As COVID ramped up at the end of 2020 my wife and I decided to hunker down and minimize outside contacts. Big bummer for both us and the grandkids(!). But now we both have had our 2 vaccination shots,... Continue »

As COVID ramped up at the end of 2020 my wife and I decided to hunker down and minimize outside contacts. Big bummer for both us and the grandkids(!). But now we both have had our 2 vaccination shots, nobody has been sick, and we’re starting to get back out in the world. I signed up for the GK Cup Final at Desert Willow on Sunday, 3/14, so I wanted to get some swings in for my first round since mid-November. Played down the road from my house at AT on Thursday, 3/11/21, booked at 3pm but the starter slotted us in at 2:40pm, giving us more time to finish – thank you, Mark. We caught a break in the rain and had a beautiful, refreshing afternoon. Despite the morning tee sheet being jammed, the course didn’t look that crowded and we moved along with no problems as a twosome with my high school buddy, finishing just as it got too dark in ~3.5hr, even behind the group in front of us taking their d**n time on the 18th fairway.

Overall the course is in pretty good winter condition. Greens had good coverage but were visibly thin and mostly firm (some inconsistencies), and were very quick in all directions. High shots held with some release, and there weren’t too many unfixed ballmarks. Fairways, as usual at AT, have good coverage but are low and tight, making good contact a must and making chipping/pitching around greens very challenging. In general fairways gave good runout, although the course needs to address the tee-shot landing areas on hole #12, where a solid drive on this long par-4 is required, and well-hit balls tend to die a quick death on landing. Otherwise no obvious problem areas from the recent rain. Rough almost everywhere is low and dry, and many times the putter is the best choice to recover from around the greens. Tees were well-groomed and mostly flat, although a few sloped to the back of a right-handed golfer. We played White (6.115/69.3/124), although several white markers were placed well forward of the White plates. Plenty of sand in the couple of bunkers I visited, although without rakes there were unraked footprints in many bunkers.

Easy check-in in the shop and single carts are available at no extra charge, if requested. Starter was on top of the first tee. No cups on the putting green, but green and range open. Entry/exit markers being used throughout the course to minimize fairway turf damage – I’m a fan! No cart girl today. On-course bathrooms open, but bring your own drinking water. Sand bottles on the carts and 1 bottled water in the cooler with ice.

Recommended.