Played it Thursday, April 28 - Weather overcast, I think it had rained the night before, 11:28 tee time, Got a special rate of $22 while the wife Gambled at the Casino, a mile down the road.

Driving range had good targets, but you needed a cart to get there. Got to the first tee, and was trying to determine were I wanted to play from. My only option was Black or Blue, I chose Black. The Tips and Gold were not up. They were also punching the greens so there was sand on them. Didn't really mind because it is a tough track, and for $22, go for it. The 9's were switched around since the last time I played there. Some great holes, and sand traps are positioned in some great places. The front nine was pretty cool,... water comes into play on 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 (The Signature Hole, Par 3), and 9. Front nine great layout! Back Nine, also has lots of traps, and 11 this big tree that covers the left side of the green. 13 is a tough little par 3 that plays uphill, and protected by deep traps in the front. Thursday it was playing 177, I played a 7 iron way left and thank God, because I was short and if I would have went for the flag I would have been deep in the sand. Water comes back into play on 14,15 which is a long long long Par 3 protected by sand on the front right, and water all the way up the right side,... stay left, but there is sand on the left also, take an extra club and be straight. 16 also has water, all the way to 250 out on the right, stay left of just be straight, slight dog left right with a palm tree in the sight of the green that can come into play. 17 straight par 4, but 18 is a dog leg right that is protected by sandtraps at its turns. If you can carry them you are looking at the green but once again water on the left and sand on the right. Great finishing hole. I finished the day with an 81.

The only negatives I have is a lot of Cotton Wood trees. Lots of white fur balls from the trees all over the course. Snack shop was closed, but that was probably due to work being done on the course. I can't wait to play it again. Worth the Drive! Especially if the wife wants to kill a few hours in the Casino!

Located a mile from the Phoenix Cardinal stadium in Glendale,... a great 9 hole executive course to play. 5 par 3's, and 4 Par 4's. I have played it several times, and I walk it every time. Very nice track. 1st hole is 350 Par 4, and the 9th hole is a 380 Par 4 with water on the left. Very well kept, nice staff, and has a BBQ Truck on Sundays that is the best in Phoenix! Highly Recommended.

Played this course last Friday, (4/01),.... I frequent Phoenix a lot and love playing there, I used to play this course before when it was Maryvale. Wow!!! What a difference! Grand Canyon University bought it an invested millions in it and boy does it show. This is a must play when in Phoenix. New trees, 5 tee boxes, and a lot of sand. Be sure to carry a GPS because none on the cart and marking is not the best. Remember it is a University teaching course. I played from the middle tees, White, and I played well. I did have problems with bunkers, slight elevations of the bunkers and greens, made it hard to tell the yardage between the two. But when I play again I will know. The greens are typical desert greens, have your bump and run game ready, very fast. A little more expensive than other Phoenix City courses, but $40-50 is a bargain. Nice range, and the restaurant is awesome. Staff consists of most students, but they were very nice and accommodating. I highly recommend this course.

Before I can really give a fair review I would have to play it in the spring, the recent frost has left a lot of courses in the not the best shape. This course has an excellent location for mountain views. The greens were very nice, fairways and just the overall upkeep was just disappointing, but the views are majestic. Lots of dead trees, dead shrubbery. Spent most of the round talking about who runs the place. It is located next to the Riverside Memorial Cemetery, across from March AFB Housing, and next to some kind of training building that was shooting live ammo. If this place is be funded by the Government, its a waste of funds, if not, maybe it needs to ask for help. I can see that this once had to be a beautiful course. Showing respect for falling comrades and then a round of golf would be great way to spend a day. Holes 17 and 18 are very challenging. Especially 18, 552 Par 5, dog leg left.

