Just back from Scottsdale - opinions

Although things change by season , just wanted to post my personal opinion regarding a trip to Scottsdale. Back home las night.

The Boulders
Great but expensive place to stay. Did their 2 day golf package

1) Both courses in good shape
2) North easier but South is visually the impressive one and the one you
want to play if you are only playing one
3) Negative : Two beers and two packs of cheese crackers $18 without tip
Come on..... I can buy 3 six packs at the supermarket for that
4) Negative: Monday morning company tournament with shotgun start at
7:45am. Our T-time at 9am. Waits of up to 10 minutes at some Tees.
If you are paying $150 plus to play you should not have to go through
that. It was a 4hr 45min round
The guy that was matched with us had somewhere to go after the round and went crazy. After we finished he went to golf shop to fight for a refund and cancel his t-time on Wed. He talked to the marshalls several times during the round and at one point called the golf club on his cell to complain. The marshalls kept saying that they were telling them to move. At one point one of the guys in the foursome behind us left the group to get the marshall.

Funnier was, that on a par 4 the cart lady was parked by the green. We were at the tee with the foursome that was behind us watching the foursome in the fairway trying to get to the green. The six of us were just standing at the tee watching the show. One of the guys in the foursome behind us got in his cart, drove past the group in the fairway all the way to the green, bought a beer for everyone and rode back to the tee before we were able to hit

Troon North -Monument Course
1) Excellent shape
2) Check internet for rates. After 2:30pm it was $85 ($140 earlier)
3) Excellent condition and nice pace of play. Very few times saw other
golfers. Beautiful course and beautiful homes around the course

We-Ko-Pa Saguaro
1) Excellent shape. Incredible fairways. Can putt from 10yrds off the green
The grass around the greens is so perfect it looks fake
2) Visually different to the others since it is in the valley (Saguaros but no
big rocky formations like the others)
3) No development around the course.
4) Had a 2:30pm T-time and were the last players of the day
5) Two beers and 1 pack of cheese crackers $10
6) Car paths only! (The reason for the perfect fairways) If it is hot
it could be painful

My wife picked Boulders South as her favorite
I picked Troon North as my favorite

Wonderful evaluations!

I too have played the Boulders. Awesome scenery and track. I did get to play faster and without angst you experienced. I saw a coyote darting across one of the long par 3 greens just before I tee'd off. Nice place - could be more reasonable price wise.

Thanks for the heads up!

I must have played with the same guy a while back!

I wonder how the greens putted, cart path only in the summer there, that's crazy. Thanks for the report.

Nice report. Thanks for posting.

I've played all three courses and it is difficult to choose a favorite, but I think I'd choose Boulders South. When I played there we played in about 4 hours 15min. Altough 4:45 is not good, I've played a lot longer rounds at resort courses for more money than that. In the Spring in Myrtle Beach most courses are 5+ hour rounds. You have to go in expecting that it will be a long day and just relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Otherwise a slow pace will make you crazy.

Playing at myrtle its best to have an early tee time like when the course opens

I think our experience at The Boulders is an aberration. They probably try to schedule company outings on Monday mornings. Unfortunately, even people that play very litttle, or not at all, want to have the experience of playing there at no cost out of their pocket so they all go to try it out. They had a couple of group lessons going on for them at the range early in the morning. Fortunately for me, the foursome in front was a group in their late 20's with very little golf experience but two of them were very, very attractive women. Getting to the Tee before they hit was a treat for me although not for my wife or the other person playing with us.

The greens at The Boulders were very fast and difficult. Much more manageable at the other courses although lots shelves, steps, drops etc.
The greens at all courses were in excellent shape.

golf employees at all courses werevery nice and helpful (mostly young students). They all get to play for free in any available course during the summer. That's also when it is over100 degrees.