8440 S. 35th Ave., Laveen, Az. 85339. (602) 534-4653 x1.
Tee Box Options: Black=1081 yards. Gold=763 yards. Total Par=27
I’ve been looking forward to writing about this course since I started the blog. Aguila 9 was the first course I played when I started playing golf again 4 years ago. I started at their range, also used the practice chipping and putting greens, and then moved on to the par 3, where I worked on getting my short game together. After the par 3 I moved on to executive courses then to a full 18. I’ll post about those course soon enough. Now that I have been back to playing for quite some time, I play here every now and then to work on my short game. With the shortest hole being 66 yards and the longest being 183 yards (both from the black tees measured center of the tee to center of the green), it’s a fun little course with varying yardages. When I play, I can make it around all 9 holes in 45 minutes or so. Today, the fee to play was $8+tax. Rates do tend to vary throughout the year. Sometimes they have a small bucket for the range and play the par 3 course special for $10-12. I didn’t do that today. I wanted to get some quick practice in and this course is perfect for my needs. I can hit my driver and fairway woods well enough, but my short game can be horrendous at times. Also, you can keep playing. There is no replay rate. Just keep your receipt and check in at the clubhouse to let them know you’re going around again. Even better is that you can play, leave, and come back later and play as long as you have your receipt. One day, I started at 7am, played 27 holes, left for a few hours, then returned and played another 27 holes! My short game got a lot of work that day. I plan on playing and blogging about the full 18 course in the near future, so I will leave the comments about the staff and facilities for then.
The Aguila complex sits at the back of Caesar Chavez Park, which has a library and big pond for fishing. Many families picnic and celebrate birthdays and other occasions here. It’s a nice atmosphere. Since the holes are short, they are a straight shot from the tee, but there are many trees that come into play. #3, #5, #8, & #9 have a bunker on one side or in the front of the green. #5 is 66 yards with the sand trap in front. #6 is the longest hole at 183 yards, but ranged at 171 today. The fairways, especially on the longer holes are anything but flat. The terrain is wavy. Walking the course gives a nice little workout. The pro shop doesn’t allow their carts on the short course, but I have seen them make exceptions for physical limitations and such. Check with the staff. They all seem friendly enough and will more than likely accommodate your needs. I enjoy the walk as I take a smaller bag with only a handful of clubs. Today I only used a putter, wedge, and 5 iron (for the longer holes). On all of my previous blogs I make a comment about course conditions and how Phoenix summers tend to burn out courses. Aguila is in tremendous shape for this time of year. There were brown spots here and there, but the greens and tee boxes were in phenomenal shape. In my opinion, these greens are no joke. Some short courses have a green that is 20 feet in diameter, flat, and with the flag in the middle. Not the Aguila 9! The greens have very good amounts of wave, break, and putting to and incline or decline to definitely make it interesting. If anyone reads these blogs chronologically, you will see as we enter winter that I have an affinity for short courses. I play many Par 3 and executive tracks throughout the winter. I am fortunate to live in a place where I can play golf year round. Unfortunately, that also means golf rates skyrocket when the weather is pleasant. I live within 5 miles of this course, so I do play here every so often. I messed up many wedge shots yesterday while playing Tres Rios so I knew before I left that course, yesterday, what I was going to be doing today. I wish more golfers would give short courses a shot. They are great practice and convenient if one wants to get a round in when they’re limited on time. I hope you enjoyed reading. I had a decent round and hit 4 over with 5 pars and 6 GIR. I had 2 3 putts, though! Leave a comment, regardless. I’d like to know if anyone is reading these. See you on the links.
Dry Heat Hacker 