Ken C.
Yelp
Mixed reviews at best. This review is for tourists, not locals, because my perspective is someone coming from Canada in December to play a couple of rounds.
Firstly, the course conditions, from tee to green, were mostly immaculate. As good as any premium course I've played anywhere else including some private clubs. Even the landing area and pitching area of the driving range looked like it had been beautifully groomed -- they took the time to mow diagonal stripes into the grass!
But, they really fell down with the bunkers. There had been some rain and maybe they have drainage issues. But there was no sand in any bunker -- mostly just hard pack dirt, if not standing water. For the green fees that you charge, I'd expect the sand to be white, fluffy and forgiving. At least I saved time not having to rake.
The green fee for outsiders is a bit hefty -- $125 if I'm not mistaken? For us Canadians, after exchange rates, that's aboot the cost of four two-fours, eh?
And I opted to rent clubs -- big mistake -- they gave me a set of Taylor Made M4s -- they were OK but almost two years old at the time I played. The set was missing a 5-wood, one of the shafts was mismatched (R instead of S) and the putter was a TM Spider but a bit old and beaten up, with no head cover. You also get an "A" wedge -- with no loft markings, so you had to take a few shots just to get a feel for what it was. I wouldn't normally complain, but geez they charged $65 for that! In comparison, for $50 at Legacy, you get a near brand new set of Callaway Rogue irons/hybrids with full set of Epic Flash woods, and a brand new Odyssey Exo Indy putter.
Lastly, and this is really nitpicky, but I was kinda disappointed to see trees and water all over this course. When I chose to come to Phoenix, I wanted to play something different (i.e. desert, cacti etc.) not something that looks like home (albeit without the blanket of snow). Had I known, I might have picked another (cheaper) course.