Played Longbow GC for the first time (I've eyed it for a LONG time) on Sunday June 14th for $40 off GolfNow as my usual foursome played around 9:10am. As you drive up to the Longbow complex (facilitie... Continue »

Played Longbow GC for the first time (I've eyed it for a LONG time) on Sunday June 14th for $40 off GolfNow as my usual foursome played around 9:10am. As you drive up to the Longbow complex (facilities and store plazas are becoming more and more present here) you're led down a road named after the course and the parking lot seems small but on a crowded Sunday it was packed and still had spots to park. The cart guys tended our bags at bag drop and placed our four bags on four separate, sanitized carts (COVID-19 precautions still in place) and we paid at the nearby, well equipped pro shop. The range was filled with ample grass and free slots to choose from however practice balls does not come included. The practice greens are quite indicative of the shape of the course and was a good spot to roll some putts in before our round. The cart guys gave us the keys to the carts at exactly our tee time and we were off. The course was experiencing some summer conditions for sure. The tees I played from (green, one forward of tips) were filled with bare/burnt grass however I always was able to find a pleasing spot for my tee shot. The fairways were in okay condition, some spots were soggy, some were lush and others were bare; they were a crapshoot. The fairways/greens surroundings was mostly native desert sand/rocks but the rough was semi present and provided a different lie than the ideal positions...but they weren't penal and ball hiding at all. The greens were the highlight of the round, they were running at an 11 (course had informed us of that upon pulling up with a sign showing course conditions) and were pretty true all day. The actual sand bunkers had a nice consistency near greens but fairway bunkers had some overwatering issues. Overall the conditions were good, but for a course with Longbow's self proclaimed excellence I'd say there's room for improvement. Strategy wise I'd place this amongst the tier of championship caliber. Off the tee it is challenging with doglegs and sightlines that obscure your ideal shot. You need to be able to shape your woods off the tee and miss in the correct spots around/on greens to shoot a score. It didn't feel like a long course because I hit irons off about half of the par 4s however the course does wear on you. I felt like we kept playing similar layout par 4 after par 4. I wouldn't say it was a boring round of golf at all, but it doesn't awaken a golf architect lover during any stretch of holes either. I feel the best way to describe the golf course design is that it wants to be an open, free feeling landscape but the surroundings restrict it...and I don't mean the construction buildings or plazas around the course. I mean the man made water hazards, the line of trees adjacent to some holes and desert landscaping prevents it to feel wide open like it's design intends to present it as. My final takeaway is that while the GPS/Bluetooth enabled golf cart, free water bottles in cooler upon tee time and expansive practice facilities are all notable pluses, there isn't anything on the course that makes me...remember the round or thirst for a return immediately. I will play again however here's to hoping the conditions are better shortly.