Played here for my birthday round on July 1st around $40 at 1:42pm off GolfNow. This course (formerly North) is managed by Troon Golf which led to sup... » More

Played here for my birthday round on July 1st around $40 at 1:42pm off GolfNow. This course (formerly North) is managed by Troon Golf which led to superb customer service and conditions as usual especially during this COVID pandemic. The cart guys helped us when we approached bag drop and drove our cart up to the parking station after we checked in. The clubhouse/grille area is aging well since opening a decade(?) ago and still presents itself as open, lavish and welcoming. Once paid we hit the practice range which is split into two portions, one for daily fee players (about 15 stations) and another for instruction/practice members (triple the size of daily fee). I mention this because while the range balls are free for pre-round warmup the grass available is less than stellar. Very chewed up and not entirely level for your choosing of a station. The practice green is rather large but doesn't have a dedicated chipping area or bunker.

Onto the course, the conditions were rather prime just before this course closed for punching the greens and aerifying the course. The tee boxes were all green and pretty accepting of your choice of placement. The fairways were well manicured and WIDE across this track. The bunkers that are immensely spread throughout this track showed a little bit of wear across the edges and at times needed to be cleaned from desert debris but without rakes they were still playable. The greens were firm and fast, just the way this course was designed to play so difficult to get the pace right all day but the conditions were great. Loved hitting putts all day. The only downfall all day was there were some burn marks around the green's runoff areas, anyone who's played here know what I mean. The fringe was fine but some areas where your ball may trickle into or fall just short of due to your approach shot missing the green may end up in the browned areas. Still playable but sore to the eye for sure.

The O'odham (formerly North) course is my preferred choice between the two here at Talking Stick. The variety of shots you can hit off the tee and into the green is always a proponent of great fun. The fairways are so wide that you can layup with an iron off the tee, play your natural 50 yard slice with your driver or whatever you may be hitting that day and still have a chance. Of course there has to be some defense you ask? The hazards aren't water or crazy out of bounds (though there are property lines deemed to be OB) but much rather slopes, large bunkers and the green complexes. The lines you take off the tee determine your fate of where you can attack but once on the green you have to be sharp with the flatstick to score.

This course is always one I keep my eye on to play when the rates are right and in the summer I feel in my opinion, the course shines the brightest. Fast and firm with great customer service is always a fun day.
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Played this course as a single on Thursday, June 25th around 10:10am (last tee time on Tuesdays and Thursdays are 10:30am) for $45. Prepaid online to ... » More

Played this course as a single on Thursday, June 25th around 10:10am (last tee time on Tuesdays and Thursdays are 10:30am) for $45. Prepaid online to avoid social interaction, a result of COVID-19 and was greeted by the starter/bag drop guy. Range balls are included in the tee time so I made my way over to the practice tee. Upon arriving, you'll notice this course is tucked inside of a gated community and the course is situated along a large, looming clubhouse for residents and I believe there was even a waterpark/pool area next to the on course grille. Once you're at the practice range you'll also notice there's a members only section which I accidentally stumbled upon and then next to it there's the guest section. Fully stocked range, good amount of grass to hit from into grass greens and bunkers even to aim at. The backdrop of the range, and really the course, sets the day up for some amazing day dreaming.

Onto the course, this Kavanaugh design with Lehman Design group's redesign in 2016 led to some of the holes being re-routed. This doesn't seem to impact the conditions which were very, very pure. The temps recently in the valley have been easing into the 110s and the tee boxes, to the manicured fairways, always looming lush rough up to the greens were....green. Deep green. Not too much in the way of burn spots though it's summer and if you go after reading this I'm sure you may find a FEW. The greens were rolling quick and pure, a tough combo when the undulations on this course play games with 3 footers for par. The bunkers were soft green side and texturized perfectly in the fairways. The rough was lush with it growing to 3-5 inches in some spots but the main lateral hazards to avoid will be the desert landscaping which was maintained. The tee boxes were phenomenal.

This course definitely has the Lehman thumbprint on it design wise, off the tee box you often are presented with a bunker that poses a threat until you realize it's green side or a dogleg that's bound by a large hill/mound that can extend your drive's distance if you're lucky. Strategy wise this course was a blast absolutely. Nothing ridiculous in distance if you place yourself correctly and from the tips the 7200 doesn't actually feel THAT long (except for the 600+ yard par 5 16th). The greens are undulating and well protected when they are short holes, open and accepting of an array of shots when long and varying enough that you're never bored when putting. The fairways here are extremely forgiving and open (I only missed two fairways all day) which is a much needed breath of fresh air. And lastly, the views are amazing. Sure there are houses and communities popping up with construction noise audible all day long but the mountain vistas of nearby Four Peaks, McDowell Mountain , Superstition Mountain visible, I mean it was just photoshoot after photoshoot for new iPhone Wallpapers.

