I played this course 6-11-11 about a week after they aerated the greens, and I also played it a month earlier on 5-14-11. There was night and day difference on green speeds after aerating, they were f... Continue »

I played this course 6-11-11 about a week after they aerated the greens, and I also played it a month earlier on 5-14-11. There was night and day difference on green speeds after aerating, they were fast and true in May, but bumpy and slow in June. They should be healed by the time of this review. I paid $35 for 9 holes in May and $50 for 18 holes in June at 6 am on Saturday. Given the course conditions I would say this is slightly above what it should be. Don't get me wrong this course is by no means a dog track, but I think even for summer time conditions at $50 the fairways, rough and tees could be a little more lush.

For me at my level of play I find the course challenging. I enjoyed playing it two times slightly close together to see if I could learn some nuances of the course and improve my score -- I did by 4 strokes. This course features aspects you might expect in a relatively modern, desert course: elevation changes, punishing desert areas outside the rough, undulating fairways, and contoured greens. It has this without feeling gimicky. You have a fair chance at hitting fairways and avoiding the penalizing desert areas. There is a local rule allowing a penalty stroke and a drop for hitting into the desert. If you hit into the rocky desert your ball is gone (bring an extra sleeve if you hook/slice), but there are desert washes that are sandy/dusty that will allow a wedge shot (I keep an old wedge handy for this ignominious duty). All times I have visited this course there has been a good amount of sand in bunkers, with no rocks. Sometimes bunkers may be wet early in the morning, but I've never seen standing water.

The first time I visited this course was in the winter several years ago and the greens were very fast. They were slower in May of this year (before aerating) and too slow after aerating. My grandfather who can shoot in the 80's enjoys playing this course and finds it challenging, so I assume it will provide a decent challenge for better players, especially from the tips.

There are a few holes on this course that stick out in my mind. The #4 has been changed, it used to be a dog leg right par 4 with water on the left. It was just a short, mediocre par 4 in the arrangement. They have since changed the layout so that your second shot now plays over water to an island green. Again, rather than making this hole gimicky it changes the character of the hole and offered me my best chance at birdie all day (until I hit into the water). Other than that hole the front 9 seemed pretty tame and at least to me played easier than the back nine. The back 9 presented the greater challenge. Number 10 starts the back 9 with a relatively straightforward par 4, but then #11 features a mountain side par 3 uphill that requires accuracy and extra club. The #12 is a downhill par 4 with water behind the hole and guarding the right front of the green. I shoot in the 100's and my grandfather in the 80's I don't think we have found this green on our second shot yet. After bombing your tee shot down hill the tendency is to think you can blast it onto the green and be putting for birdie. This strategy has not worked for me. Next time I'm going to lay up and safely chip on. Those who have a longer drive than me possibly don't have this issue and are already hitting shorter irons onto this green. Anyhow, these are the most memorable holes that stood out in my mind.

One thing I enjoy about this course in the early morning is the wildlife. I often see rabbits, prairie dogs, various birds and even geese on this course. Be careful with leaving food out on your golf cart though -- the birds love getting a snack while you putt out. Obviously, the views from the mountain side holes are gorgeous.

When I first visited this course it was in the winter and it was years ago when the economy was still booming. The course was immaculate and worth more than what I paid in green fees, it was a steal. It seemed like there was more staff around, and there was a kid who came out and offered to wash your clubs (for a small tip, of course) at the end of your round. The customer service was top of the line. It seems like all course in the Phoenix Metro area have toned it down a little bit and are finding ways to save money and whether the downturn. 500 Club is no exception. There is no longer a kid offering to wash my clubs, you won't see the beverage cart driver until later in your round (if you head out at 6 am like me) although I still saw her twice in my round and you will see her more often if you head out later. The service is still spot on in the grill and staff is friendly on the course -- their ranks just seem thinner now a days. I saw a marshall once during my round in May, and in June a marshall came out to tell me that I was allowed to drive off the cart path if I used the 90 degree rule (as they had seen me walking on the video in the club house) I knew this but was just taking my clubs and hitting while my partner drove off to hit his ball. Both times the marshall was friendly, and I had no pace of play issues. It may get worse later in the day -- I do not know. The course has an excellent practice area (putting green, pitching green, full driving range with grass teeing area). There is also a 9 hole walking course here called the Futures Course with par 3s and some par 4s, as well as a good program for juniors.

I will definitely play this course many times in the future, and while I'm sure some serious golfers will say it does not compare to a We-Ko-Pa Saguaro or similar, it is definitely a better golf experience than muni or $15 tracks, and is well worth a round.