away from fairways became desert and became thin. The bunkers from fairway to green side were perfect, with exception of a few with too many rocks, and texture lightly packed. The greens. THE GREENS. Large and pristine, rolled true as a billiards table (almost the speed too) and accepted spin from long irons as well. They were perfect. Everyone in group mentioned they were the star of the show, which doesn't take away from the rest of the course but just shows the strength of the greens.

This course is stringent on your ability to drive it consistently long however in the fairways in order to be able to attack the ever slightly tucked pins. Every green is in perfect shape; and with a good line and decent speed the putts will go where you put em. The fairways rolled out and never had divots in the way of your approach shots. The strategy on this course wears on your mental, 4 par 5's that are stretched out among the scorecard that seem to be placed right when you're coming off a grinding par 4 or crazy long par 3. The par 3's are all strong and only one is considered "short" (187 from Tips, 145 from Men's Front).

While you may not agree with ASU leaving Pete Dye's Karsten's Course, play here and you'll quickly realize this a strong course with great design, immaculate conditions and views that stretch from Tempe to Downtown Phoenix. Get out here and play 18!!

Played for a single $40 tee time around 9:36 am, paired with a threesome on 03/11/2018. Check-in was a breeze with pro shop being fairly well distinguishable as you walk up. The marshal and starter were present during a fairly busy Sunday Morning. There is one semi-large chipping green with bunker, two medium sized putting greens and a driving range that is suitable for around 30-35 golfers.

The course is a Tempe City muni that has often been characterized with slow play (over 5 hours). The pace of play was mediocre but noticeably improving (played under 4 hours and 30 minutes today). The best part of the day/round was the conditions vastly improved. The greens were rolling near perfect with the cups being cut like they were cut at a High Profile tour-stop (I was so careful picking my ball up out of the hole I would have to attempt a few times per hole). Even after a rainy day the greens rolled true and firm without being soggy. The fairways had tight lies and the rough wasn't too bad (wet but to be expected from last night's rain and morning drizzle).

This course is very straight forward. A few easy holes to open the round (two par 5's in the first 4 holes) and no par 3's over a 6iron even from tips. Par 5's are all reachable with consistent driving and the par 4's offer a range off approach shots. All in all , I've played this course quite a bit and all my previous gripes about this course are slowly being improved on by management and the actual greenskeepers. BRAVO.

Played Starfire on the 18th of February at 3:10pm at $29 twilight rate. Showed up early in hopes of being allowed to go out as a single because I was paired with an unknown grouping of three people and luckily enough they let me start with a well known local at 2:50 instead. Awesome. The pro shop is near the bag drop just past the dining area so easy to find and all staffers were present and helpful.

The course itself looked in presentable shape for a few weeks away from Spring. The tee boxes were easy to find and always seemed ready to accept a tee. The fairways were near perfect, knowing some landing areas that were close to the green being divot filled I would attempt to lay-up or go for the green, THEY WERE BAD in some areas. The bunkers were overwatered in some areas because of recent rain but none of them were crusty. The rough was 1-3 inches high so rather consistent and green around fairways. Greens were rolling great even though there seemed to be pitchmarks every one step, definitely something I'd keep an eye on. All in all the shape wasn't anything noticeable and didn't keep me from playing good golf.

This Arnold Palmer designed course has 3 nines, King/Hawk/Squire. We were scheduled to play King to the Hawk for completion of 18. King was a great combination of gettable par 5s and risky par 3s with no par 4 bearing incredible difficulty or requirements on the long irons. A rather tame and attackable 9 holes designed by a go-getter golfer.

On our way to the back 9, there were 3 FOURSOMES waiting on the first hole. NOPE. I wish I could say we stuck it tough and played through but we couldn't. I wish I could write a review for the rest of the course but I can't. Ranger needs to facilitate better timing between groups or this course needs to be avoided until the summer, which is when the local said it could be enjoyed to its full potential. Wouldn't return to play until then.