This course (according to my sources I talked to at the course) is attempting to go private however they are nowhere near the numbers to do so at present moment. As long as this course is available for public daily fees, I'd say the conditions it's in and views in comparison to the price is definitely worth it. Not to mention, it's within a short drive of some of the finest private courses in Scottsdale and from people I talked to who've played both, this course holds its own.
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Played Longbow GC for the first time (I've eyed it for a LONG time) on Sunday June 14th for $40 off GolfNow as my usual foursome played around 9:10am.... » More

Played Longbow GC for the first time (I've eyed it for a LONG time) on Sunday June 14th for $40 off GolfNow as my usual foursome played around 9:10am. As you drive up to the Longbow complex (facilities and store plazas are becoming more and more present here) you're led down a road named after the course and the parking lot seems small but on a crowded Sunday it was packed and still had spots to park. The cart guys tended our bags at bag drop and placed our four bags on four separate, sanitized carts (COVID-19 precautions still in place) and we paid at the nearby, well equipped pro shop. The range was filled with ample grass and free slots to choose from however practice balls does not come included. The practice greens are quite indicative of the shape of the course and was a good spot to roll some putts in before our round. The cart guys gave us the keys to the carts at exactly our tee time and we were off.

The course was experiencing some summer conditions for sure. The tees I played from (green, one forward of tips) were filled with bare/burnt grass however I always was able to find a pleasing spot for my tee shot. The fairways were in okay condition, some spots were soggy, some were lush and others were bare; they were a crapshoot. The fairways/greens surroundings was mostly native desert sand/rocks but the rough was semi present and provided a different lie than the ideal positions...but they weren't penal and ball hiding at all. The greens were the highlight of the round, they were running at an 11 (course had informed us of that upon pulling up with a sign showing course conditions) and were pretty true all day. The actual sand bunkers had a nice consistency near greens but fairway bunkers had some overwatering issues. Overall the conditions were good, but for a course with Longbow's self proclaimed excellence I'd say there's room for improvement.

Strategy wise I'd place this amongst the tier of championship caliber. Off the tee it is challenging with doglegs and sightlines that obscure your ideal shot. You need to be able to shape your woods off the tee and miss in the correct spots around/on greens to shoot a score. It didn't feel like a long course because I hit irons off about half of the par 4s however the course does wear on you. I felt like we kept playing similar layout par 4 after par 4. I wouldn't say it was a boring round of golf at all, but it doesn't awaken a golf architect lover during any stretch of holes either. I feel the best way to describe the golf course design is that it wants to be an open, free feeling landscape but the surroundings restrict it...and I don't mean the construction buildings or plazas around the course. I mean the man made water hazards, the line of trees adjacent to some holes and desert landscaping prevents it to feel wide open like it's design intends to present it as.

My final takeaway is that while the GPS/Bluetooth enabled golf cart, free water bottles in cooler upon tee time and expansive practice facilities are all notable pluses, there isn't anything on the course that makes me...remember the round or thirst for a return immediately. I will play again however here's to hoping the conditions are better shortly.
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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 th... » More

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.
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Played this (now, only remaining in AZ) Pete Dye designed course that used to be private years ago for $50 off GolfNow around 11am Friday May 29th. Pu... » More

Played this (now, only remaining in AZ) Pete Dye designed course that used to be private years ago for $50 off GolfNow around 11am Friday May 29th. Pulling into this community, it is visually a declining upper class area that has fallen on hard(er) times than in previous prime East Mesa rich times. The 'country club' has community areas, banquet halls and even a tennis/swimming club. The course itself is presented aside the other extra curricular activities with it's own sorta-separate parking lot. The club house was sufficient with COVID-19 measurements loosely followed (bare minimum for sure) and the staff was present. I paid my green fee, wanted to warm up so I bought a shabby looking shag bag of about 40 balls for an additional $8 and was given instructions about the directions (which are needed) to get to the practice tee. Also should note I got a course guide for free which is nice to see more and more courses practicing.

Now, I don't know what it is about Pete Dye courses of which I've now played three (ASU Karsten, Kiawah Ocean and now RMRCC) but the routing and cart paths are ALWAYS convoluted for whatever reason. I almost got lost two to three times...just felt that needed to be mentioned. Onto the course conditions! The practice tee had ample space into a dirt filled, grass absent, targets aplenty area with practice greens around. The tee boxes, which there are 5 of, were trimmed and surrounded by little landscaping rock paths. The fairways were well lined and a little dry which to expect of the summer conditions starting. The bunkers were well maintained without rakes for the players of the day but allowed for a variety of shots into greens. The greens all day showed consistent roll absent of horrendous pitch marks and rolling around a 10 I'd guess. The downfall was, if I had to pick, the rough as they had many bare spots even with the majority of fairways and greens being surrounded by bunkers or native desert area.

What type of review would this be without strategy? Pete Dye's designs linger on my mind the more and more I study golf course architecture because I truly feel he...is a genius. This course was a brute in all the right ways. From the Gold Tips it plays around 6600 which isn't long in today's game but each hole presented a challenge. Whether it was the sightline off the tee from a looming fairway bunker, the position of the flag on an elevated well guarded green or the continuous, multi-tiered greens...each hole had Pete Dye's fingerprint. I left today thinking simply, Pete Dye's courses play the golfer as much as the golfer plays the course. I enjoyed myself today and price/amenities withstanding I would absolutely advise the Arizona resident to try out this course themselves.

Never did I feel the conditions of the course hampered my ability to hit the shot I wanted, never did I feel the course was reaching the "manufactured difficulty" many other locations fall into the trap of nor did I ever lose sight of what the game of golf means which is to have fun and challenge your skill.
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