From: jimv@dadd.ti.com (Jim Vahsen,VAHZ,)
Subject: Phoenix golf, revisited
Reply-To: jimv@dadd.ti.com
Organization: Texas Instruments, Inc.
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 21:14:17 GMT

Greetings fellow hackers, just got back from playing some Arizona Desert
Golf, and thought I'd add my 2 cents to a previous post:

>(PHOENIX) Was just there:
>Troon North - all around excellant course - about $90
>Ancala - also quite good, but its target golf without a yardage book, about $70
>TPC stadium - conditioning was disappointing after above courses, about $70
>TPC desert - same comments as above, but green fees only about $25.
>Boulders (South), Greens were excellant, fairways were terrible, we walk off
>   the course after first 3 holes, new course, they have rocks in the fairway
>   and still have rye. Cost $100+, scenery is best of all of the above, so
>   if don't care about your clubs...
>One note about desert golf, you play the desert as a lateral hazard, you
>can find your ball but you probably don't want to hit it unless you are
>confident of your ability to pick it clean. Its like play every hole with
>water on both sides.
>I could have probably shot 2-3 shots better if I brought an old 9 iron.
>I found all of them were enjoyable to play (I'm about an 8), I played blues,
>most holes you can use a long iron or 3 wood, the courses are a little short
>but put a premium on accuracy.

TPC Stadium - Course was in good shape, $65 w/cart on wknd.  Wanted to play 36,
              but refuse to pay $130 to do so...
TPC Desert  - Course in OK shape, only $29 w/cart on wknd.  Almost as 
              challenging as the Stadium, and the beer was cheaper. 
              A "Best Buy"....  
Phoenician  - Oh, my, Gawd.  Don't even bring a wood to this course.  You go 
              straight, or you get bit by rattlesnakes.  VERY tight, scenic.
              One of these "let's make a resort course that people will
              remember after they leave" designs.  Impossible for 1st time.
              I lost about a summer's supply of balls here.  You DON'T look 
              for a ball in the "dunes" unless you're immune to snake venom.
              I saw 3, and heard dozens; of course I'm petrified of snakes, 
              so I blame the bad round on my inability to regulate my breathing.
              Course in very good shape, expensive...
Foothills   - Tom Weiskopf(?) course.  $25 w/cart on wknd.  ONLY course 
              around that allows reciprocal play.  Several temporary greens
              that should be gone by end of year.  Would advise strongly to
              others that are unfamiliar to Desert golf.  Good breaker-inner.
              Course in good shape.

I hit ONE shot out of the desert gravel/sand, and gouged my 7-iron.  Never 
again.  Definitely bring an old 5 or 6-iron for such occasions!  Had a great
time, never experienced this type of golf before.  Make's me appreciate the 
abundance of grass here in Dallas, although it was nice to not have to hit off
of hard clay!  Off to Austin next weekend to play Horseshoe Bay, I love the
RamRock/AppleRock courses.  One of the few courses that I actually feel guilty
when I cause a divot 'cause the fairways are so nice...
---
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