Played TPC Stadium on 08/16/2017 at 10:10 am for the last course on my summer week of golf. Played for $79 plus tax from calling into the shop. The employees were welcoming from bag drop to cart girl to even the locker room attendant (yes you should go check out the locker room where the pros hang out during the tour stop here).

The conditions were pristine, even though there were workers laboring away at certain points on course making renovations. Some areas had new sod being laid but majority of the land being improved were where the grandstands are and vendors needing maintenance (which is not anywhere close to where your ball should be). The tee boxes were perfect and beautifully level. The fairways were amazing, perfect texture and provided great amount of roll out without being baked. The rough was 2.5" to 4" in some places bearing difficulty if fairway not hit. The bunkers (the sand looks like powdered sugar and yes you'll want to eat it) were flawless; green side was fluffy and playable while the fairways were perfectly textured for crisp approach shots. The greens was the star of the round, accepted literally any shot with spin or loft elegantly and putts rolled as true if not truer than any green I've ever played. I couldn't get over the condition of this course at this time of year.

The layout is exciting and challenging enough to break a sweat. I would love to type out how interesting playing the last 4 holes are but everyone knows. No laying up allowed for Par 5 15th, Loudest hole in golf Par 3 16th, and reachable Par 4 17th, with the renovated Par 4 18th. Fun ending and don't sleep on front nine strategies as well.

This price ($79 plus tax), this venue/layout, with THESE conditions has to be the best value in town for what I've seen so far. I will probably never allow myself to shell out $250+ in prime season...this time of year is a DEAL.

Played with a friend who works at the course so I received the "employee discount" and played around 2:15pm on the 10th of August. The cart girl was present on the front nine but gone by the second. The bag boy was waiting for us at the finish of our round and was very helpful before the round as well.

The tee boxes grasped the tee placement well, the fairways were a little soggy in places from watering but fair to play off of. The rough was inconsistent, over 5" in some places to make you lose a 10 yard off target shot to bare and missing the fairway wasn't even a harm to your score. The greens were among the best shape I've seen them in. The ball rolled true, spun on well struck wedge shots and were the perfect speed for non-pros. The bunkers looked nice, luckily I wasn't in a single one to be the judge of that aspect.

The course is currently under some renovation: the 5th hole long par 5 is on a temporary green making way for a brand new larger green (they're getting rid of the palm trees and house sized bunkers surrounding the green complex). The water on the 9th is gone however the soil has been replaced with tons of rocks, perhaps making that area a new native area instead. And some other places on the course were just being re surfaced. New scorecards also were noted by my playing partner and I. This course is making the effort, you might want to wait a year before you check them out.

Walked with a buddy of mine at 9ish on the 10th of August for only $19. The pro shop was a bit stuffy and didn't seem to be super happy we walked in, but got the job done nonetheless. We saw the cart girl a total of 4 times throughout the round so she definitely was seen and present (a seemingly rarities for mid-tier courses during the summer here).

The conditions were pretty decent but a little worse from the last time I reviewed this track. The tee boxes showed a bit of wear with divots and some weren't level. The fairways were the highlight, couldn't find a bad lie (and we were all over them). The rough was negligible at only about 2" in it's highest, and it was anything but consistently cut. The greens were the downfall of the day though. I usually come here and preach on how great they are and receiving. However today they were firm and slow, a weird dynamic when playing in the morning and freshly cut. They seemed like they were punched about a month ago but they were still playing like artificial turf at the putting section of PGA Superstore firm.

I still enjoyed myself, this track is one of the easier courses to shoot low on and today was no different. However, playing with some people who have been playing Dobson for years, the course is starting to show its age...in a not so good way.

Played this golf course recently with a tee time around 12:03 for a cool $30 plus tax including cart and range balls. Showed up an hour early to scout around and see the layout. Have played here before so we knew what to expect but it always seems amazing once you enter this quaint little township. The course's service, from check in to bag boys, was top notch. My twosome's names were in the window of the golf cart (small thing to notice but not many places do it anymore) and we were on our way with some pointers from employees.

