15205 W. Vineyard Ave. Goodyear Az. 85338 (623) 932-3714
Tee Box Options: Tournament (Black)=6846. Salt (Red)=6535. Agua Fria (White)=6266. Gila (Blue)=5297. Total Par=71.
Today I played Tres Rios golf course in Goodyear, Az., which is a suburb of Phoenix, located in the southwest valley. This course, as well as the Golf Club @ Estrella, is part of the Estrella Mountain Park. There also is a mountain bike park, baseball/softball diamonds, and equestrian facilities. I’ve played Tres Rios a few times before and I really like this course. If found a hot deal on www.golfnow.com for $10 + fees and was on my way. Note: Tres Rios has a rate of $14 right now, so it was just about the same price either way. I like how the course isn’t anywhere near houses or a neighborhood. If you know the area, the course is right down the road from Phoenix International Raceway (PIR, or whatever it’s called now. I believe it has been renamed). There is only open land out there. Tres Rios sits on its own plot of land and isn’t close to anything. So, there’s not a lot of noise while you’re playing. Also, this isn’t a desert course. There are no desert areas at all and Tres Rios is filled with trees….and big ones, too. When teeing off on most holes, you are hitting down a corridor. This isn’t common to most courses in the valley and, at least for me, adds to the appeal.
Tres Rios isn’t a straight back and forth course, by any means. Even holes that are laid out that way have challenge as you have to play around the trees. The fairways are rolling and are hilly in some areas. There are many blind shots to be had both uphill and downhill. Tres Rios is another course I find to be very playable. The sand traps are shallow. I was in 2 of them and had no issue getting out. Both the #1 and #10 holes are par 5s to start out each 9. #1 is as I described before, you are teeing off down a hallway. There is a small mountain on the left and some trees and many more trees lining the right. I have hit both sides in the past, but today nailed one right down the center. For reference, I played the white tees today. The next 2 holes are par 4s. #2 is the only hole with an elevated tee, but it is only for the tips. The #3 hole is a dogleg right where the first bit of water comes into play as your coming around the trees. #4 is a par 3 with water in the front and on the right. As normal, I put one in the drink and took a triple bogey. I wish I could get those strokes back. #6 is the next hole where trees really come into play and make the fairway another dogleg right. As I said, the course is very playable. I hit behind trees a few times today and a punch shot came in very handy. #15 is the only other hole where water comes into play as you hit over to a par 3.Tres Rios is in the same condition as most courses in the valley right now. The tee boxes are good. They have wear like any other course, but you are still hitting off of grass-not dirt. The fairways look good, also. There are some brown spots, but that is to be expected with the Phoenix heat. While I was playing, sprinklers were running in some areas. There were 2 greens that had bare spots down to dirt. But, they were still playable. I had to putt through the area and it didn’t affect the roll of the ball.
I have to note, I spoke with a couple of employees today who were very nice and informative. In past reviews, I’ve mentioned ‘friendly staff’, which has been true. Most courses have good people working for them. Today though, these men took time to answer my questions and speak openly. There was one older and one younger gentleman, but I didn’t get their names. Regarding course conditions; I spoke with one employee who told me they’ve been having trouble with their sprinkler system. They want to water more, but……. Not to worry, though. Over seed is coming up October 2nd to 16th. The sprinklers should be 100% by then and the weather will cool down. Tres Rios will be amazing during the winter.
Lastly, take your own drinking water. You also can buy water, Gatorade, etc. from the snack bar. There are coolers on the carts. They will fill them with ice for you if you bring your own drinks (not beer though, of course). But, they do not have drinking water on the course. This was another conversation I had with the man who checked me in. A little background first. In 2002, Thunderbird Golf course (which became Vistal and then closed down completely. The land is bare the last time I drove by) hosted a junior tournament. Over 80 people became ill and it was speculated that the drinking water provided by the course was contaminated somehow. Unfortunately, one young man died. This caused a valley wide investigation and for a short time all valley courses weren’t allowed to have drinking water. After some food handler and sanitation training, most courses went back to providing coolers on the course. Tres Rios did as well. They had padlocks on the water stations so no one could tamper with the water jugs. Someone had to ruin it for every one and broke a padlock and trashed one of the jugs. Tres Rios just opted out of providing water. This is not a mark against Tres Rios. I took a half gallon jug with ice. They welcome that. It was 106° when I finished my round today, so plan accordingly. As stated before I really enjoy this course. If Tres Rios was closer to my home, it would be my home course. I like the layout and flow of the course. I find challenge when the trees come into play. The greens are fun to play. It’s quiet out there and the staff is made of good people. A very good round today and I will definitely go back in the winter when the course is in its best shape. Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment so I know if anyone reads these!
Dry Heat Hacker 