Booked a GolfNow Tee time at 8:30am as a single for $45 as my girlfriend works nearby and has heard/seen some good things about this place and area in general. When I pulled into the parking lot aroun... Continue »

Booked a GolfNow Tee time at 8:30am as a single for $45 as my girlfriend works nearby and has heard/seen some good things about this place and area in general. When I pulled into the parking lot around 7:50am I saw maybe at most 10 cars which is surprising to say the least for ANY Arizona golf course when not summer but maybe COVID-19 had something to do with that. Anyways, the customer service was present. Two people greeting at front with well established distancing , don't know if there was any way to confirm if the carts had been sanitized but they didn't grab my bag and get in my face so that's good. As I walked to the pro shop there was a sign that read: "no more than 4 people in the pro shop at a time" and I walked in and confirmed my pre-paid tee time. The guy at the desk (Gary or Steve) asked if I was a first timer, I said yes and he gave me a course guide for free and gave me some pointers.

Onto the course, the conditions seemed very middling...and I mean that for the majority it was still prime season but you can TELL that the sun and heat is starting to be right around the corner. The fairways and the greens were still prime and aesthetically pleasing to look at and play off. However, the course got rough around the edges. I counted 4 greens that had suffered from some type of grass disease that was killing the collar of the green/fringe area. Sparse, but present . The bunkers were of a great consistency without any rakes present however they had been tended to in the morning obviously (or recently, IDK). The greens were very soft and surprisingly on the slower side, I couldn't get a putt to the hole almost all day.

This course is truly a tale of two personalities. The front nine (which used to be the back nine according to the old course guide I was given) is called "Mountain" which it certainly does for about 7 holes. The first gradually climbs up. With the second hole already giving picturesque views. The rest of the front nine plays in and around the mountain which ends with a par 3 8th and par 5 9th, I mention that because those two holes display what the back nine "Valley" is like. Flat and LONG. The back nine plays about 3,800 from the tips and the course rounds out at 7,162. That's pretty regulation. While the course plays long, it plays even longer because the fairways are so narrow and tight (lined by houses on the back) which makes for a day of sludging out long-mid irons out of rough or desert to postage sized stamp greens. Challenging for sure.

The course was in middle/high tier playability in conditions, the routing is fun however the strategy is kind of ...driver long irons heavy. Bring your a game with the big dog because it needs to be accurate. This course is NOT walkable for note, but an enjoyable place to get away from the Mesa/PHX/Scottsdale hub.

Against my better judgment, I made another tee time at Johnson Ranch for Friday 9/26. It was advertised on GN for $11 and included all the balls you could hit. As I purchased new irons, I felt this wo... Continue »

Against my better judgment, I made another tee time at Johnson Ranch for Friday 9/26. It was advertised on GN for $11 and included all the balls you could hit. As I purchased new irons, I felt this would be great opportunity to tune in my new clubs and play 18 for essentially the price of a large bucket of balls at my local range. When I arrived, I was told upon check in that the range was closed already (overseeding was scheduled for the following Monday). I knew about the overseeding, so I wasn't expecting pristine conditions, but the whole point of purchasing the deal was the driving range. I was told by the starter to practice putting before I went out, as he pointed to the putting green behind the range--the one that was being absolutely flooded by multiple Rainjet sprinklers at that moment. I sat in the cart until he loaded another bag into it, and then he and ANOTHER twosome were sent off to the 10th tee to start. Understand, there were, at best, 15-20 people on the course, yet we were forced to play a foursome. Multiple singles who teed off after us were allowed to play through by us, so the only reason I can think that we were forced to play as a foursome was that we were all GN discounted rate and they were locals paying whatever rack rate was current that day. With absolutely no waiting on any hole, because we were forced to play with two older gentlemen tracking down a lost ball on every hole, the round took 4+ hours to complete. Complete and utter BS. Please, if I ever golf here again, someone kick me in the cooter. CP

Played Sunday 3/30, late morning tee time via GN website. Temp in low 80s, very breezy/dusty.

Johnson Ranch is located deep in the San Tan Valley, directly off of Hunt Hwy. Those coming from Phoen... Continue »

Played Sunday 3/30, late morning tee time via GN website. Temp in low 80s, very breezy/dusty.

Johnson Ranch is located deep in the San Tan Valley, directly off of Hunt Hwy. Those coming from Phoenix would be advised to know that Hunt Hwy is currently under expansion and taking a detour using Gary Rd is advisable, especially during the week when construction is happening and Hunt is only 1-lane available.

This is a long layout, with the tips running @ 7,162 yards (72.7/130) and the Blues @ 6,656/70.2/120. I would recommend anyone with a handicap above 12/13 play from the Whites, which still measure out at 6,204/67.8/114. There are many, many forced carries over desert and those who can't consistently throw a 175+ yard drive in the air will find him/herself in desert or rocks, or worse, rocky desert. while most fairways are wide, many are tilted from left to right and can drag a ball into the desert, even on a well struck drive. There is little rough to speak of; what there is is cut barely higher than the fairway, which is closely shorn as it is. Sadly a lot of dead, thin or dormant areas permeate the fairways. I was nailing my drives all day and rarely felt as though my lie for my second shot was in as good as shape as as it could be.

Tee boxes were decent, though showing signs of hardening up (especially #10, it felt like giving a rhinoceros a flu shot trying to pierce that ground with my tee). The greens were extremely fast and often penal. On #16, for example, my playing partner was 70 yards from the hole, hit a nice wedge to front of the green (with a rear pin placement). The ball bounced once, then rolled, rolled, rolled until finally stopping in a bunker 15 yards past the hole. Absurd. On a number of greens, there was substantial rot around the fringes. Bunkers had limited amounts of sand in them, though no large pebbles/rocks at least.