I played Los Serrano's South course yesterday. A friend called me around 10 and said he had a 1:30 tee time and an opening. I hardly ever play there because it has always been slow. Knowing this before I said yes because the price was only $16, and I figured I would at least get in 9 holes. Well, I was right, when we got to the first teebox, there wa group on the green, another group about 400 yards up, and a group teeing off. Like I said $16. It took us an hour to play the first 3 holes, but I was cool with it because like I said, I knew what it was going to be like, But while waiting on the 3rd hole, I thought about something I would change at Los Serranos, especially on the South Course, first like most courses, they are letting way too many groups out in intervals too close, I think they were at 7 mins, when I think it really should be 10. But the biggest problem, is golfers using the wrong tee box. That South Course is a long course, 7628 from the tips, 7188 from the Blues, 6743 from the whites, and 6082 from the forward tees. In my opinion, if management is going to sell $16 tee times, I really think it should be from the WHITE TEE's only. Leave your ego's in the car, and stop ruining everybody's round. Hole 3 plays 314 from the white and 395 from the Blues,.... the hole is already hard enough, so why do high handicappers make it even harder. Especially on 8 yesterday! The white were playing forward past the water, and as it was getting cold and I watched the group in front of me drop two in the water from the blues, and the one's that cleared the water, cleared it by about 20-30 yards. Los Serranos is a very nice course, I would play it more, but this happens every time I play there. I really think there a White tee rule should be implemented for the SOUTH course only when they are charging only $16. Just curious, am I off based or what?

Just got home from play Dos Lagos,… it was my FREE $15 Birthday Round. I haven’t played Dos Lagos in about a year. I remember the weekend it first opened, I was one of the first to play and I held the course record for about 6 mins.. ?. A lot has changed since then, and from the last time I played. They are still working on the club house, and it looks like it should be done by the end of the year. The staff is cool and very accommodating. The first thing I notice is how much the shrubs and rough areas have grown up. The Trees and bushes in the riverbed are really big and come into play on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th and the 9th hole. The 2nd hole is divided by overgrown bushes about 100yds in front of the White Teebox, and they are so high you can’t see the fairway pass them. The 6th hole Has a huge tree on the Left/Center and water on the right. The back 9 is a totally different golf course, these the hole you see when driving on Interstate15. 10-12 are wide open, one of the Lakes come into play on 13 & 14, and by the way, you better be ready for 14. It’s a MONSTER!,.. a 614 (blue) 579 (White) dog leg left, that goes uphill. On your tee shot you have to place your drive between this lil Mountain on the left and the lake on the right. And then get to a hugh green on top on this other lil mountain that has a great view of the area. A bogey is a good score here. 15 is a Mountain top to Mountain top par 3. If you are luck and play in the morning, this hole can be forgiving, but when its hot, your ball can and will roll down the hill. 16 is just unexplainable,… it’s a par 4 from the top of a mountain to a very narrow side of another mountain protected by sand traps all over the place. You better have a very accurate 200 yard club in your hand or you are in trouble. 17 is a straight 140 yd drop shot to a huge green, but you gotta hit the ball. 18 has water and it is a dogleg right. This hole is hard because you are actually hitting alongside the water or over the water on your second shot and that water acts like a magnet.
Overall, it is a very challenging course. The Front and Back are very different. I only used my driver on 3 holes. Each hole had a Black and white aiming hole that’s about 150 out, take aim to those poles and you will do good. If you play in the morning the greens are very slow and wet. It takes the sun a couple hours to clear the mountains and dry them out, but in the afternoon the greens and fairways are very fast. For the price, even my FREE $15 Birthday Round, it was worth it.

I played Glen Ivy a few weeks with my wife. Glen Ivy formerly called Triology, located in South Corona is another one of my favorite tracks. My wife likes this course for the views, and I like it for the short par 4’s. Other than that the last hole, the 300ft drop on 18, the course looked pretty bad. Most of the water holes were all drained and were a serious eye sore, especially to my wife. Greens and fairways were nice, but the drained water just took away from our experience. Looking forward to reading other reviews to see if the water is back.