We were advised to head out before a foursome who was about to take OUR tee time of 12:03 which we found odd but we were off and on our way and the course shined bright. The tee boxes were lush and grasped a tee easily. The fairways were wide and rolled a bit far if hitting the short stuff. The rough wasn't nearly as long as last time we played however the rough was consistently 3" or more; so lengthy enough to make an impact on a round. The fairway bunkers were crisp while the greenside bunkers were fluffy and playable. The greens were a bit fast and receiving but the complexities made them a headache to play on.

This is the Founder's Course in a nutshell: long holes with wide fairways making you take driver off the tee, rough that makes you want to take long iron off the tee, and greens that remind you why you want to hit driver to leave a short iron or wedge into because of the false fronts and curvature. Honestly this course is a very long drive from the Valley (Mesa, Tempe, Chandler) however the views and quality of layout and conditions make it a must play.

Played Ocotillo (Gold course to White Course) at 2:13 pm on August 3, 2017 for a total with tax from their website for $31. Range balls are included, cart has a nice sized cooler on side full of ice. The employees were welcoming and ease of communication.

This course has recently been bought by Phil Mickelson's group; one nine (I believe the White course) have been re surfaced and worked on (notice I didn't say any remodeling) and reopened for play. The grass on tee boxes, to fairways and rough were growing back well. No bumpiness or bare spots to be seen really on the White. The greens throughout were very nice however played extremely slow, something other reviewers have thoroughly mentioned and it continues to be a weak spot. They are currently renovating Blue course and it seems Gold may be last.

As the way the course played on this overcast monsoon afternoon in Chandler, the fairways provided great roll. The tee boxes were lush and easy to grasp a tee and perfectly level (a flaw they used to be cursed with). The bunkers were fluffy and seemed well maintained without over watering. The greens were long and slow, but the fringe and surrounding areas were actually tight firm grass as opposed to what they were less than a year ago and that was burnt out rough sod with roots showing of the rolls of turf they were trying to regrow. The gold course did show signs of bare spots and spare rough along side the fairways but the greens and tee boxes were consistent with the other 9 holes on White.

Overall, the course was in great shape for being maintenance and improved, conditions should be on the up and up...hopefully the prices don't skyrocket with them.

*NOTICE: THE RANGE WILL BE CLOSED STARTING AUGUST 7TH, 2017 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE* this was on a sign visible when approaching the range on my day of visit.

Played on a semi busy Monday, Memorial Day May 29th for $20 flat riding. Walked up to the clubhouse and checked in with my GolfNow tee time, and was advised I could head out to the first tee whenever I pleased. The staff was present but not over bearing in any way on the course or clubhouse. When you come here, you will notice nearly immediately the proximity to the Papago Hills (Mountain) located in the heart of Tempe/Scottsdale nearby ASU campus; so prepare for some solid broski's out there cracking open some cold ones on the tee boxes and a bit of loud music (none of which bothered a 20 year old self like me).

The course itself is a pretty solid executive course with a mix of par 3's and par 4's (no par 5's at all, small lot, couldn't really fit one if attempted) with A LOT of elevation changes. While the layout is relatively straightforward the course is exposed to wind, the elevation can trick you with your club choices and the greens are Jacuzzi sized small. The greens, fairways and tee boxes were all in good shape for the recent renovations done, don't expect tour level conditions but something playable for sure. I don't see this track as something new players would necessarily enjoy or score great on but they could definitely come to grips with how to play golf here;

and onto my biggest gripe with this course, the players here are obviously new and sometimes slow, but to play an executive course in a not so busy condition on Memorial Day in over 4 hours is absurd. Where's the marshal? This course is generally one I would come back to in order to sharpen my iron game and putting game, but the time to play it keeps me away. I wish I could've used this paragraph to detail the strategy required for this course but it couldn't be ignored how patient you have to be with lack of golfmanship and letting fast groups play through. I will be submitting pictures so the course can maybe save it's image with it's looks.