As for the facilities, there is a large driving range, which, as noted in a previous review in 2012, was pretty chewed up. It still is. At least you get free balls with your round, so you'll have ample opportunity to find some grass from which to hit. Decent putting green, separate chipping area and a practice bunker as well. Carts are electric with ball/club washers (no coolers) and all have excellent GPS on them.

Customer service: Kudos to the starter and the cart girl (who only works the front 9...there is a small snack stand behind #13). Not so much for the pro shop guy, who called me out for wearing a Nike (TW) golf shirt that did not have a collar. I understand the whole not wanting slobs on the course, but an expensive golf shirt is a friggin' golf shirt. Secondly, while the course talks a real good game regarding slow play, they don't back it up with action. All over the cart are messages to play fast, play ready golf, and the GPS seems to have a constant nag screen to catch up, catch up, catch up even when you're not behind. Marshals patrolled the course a lot, yet, no one was "put into position" to catch up with the group ahead. Late on the front 9, one marshal told me the back was wide open, but when we reached #10, or delays increased hole-by-hole. Finished in 4 hours and 40 minutes, 20 minutes above their allotted time, and really inexcusable given the conditions.

All in all, JR is a decent course, and will definitely test your game, but I'm not sure when I'll return. Too many minuses outweigh the pluses.

CP

Played 6-24-12. Course was aerated a couple of weeks before; it's mostly back now. Some greens were a bit sandy, but putted fine. Patchy fairways, but every course in town seems to be in that state... Continue »

Played 6-24-12. Course was aerated a couple of weeks before; it's mostly back now. Some greens were a bit sandy, but putted fine. Patchy fairways, but every course in town seems to be in that state now as they try to get the bermuda to come in. The sand traps I was in played fine.

In general, I find JR to be one of the consistently best value options in the Valley. It's an interesting and challenging course, with some good elevation changes on the back nine, and the conditions are usually very good to great.

I like the course's somewhat casual vibe. On this day we screwed up our reservation, but they were still able to get us out within about 45 mins of showing up at about 6am. On a hot June day, that was nice. We got around in 4 hours, and I wouldn't say the course was empty. We saw the ranger 3-4 times, and the beverage cart twice per nine.

We usually play the blue tees at JR, but it's worth noting that the white tees have decent yardage yet avoid a lot of the long forced carries off the tee. Range balls come with the green fee, which is nice, however, their range surface is almost always in rough shape. They have a good chipping and sand practice area and an ample practice putting green.

The clubhouse/restaurant seems to get a lot of local traffic. The biscuits and gravy are excellent, as is the chicken quesadilla.

The Golf Club at Johnson Ranch Review
San Tan Valley Arizona Golf Course Reviews

The scenery is terrific on the back 9. Long drive on congested narrow road. The rough is rocks.

The scenery is terrific on the back 9. Long drive on congested narrow road. The rough is rocks.

Played 1-17-10 and the course was in great shape. The tee boxes were in great shape except for #11...that one needed a little work. The fairways were nice and green with a good height. They were nic... Continue »

Played 1-17-10 and the course was in great shape. The tee boxes were in great shape except for #11...that one needed a little work. The fairways were nice and green with a good height. They were nice and green with no bare spots. The rough was dormant...but still very easy to play from. Got a tee time from GolfNow so it was well worth it.

Welcome to summer golf in the Valley. An afternoon tee time meant I had the course virtually to myself. Tee boxes were in good to fair shape, greens in very good shape but extremely firm, fairway shot... Continue »

Welcome to summer golf in the Valley. An afternoon tee time meant I had the course virtually to myself. Tee boxes were in good to fair shape, greens in very good shape but extremely firm, fairway shots always had grass underneath 'em.

Lots of forced carries over desert on this course; if you can't hit a drive straight or in the air at least 150-175 yards, you're gonna score in triple digits. The only bad part of the course were the traps; all were universally packed firm. The flip side was I was able to actually putt out of one of them.

A fun course, with lots elevation changes on the back nine, raised greens and interesting pin placements. One of the better values in the far southest valley in the summertime.

Played here last Saturday. First, the amenities: Plenty of parking, pro shop personnel were friendly and quick, starter was generally helpful. Excellent driving range, large practive putting green/chi... Continue »

Played here last Saturday. First, the amenities: Plenty of parking, pro shop personnel were friendly and quick, starter was generally helpful. Excellent driving range, large practive putting green/chipping area, cart girl came around 3 times in the span of 13 holes (more on that later).

Started on the back nine, which is the harder, prettier part of the course. Lots of desert carries, some great views, even a number of elevation changes rare in most Phoenix area courses. Made the course very enjoyable to play. The elevated tee box on the Par 3 11th hole makes for a challenge, and many approaches are elevated substantially, too. Greens were very, very fast, but were in good condition and held a well struck approach shot.

I only got to play 3 holes on the front nine because the course was so backed up due to a frost delay earlier in the day. Unfortunately, the pro shop neither warned anyone about it nor gave partial rainchecks, so that put a damper on an otherwise fun course. I'll definitely return to try it again when they don't overbook the course and make it look like it was a line for a Black Friday sale.

CP

the course was a decent course and I'd play it again, The two nines are distinctly different. My only complaint(and it was my own fault because I didn't ask) was they were punching the tee boxes the... Continue »

the course was a decent course and I'd play it again, The two nines are distinctly different. My only complaint(and it was my own fault because I didn't ask) was they were punching the tee boxes the day I played but It only affected a few holes. Great summer rates.