Did you play Sidewinder or Dino Mountain? Played both in the past, but Dino was definitely more enjoyable.
We couldn’t get on Dino, so we played Sidewinder. Heard great things about Dino though, so we will have to make our way back out to play it. Would you say it played harder than Sidewinder?
Yes, but they’re also two very different courses. Sidewinder is great, but hemmed in everywhere by the houses. Dino is more open with some serious elevation change throughout the holes. It was just a better, more enjoyable experience IMO.
The problem with Dino is the price at times; if you’re playing a couple of rounds then buying that Gold Card is the way to go.
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Hey local friends:
let me know your thoughts on this…
Any locals have a suggestion for a great public track between the airport and Prescott? Thinking of playing a solo round before driving up to my buddy’s place in Nov and want to hit a nice track.
500 Club might be a good option as it’s just off the 17 on the way up to Prescott. Budget friendly and not built through a housing development
Thanks for the tip. Budget isn’t a huge deal…not looking to pay TPC prices but ok with a little coin for a great round.
Quintero - will be expensive though, but I’d pay to play. Incredible elevation changes and views
Wickenburg Ranch and you can back door up to Prescott from there
Definitely recommend those 2 courses as well
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I played Wickenburg Ranch this past January and it had the best conditions I’ve ever seen on a golf course, I honestly don’t think you could get the turf to be any better at all, it was maxed out.
They do a great job there. Wickenburg is high enough in elevation that they have bentgrass greens there, which you can’t really get away with anywhere in Phoenix. A lot of bermuda strains have come a long way, but there’s still nothing like bent. And by god to they let them get fast. Absolutely wicked putting surfaces they have there. I’ve seen more 4- and even 5- putts on those greens …
The course is … pretty good. There are a couple goofy holes and even the best holes there aren’t exactly great strategic design. But it’s a good course and they really do generally keep it in great shape. Worth playing for sure, and if you do, definitely worth stopping and playing the Lil Wick par 3 course. That place is all kinds of fun.
Speaking of bent greens, I understand Troon North also recently converted to bent. I didn’t get there this summer to see how they held up in the heat. Will be interesting to see how they do.
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Good summary, it’s a solid course with several throw-away holes.
Lil Wick is too good.
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Buddy and I are flying in to take the Titleist Performance certification dec 2 & 3 and I just booked:
Papago 11/30 12:09pm
Big Wick 12/1 8:10am
Quintero 12/1 1:26pm
I know we’ll be chasing the sunset at the end there, but I’m pretty excited. Cheers to the local refugees for all the recs on this thread 
If anyone wants to jump in on those times it looked like most still had room since I’m a sicko and booked 5 weeks in advance haha.
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Nice! Where are you staying? Wick Ranch is a haul from anywhere in the Valley. Also, 8:10 is probably one of their first times off that time of year but that course tends to have glacial pace of play (I think the main issues are cart ball with a very spread out routing, and the tough greens). Shouldn’t be a problem teeing off early, but do be aware of it, because Quintero is a good half hour away.
All three of those course are really beautiful, great views.
Yeah it was the first tee time available. I knew trying to get in two rounds at separate courses would be tough but I think it’ll work. We are staying in Phoenix but will be up early 
Wish us luck!
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Hey PHX guys: talk to me about the weather in mid-December. I have a few days off from work in that time and was thinking about coming out there with the family. I realize midday and onward will be fine for playing golf, but am I looking at frost delays early in the morning? I like to play as early as possible to get done so that I can have family time for the rest of the day. Thanks in advance!
I can only add a small sample size of experience, as I was never much of a golfer living through previous winters (broke college kid), but I would say it would have to be an exceptionally cold evening for there to be much concern for a frost delay. I’m sure @matthew823 can provide a much better answer
I would come regardless, feel like at worst, you’d have like an hour delay, we had one at Quintero once, but that’s up at some more elevation than Phoenix valley
I’ve gotten somewhat unlucky/lucky the past two Decembers with a frost delay. First time was only an hour delay and my group was the first one out so we were able to finish in under 3 hours, and last year I had like a 2 hour delay and was in the 4th group but the 3 other groups in front of us didn’t bother waiting so we were the first group out again and finished under 3 hours.
Obviously you’re at the mercy of what kind of weather you get. Sometimes a week in mid-December will be 80s and lows only in the high 50s or 60s, in which case frost delays are unlikely. But sometimes in December we get weeks where highs are only in the high 50s and it’s rainy. Frost delays are to be expected then.
More likely the weather is somewhere in between. If you want to play early and not have a frost delay, then the best bet is to play a course right in the Valley. Anything up in the hills or at higher elevation will be more likely to have frost. (Of course, those are also generally the better courses.)
Usually not awful, but @matthew823 hit it on the head. Let me know if you do make the trip and want a lefty thats very rusty in your group