PAPAGO GOLF COURSE (602-275-8428)
Arizona Golf Course Review
Papago Golf Course, the historic and long popular course is a totally restored, revitalized historic course. The
course was closed for play on April 4, 2008 and in keeping with its host city, has been reborn, rising again to a
new and even brighter future, with an investment of some $5.8 million dollars. The course officially reopened on
December 6, 2008, just eight months after it closed to be given a new life. The course offers golfers of all levels a
challenging, enjoyable and accessible opportunity in a convenient location.
Papago 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. The renovation of the course included the
removal of nearly 400 trees that were planted in the 1960s in an effort to promote turf growth and restore many of the course's original sight lines and views.
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 that has recently been expanded 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 have been restored to their
original size and replanted with Bermuda Mini-Verde. Bermuda-Tiffway 419 has been installed on all sloped
areas around the tees, greens, bunker and lakes; and Riviera-Bermuda has been planted on all fairways and tee
boxes. All bunkers on the property were completely restored and returned to their original shape and contour.
Twelve new bunkers were added throughout the course and some of the original bunkers were moved to accommodate the length of the modern game.
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.
Five sets of tee boxes play to distances and slopes measuring 7,333 yards, 6,771 yards, 6,382 yards, 5,777
yards and 5,434 yards. 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 with direct link to its
web site by clicking here.
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