Golf Forums - Scottsdale, Arizona........a fantastic golfing destination.....

Forget Spain, Florida or South Carolina, Scottsdale, Arizona is the place to play.  Great golf courses carved out of the desert.  We stayed at a hotel called Resort Suites in North Scottsdale (www.resortsuites.com).  We were a group of 8 and booked a 4 bedroom suite, with 2 beds in each bedroom and 4 bathrooms per suite.  There was a lounge, dining area and kitchen in the suite.  Fantastic value for a group. They have smaller rooms too.  The hotel caters for golfers booking your tee 90 days in advance and will book courses for you whilst you are there.

The courses are just magnificent.....desert golf with fantastic views of the desert and mountains.  Some courses have the most amazing elevation changes.  Grayhawk, Troon North, We-Ko-PA and Eagle Mountain are just a few of the 40 or so courses the hotel can book.  The TPC Stadium course is right by the hotel.  It is where they play the Phoenix Open. 

I really recommend the hotel and the area.  Great restaurants and bars only minutes away is beautiful Scottsdale.  BA flies direct from Heathrow.  It's a little longer than going to Florida, but much much better.  The weather is perfect too.  We went in April, but as I understand it you can pretty much play from October through to June without being too hot.

Well worth it.

Absolutely agree! We go to Arizona every year for the weather & the golf - and have recommended it so many times I've lost count. Everyone who goes there goes again! I'm sure you got a good deal, but we cracked it last year. If you go as a group - look on Arizona vacation Rentals - you can rent a house (usually on a golf course) for 2 weeks and up - it works out very, very economical. You often get the buggy with the house, and of course, since these have number plates, are licenced for the roads. (Ideal for nipping to Basha's)

Don't book the golf before you go!!!! Buy The Arizona Republic newspaper when you get there - it's full of golfing 'deals'. We have played some superb courses for less than $40 with the buggy included. And don't forget to go the Arizona Mills Outlet centre for all your golf clothing & shoes.

Could go on for hours.................................fantastic place.

Sorry - my better half has just read this, and reminded me to mention the PGA Golf Superstore at Chandler (20 mins outside Scottsdale south of I10) It had only opened last year just before we went, and was HUUUUUUGE. Bigger than an Asda Superstore, with everything 'golfy' you could imagine.

Well, you've got me interested.  Is this a venue for an early Feb golf tour? what's the weather likely to be like?

The weather is around 70-75.......absolutely perfect.  In fact January to April is their season.  The courses overseed the grass in October and by January onwards, they are in perfect condition.  It can be chilly in the morning nearly always sunny.

It really is the best place to golf in the winter. 

Well, some people I rate the opinion of have already said it's a great golfing destination and now i've checked and I can fly direct from london to Phoenix (11 hrs) for £400 in february so I'm officially interested.

Any other contenders for a february golfing trip, direct flight from the uk?   Florida any good?

Don't even mention Phoenix & Florida in the same paragraph! Seriously, Florida is ok unless you've been to Arizona. We've visited Florida once, Texas once and Arizona 12 times.  And don't forget - the flight is 11 hours going but only 9 coming back.

Hi Carol,

Where so you stay in Phoenix and which courses have you played?

Well, pete and our gang normally go to Spain or portugal in Sep/Oct time and France in April/May time but after these posts looks like pete and myself need to have further chats as Arizona looks on the cards.

Hi John,

re your post:

We've stayed in various places around Phoenix: in Old Scottsdale itself (very convenient for the Bikers Bar), off 5th Avenue, near the metro Centre, out towards Mesa, but recently have just rented homes on golf courses. 2 years ago, we went with some friends and rented a place for 2 weeks, which worked out at about £300 per couple. we stayed in an area called SunLakes, which sits in the centre of a group of 4 golf courses - all accessible with the buggy that came with the house! We've also stayed in Sedona (a couple of hours away) and enjoyed golf in the Red Rocks area.

can't remember every place we've played but here's a few:

Anthem/Estrella Mountain/Ocotillo/Talking Stick/Bear Creek/Turquoise Valley (boasts a formidable par 6)/Cottonwood/ironwood/Cottonfields (now called something else)/desert Mirage/Cave creek/painted mountain/Aguila

There were more, but I need to look through some of the old photographs. I might try and upload a couple of the pictures - see if you remember them. have you played any of those mentioned? If not, where did you go?

Carol,

We have played The Golf Club at Estrella and Aguila.  Also Gold Canyon, Las Sendas and Papago Park.   Gold Canyon has two courses.  The best one is Dinosaur Mountain which is played around Superstition Mountain near Apach Junction.  It is quite amazing with the most fantastic elevation changes.  Also Eagle Mountain and WeKoPa are great courses over in Fountain Hills.

There are plenty to enjoy :)

it is without doubt fantastic and i too can highly recommend
 but then again what about the 17 mile stretch at california, pebble beach, spyglass... its the ultimate...

myrtle beach has more and better golf courses and in my opinion florida more entertainment non golf obviously...

but trust me the best trip in february best value especially with exchange rates, cheaper flights, cheaper hotels and two of the best courses on the planet............. sun city ........ south africa............ ply the gary player home of the nedbank million for less than THIRTY NICKER..........   HIT OVER THE CROCS AT THE LOST CITY AGAIN LESS THAN £30  INCLUDES BUGGY AND MEAL AND DRINKS AFTER 9 HOLES.......... FLIGHTS TO J BURG CAN BE FOUND AT LESS THAN £300....... ROOM PRICES FROM £40 TO EVEN THE LUXURIOUS PALACE JUST £70..... BEER STILL A POUND A PINT CASINO ENTERTAINMENT....

THE ULTIMATE GOLFING RESORT............ FOR THE MORE AFFLUENT.......... VISIT EITHER DUBAI ON WAY DOWN OR BACK...

Hi,

I fancy either, arizona or south africa. Should start a suggestion box to see if a trip could be arranged.

regards

steve