100 N. Clubhouse Dr. Avondale, Az 85323 (623) 232-0511
http://www.coldwatergolfclub.com/
Tee Box Options: Deep End (Tips)=6758 yards, Coldwater (Blue)=6305 yards, Vintage (Middle/Teal)=5798 yards, Upstream (Forward/Red)=5147 yards. Total Par=72.
Hello! I’m the Dry Heat Hacker and welcome to another Valley of the Sun golf course review in beautiful metro Phoenix, Arizona. Today I played Coldwater golf course in Avondale, Az., which is a suburb of Phoenix, located in the west valley. I’ve played there a few times over the last 2 years and Coldwater has become my home course this summer. They advertised a summer special on Facebook 3 months ago. For $120 + tax, you get six rounds and six hotdogs. $20 for a round and food is cheaper than you will find on Golf Now. Their rack rate from 12pm-5pm ranges from $17 to $45 and decreases a few dollars at the top of each hour. I went to work early and left early so I could play today. Temperature at tee off was 109° at 4pm and I was dumb enough to be out there! During the Phoenix summer, if you can stand the heat, you can practically have most courses to yourself, with just a few golfers here and there. I tee’d off at 4pm and was done by 6:15pm. I played solo and didn’t rush, but also didn’t waste any time as I didn’t have to look for a lost ball. I played from the Vintage tees.
Coldwater is a links style course. It winds through and around a subdivision/housing development. I can have a wicked slice at times and I haven’t put a ball in anyone’s backyard/pool, yet. I say yet because I have done that on other courses! But, I don’t worry when I play here. They have wide fairways. I enjoy this course a lot. I just like the way it flows. From the elevated tees (most of them are raised above the fairway in some fashion) to the greens (more on them later), I find that there is challenge for every type of golfer. Also, I’d like to note that all 18 holes are named. I’m not going to list them, but I find this to be a nice touch. Teeing off on Hole 1, you notice the ‘theme’ if you will, of the course. As mentioned, the fairways are wide, but that doesn’t mean they are flat. There are small hills and drop offs into desert areas which can add to the fun when you slice or hook a shot. Hole 2 is a straight ahead par 5. The tee is elevated. There is a big hill on the right about 250 yards out that protrudes towards the center of the fairway. You have to go around it, but the fairway is wide enough to do so with a well-placed tee shot. Mine wasn’t. I was right behind that thing. After your second shot, it does seem you are going downhill to the green. We don’t get much rain in the valley. Coldwater looks to be built in a wash for neighborhood rain control. I’ve never heard of the course being flooded, though, and we are currently in the middle of monsoon season. I really like the greens here. There is some challenge to them. First, they are designed for multi hole placement meaning that the greens aren’t only flat and they move the cup each day. Each time they move the hole, it becomes a completely different green as it was the day before. For example, hole 17 has a long green where the far end of it has a step up and is probably 4 feet higher than the lower end. It has waves and breaks and I had to putt about 20 feet uphill after I was on the green. Tomorrow, the hole placement may be on the other end of the green and that part is pretty flat. Hole 3, 4, 12, 14, 15, and 16 have significant drop offs on at least one side of the green, which makes the approach shot interesting.
As of right now in August, the hottest time of the year, this is the thinnest I’ve seen the fairways. I wasn’t playing off of dirt, but the grass is very thin. It is very difficult for courses to keep good grass in the fairways right now. My last few reviews have been at upper scale/resort style courses. I’m not saying that to take anything away from Coldwater. I honestly couldn’t say enough how much I enjoy this course. But, until overseed at the end of September, the fairways will be thin in places. I’ve played here during the winter and I can say the fairways are lush as any upscale course. The only water hazard is on hole 8 between the tee and the green. It’s usually between 100-120 yards tee to pin. The last 2 rounds I have chunked my tee shot and put it in the water. Also, note that there is always a flock of geese around this hole. Lots of geese=lots of goose poop. Watch. Where. You. Walk.
I have only been playing Coldwater during the afternoons, lately. I have not played during the morning in quite some time. When I arrive, the course is self-serve. There are no cart attendants, marshals, or starters at this time…..more so during the morning when it’s busier. I walk over from the parking lot (about 30 feet), load my clubs on the cart, and go check in. The clubhouse is really nice. On one end is the pro shop with a nice selection of apparel. On the opposite end is the snack bar and kitchen. There is seating inside and outside with many tables in between to accommodate outings and tournaments. Year round, Coldwater hosts many. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. Coldwater also has a strong web presence with the website (listed above) that is always up to date and Facebook, as well. When asked by others to recommend a nice golf course, I always say Coldwater first. I just like the place. If you play I hope you do, too. Until the next review….
Dry Heat Hacker 