PAPAGO GOLF COURSE (602-275-8428)
Arizona Golf Course Review 12/17/06
The municipality of Phoenix is the owner/operator of a nice variety of quality and value oriented 18-hole
golf properties, including Papago, Maryvale, Encanto Park, Cave Creek and Aguila golf courses. There
also are three 9-hole layouts. Besides the fact that these courses are easily accessible, golfers will also
appreciate the pricing structure that makes a round on these properties a good value on an Arizona golf
vacation. Visitors can click on the following link, to find pricing and to book a tee time online at any of the Phoenix municipal golf facilities http://phoenix.gov/sports/gfees.html
The photos in this review are of the renowned Papago Golf Course, recognized as one of the top municipal courses in the country. This course has been home to the Phoenix Open Qualifying, and has
been awarded 4 stars by Golf Digest Places to Play. The layout is marked with desert transition areas
that help to define the holes, and rolling, contoured fairways that are lined with palms, pines and other native trees.
Located just a few minutes from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Papago is an ideal beginning or ending round on an Arizona golf trip. On property is a grass range plus two practice greens for putting
and chipping. The clubhouse features a pro shop plus snack area that serves hot & cold sandwiches and other lunch items.
The green complexes are raised and well bunkered, with putting surfaces that are medium in size and
mild in undulation. There are no residential properties along the layout, and partial cart paths mean that
golfers can drive on most fairways. This is a good walking course - and walking is allowed at all times,
even on weekends! Fairways and greens have Bermuda grass which is over-seeded with seasonal rye but the rough is allowed to go dormant during the winter, creating a two-toned effect.
Three sets of tee boxes play to distances and slopes measuring 7068 yards/128 slope, 6590 yards/125 slope and 5937 (alternately 5781 yards with choices of playing from the lesser distance on the par four
2nd and 5th, plus the par three 17th) with a slope of 127 for women hitting from the red tees. The diagrams provided on the scorecards are helpful, and golfers will find 100, 150 and 200 yard markers
on the fairways, plus color coded flags that indicate front, middle and back pin placements.
If you are going to be in Phoenix for awhile, the Phoenix card is available ($50 fee and $30 annual renewal) and provides advance tee time reservations, discounted rates and promotional specials at all
of the municipal courses. For more information on the golf course and programs, visit our page for Papago and Phoenix municipal golf , with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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