Scottsdale - Eagle Mountain or Wildfire (Faldo)

[shalt]

Which course is better (in your opinion)?

[phxgolfer]

Which course is better (in your opinion)?

I have never had the opportunity to play either and they both look spectacular from my quick google searches. However, I have been at that Marriott resort multiple times and based on how incredible the property is, I'm sure their golf course would not disappoint.

[tjy355]

Which course is better (in your opinion)?

Couldn't say one is "better" than the other.

Been a few years since I've been to Eagle Mountain. Played the Faldo about a month ago. Both are upscale daily fee courses with good customer service and kept in good condition. Generally speaking, I would put them both at a similar level, not the best, but both solid B+ tracks. The Faldo I played for the first time this year and found it to be an enjoyable and challenging layout with LOTs of bunkers. The course winds its way around the resort and thru some housing, but the housing is not at all intrusive. The bent greens were being kept VERY soft (don't know if that is because of the summer heat or what), and that resulted in a lot of serious pitch marks. I had one ball completely embed in the green from a 50* gap wedge shot. Because of this, the greens were full of unhealed marks. The rest of the course was fairly soft as well and with the bunkering there was not much option for ground game. Mostly a dart throwing exercise. (FYI the Palmer course was closed as they convert those greens to bermuda, I expect they will do the same to the Faldo sometime). Nonetheless, very sporty and enjoyable and a fun round of golf. Good variety of holes. Not a whole lot of movement on the greens. It's on flat terrain, so any elevation changes were manufactured. Don't know what Faldo's involvement was (probably just the name) but the real architects were Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley. Like I said, it has been a few years since I've been out to Eagle Mountain so I can't comment about the current state of conditioning. This course is in the foothills and so you will find some much more serious elevation changes. Also some more severe desert if you stray from the turf. More scenic with views of the valley and mountains. This course also part of a real estate development, when I last played, they were just beginning to build houses, but the playing corridors seemed to be pretty wide. But like Wildfire, it's cartball. Scott Miller was the architect, and I generally like his stuff - lot of variety, however he does tend to use a lot of containment mounding which gets a little repetitive. The greens do have a lot of movement as I recall. There are better courses, but you won't be wrong with either Wildfire Faldo or Eagle Mountain. Faldo for a little bit more traditional layout, Eagle Mountain for a little more scenic/mountainous. Enjoy!