17225 N. Citrus Rd. Surprise, Az. 85374 (623) 584-4000
Tee Box Options: Black=6073. Copper=5908. White=5412. Yellow=5050. Total Par=70
It had been a month since I last swung a golf club. No driving range, TopGolf, Putt Putt…..no nuthin’. I was ready to go. I needed a round. Luckily, my good old dad came through and made a tee time for Arizona traditions. I had played this course 2 years ago or so, but that was when I had just started again and wasn’t collecting logo balls, yet. So, last Monday was essentially a new course and a new logo ball for the collection. Az Traditions is a lovely course in the northwest Phoenix valley, just west of the 303 freeway. It is also the sister course to Great Eagle Golf Club which is just down the road a bit.
When you arrive at the course, you have to check in at a security gate and let them know you have a tee time. The clubhouse is just to the right of this and you have a great view of #18 on your way in. They were backed up a few minutes and we started 20 or so minutes after our time slot. The course had just reopened after overseed and they were quite busy. Not a problem though. Dad and I are pretty easy going. We were called to the tee, met the other 2 gentlemen in our 4 some, and we were off. Since I hadn’t played in a month I opted to play the white tees. Just shy of 5500 yards, I wanted to ease back into it, but I really should have played back 1 as they are just over 5900 and I usually want to play about 6000 yards.
The course was in amazing shape. Just gorgeous, post overseed….really as it should be. The greens were a bit slow, but this is to be expected. They have to let them grow a bit more. A couple future mowings and they will roll amazingly. Az Traditions is a very playable course. Its location is close to Sun City and Sun City west, which are both 55+ retirement communities. Retirees and snowbirds are the main clientele for all of the courses in the area. Courses in this area should be playable and easier than resort courses. People lose a bit from their game as they age. No one wants to admit it, but it happens. You lose distance in your clubs. This course is wide open. There are small desert areas, but there is no danger of losing your ball. The sand traps aren’t that deep, and the greens aren’t flat…but they aren’t impossible to get the ball in the hole, either. There are a couple bodies of water. One definitely comes into play on hole 15 as it is a par 4 that doglegs right around the pond.
It was cart path only when we played. I normally hate this. It’s a necessary evil if you want to play right after overseed. It’s no fun when you can’t hit the dang ball anywhere near the cart path. My worst case scenario would be to grab my clubs and start walking. I have a carry-stand bag so it’s not that big of a deal for me. I love walking the golf course….more on that next blog. I was proud of myself to keep the ball mid fairway or close to the path. I even played the entire round with one ball! It’s been a long time since I’ve done that. As an aside…I was trying out a new ball. Now, understand I am not a great golfer. I don’t even consider myself good. I just enjoy playing. I don’t like spending much money on golf balls. It irks me when I go into Golf Galaxy or the PGA Superstore and they try to sell me Pro V 1s when all I want is an affordable ball. 2 years ago I was playing a Nike Power Distance. They were $15 a dozen. Then Nike stopped making them. I went through a couple different brands of balls and then found Titleist Soft and Long which were also $15/dozen. I bought 8 dozen of them and they lasted a year….but now Titleist doesn’t make those anymore, either. I can’t seem to win. Noodle now has the Neon. I like Noodle golf balls, but I hate white golf balls. I can’t see them after I hit them. I’ve been playing fluorescent yellow since I started again. My dad bought a sleeve of the Noodles and gave me one. I liked it. They are under $20/dozen, so they might be my new ball.
We had a good round, overall. I didn’t use a mulligan or have any penalty strokes. I shot an 85, which I was quite happy with considering I hadn’t played in a while. I feel my game is coming around and I am quite happy, lately. For the time being, I am happy playing bogey golf. Remember, this was par 70 and I hit 15 over. If I can stay this consistent I will be happy. I think the next phase is to start making those bogeys into pars. I doubt I’ll ever be a low handicap, but it’s still something to think about.
Dry Heat Hacker 