I played Hidden Valley in Norco, last Wednesday, September 17th. Course played rather nice. Hadn’t played it in a while, and I was thoroughly impressed. I played from the white tee box, which made the course play a lot better for me. I recommend that if you play this course, you gotta play from the the tee box that your handicap says or it will be a long day. Hidden Valley has always been a favorite of mines, and I will definitely start playing it more. A lot of the shrubbery has been cleared and it is very easy to see around the course. Target Golf at it’s best! Best part of the day, I Eagled the first hole! Driver, 5 wood, and a 30 ft putt! I am going back for sure! http://www.hiddenvalleygolf.com/

While in Phoenix last week, I got a chance to play a few courses, Aguila, located in South Phoenix, actually in Laveen, on 35th Ave and Baseline is another one of my favorite places to play while in Phoenix. It is somewhat hilly, but easy to walk. It is part if the City of Phoenix Municipal Golf Courses. It has 4 tee boxes, Black (7,089 72.8/128), Silver (6,403 70.1/124), Gold (5,592 74.5/128), and Green (5,442 71.6/120). Water came into play on 4 holes. This is Desert Golf at its finest. I think it is one of the newest of the Phoenix Municipal course and it a great track. Fairways are hard and the ball runs forever. Greens are well kept but the rough area has that desert bushy area. Keep the ball in play and you will be reward. Staff is very nice, and helpful. Has a great training area, a driving range, and chipping green next to the 1st tee box. Don’t have time for 18, has a great 9 hole Executive course next to the 18 hole one. Both are well kept, and for the price, it’s a steal. I have played it about 4 times and each time I have played with locals all over the Phoenix area that love the course. This is also a muni course, ran by the city, they close early, and they have been known to lock your car inside their gate. I have walked it and rode it. If its not to hot, it is a beautiful walk, but a nice ride also. Target golf and very challenging. Lots of fun and a great view.
http://www.golfarizona.com/courses/phoenix/aguila.htm

While in Phoenix last week, I got a chance to play a few courses, Encanto 18, located in Central Phoenix on 18th Ave and Encanto is one of my favorite places to play while in Phoenix. It is very flat, and easy to walk. It is part if the City of Phoenix Municipal Golf Courses. Encanto has 3 tee boxes, Championship (6,404), Regular (6,040), and Forward (5694). Water came into play on 4 holes. Plays like a Links course. It has a lots of Palm trees and a nice view of the City. Staff is very nice, and helpful. Driving range splits 1st and 9th holes, so there are some balls in the fairways that go over the fence. A lot of locals and kids play here, and they are all very friendly. There is a park behind the 2 green and 3rd teebox that seems to be always busy. You can ride it, but it is an easy track to walk like I said earlier. Because it is a Muni Course, it closes at sunset and the staff pulls the flags. Greens and fairways are well kept, but the water is average. Inexpensive to play, but worth the $18. Hole 8 is a 557 par 5, and it’s long. I have made it there in 3, but not 2 yet. Highly recommend! http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=36034

All I can say is WOW!!! If you like a beautiful scenery, then the Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, Arizona is the course for you. It is a Troon Course located about 15 minutes south of the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. This course is amazing. I spent a week in Phoenix last week, and played about 5 courses, this was by far the best. It has 3 9 hole courses, Blue, Gold, and White. I played the Blue and White courses. I also played from the White tees because I figured I would lose less balls. The Blue Course played 3,068 and the White played 2,857. 14 of the 18 had water come into play. Absolutely beautiful! The greens were Bermuda and played very slow, highly advice to forget the old saying put when you can chip,… chip, chip, chip! It’s a lot of target golf, and if you stay in the middle of the fairway, you should have a good round. A few blind tee shots, but most of the fairways have a 150 yard marker in the center. Take dead aim and you should be find. Due to the recent flood, regulars told me the water was about a foot higher than normal, but it didn’t matter, it was still beautiful. The staff was great. I played twilight for only $31 via Golfnow. Can’t wait to go back and play it again. http://www.ocotillogolf.com