Ok so my friends dad lives in scottsdale, and we are going to head there for a week at the end of school, and so im just looking on some opinion on what couses to play, that are decently cheap, though most i looked at have been reasonable.
Criteria is long (7000 yards) or pretty tough (over 73 rating) and not outside scottsdale or at least very close to scottsdale. heres some of the courses that we are thinking of playing so far, any opinions?

ASU karsten course

We-Ko pa Cholla

Grey hwk Raptor course

Mccormick Ranch

TPC stadium

Troon north

Talking Stick

End of school = May? Rates will be reasonable then.

ASU karsten course
Skip it. Goofy golf.

We-Ko-Pa Cholla
Saguaro course #1, Cholla #2

Greyhawk Raptor course
Fun course, great customer service

Mccormick Ranch
Ok, I guess, but not in the class of the others listed here. Less of a desert style, more of a parkland style. They have 36 holes...

TPC stadium
Skip it. WAY overpriced and uninteresting. Unless you just HAVE to play on the same course as the PHX Open.

Troon north
Fun courses.

Talking Stick
North Course is highly recommended!


Some others to consider: SunRidge Canyon and Legend Trail.

Enjoy!
Tom

lool its end of june is when high school exams end. I think we are going to play karsten almost no matter what cause hes a huge ASU fan, and went to a golf camp there last year.
Also from reading up, ive heard that the chollo course is better than the saguaro, why do you think saguaro is better? We will probably skip mccormick ranch then, but im definitely playing TPC scottsdale, just in case i get a hole in one on 16.
Sunridge canyon looks good, legend trail is iffy, more expensive than TPC scottsdale.

Me and him are going to go over this in a couple days so i will post the other courses he suggests since he goes there twice a year

In June you will have the lowest rates and you shouldn't have to worry too much about booking a long time in advance. Lots of coupons in the Thursday Sports section of the Arizona Republic, and also golfnow.com

We-Ko-Pa Cholla (Scott Miller) is the older course, mature and a little more refined. Saguaro is the Coore & Crenshaw and opened just about a year ago and is more rugged and naturalistic. Both are great - why not just do 36 holes while you are out there! The best part about We-Ko-Pa is they are out in the middle of the desert without the surrounding housing tracts that are typical of most courses. Pure golf!

Enjoy!
Tom

Skip ASU Karsten and McCormick Ranch.

Play Troon North (both courses), We-Ko-Pa Cholla, SunRidge Canyon, Grayhawk Raptor, Eagle Mountain, Legend Trail, and Talking Stick North.

TPC Stadium is not in my top tier of courses. If the whole course was like the final 4 holes then it would be something special.

I agee with both replies so far and suggest you try the new Longbow from the tips. Good track not an;y further away from scottsdale that wekopa or sundridge . I prefer Grayhawk Talon course because it is architecurally superior and more pleasant to play than Raptor which is just generally long and boring.

TPC is in fact a four hole wonder. Rest of it is just plain boring and ordinary. Both courses at WeKoPa are top notch and generally in great condition. You could also put Raven at South Mountain on your list. Takes 20 minutes from old town scottsdale. good track from the tips and great service profile.

just my 02.. just an old guy (10 index) livin in Scottsdale 12 years.

the new champions course at the tpc there is pretty sweet, no pics of it on the web but i think its a good course for the price

The group I'm going to Scottsdale with in May is looking for courses that are cheap and easy (some have some HIGH handicaps). Any suggestions? Thanks for any help.

You can play just about any course you want that time of year for a reasonable price.

My top 10 in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area that I have played would be:

1. Boulders South (just played there for the 1st time last summer and absolutely loved it)
2. Grayhawk Talon...love the "Swinging Bridge" par three.
3. Troon Pinnacle
4. Gold Canyon (Dinosaur Mountain)...great views but probably 45 minutes from Scottsdale.
5. Troon Monument
6. We-ko-pa (cholla)
7. The Legacy...was pleasantly surprised with this one.
8. We-ko-pa (Saguaro -- played it this summer for the 1st time and it was a little burnt out).
9. Grayhawk Raptor
10. Raven at Verrado

Have also played TPC Stadium (play it once...nothing special), SunRidge Canyon (a little disappointed in this one), Vistal (not bad for the price), Anthem (original course -- not sure of the name of it now...but it was a nice track), Raven at South Mountain (nice course but I can't say any of the holes had a wow-factor), Golf Club at Estrella (have always liked this course and you normally get pretty good rates)

I pretty much agree with Buck's list. Except I would swap Grayhawk Raptor with Talon.

You can't go wrong with the Boulders, Troon North, Dinosaur Mountain, We-ko-pa and Grayhawk. They are the best of the best for beauty and good golf.

Here is a link to my photos of those courses and a few other Phonix/Scottsdale courses.

Grayhawk & We-Ko-Pa pix

Boulders Pix

Dinosuar Mtn pix\\

Here is a photo of the Boulders South #5

You've gott a play Legend Trail. Awesome and challenging as well.