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Gang Tackling! Jay and Scot Duke on Public Golf Part 1

As we wrote earlier, Scot Duke and I had different impressions of We-Ko-Pa G.C. in Scottsdale, AZ. I recommended to Scot that he play the course while out there. As you also know, my rating system reviews design, (greens, bunkering, routing, hole shapes and strategies), natural setting, conditioning, value! and overall. Using those parameters, I rate We-ko-pa as first overall in “Overall” and “Value” and second or third in “Natural Setting.” It finishes second in “Design” behind only Apache Stronghold, a Doak design featuring great template holes such as the biarritz, the redan, the punchbowl, and others.

Here’s the other places I played in the Valley of the Sun, Tucson and Texas: Talking Stick North, TPC Scottsdale, Apache Stronghold, Blackstone (Engh), The Boulders (N and S), Troon North (Pinnacle and Monument), Greyhawk (Talon and Raptor), Barton Creek (Canyons), La Cantara and Ventana Canyon (Mtn. and Canyon).

Now here is how Scot’s viewpoint when reviewing a golf course:

As any true business person should do when playing business golf, I had a plan for what I wanted to accomplish while playing at the six golf facilities in the Phoenix area. My mission was to scope out places to bring clients or to hold a Business Golf Country Club event. The Phoenix area is a great place for Business Golf so while I was taking a vacation I kept an eye out for places in the area that fit a business golf outing. In case you too are looking for a place to play Business Golf out of town, here is my report.

OK, here’s where else Scot played on his recent trip: The Anthem Country Club (Ironwood), Gainey Ranch (Dunes and Aurora), Eagle Mountain, Greyhawk (Talon), Troon North (Monument), Talking Stick (N and S), The Hillcrest C.C. and Barton Creek.
“I look at the average business golfer…10 to 14 handicaps…yes, there’s some great business players, but I mean people looking for a pleasant round…a course must be appealling to eye, from fairway to martini glass. First, uniqueness…mystique…resort? Daily Fee? The resort is often the better choice.  Dont invite clients or business golfers to the local muni, invite a business person to a great place, something different from the every day.
Design 20-25%, mystique 40% and exclusive environment…those are about what equate those factors…they beat the $20 every day experience…I want something special.”

Grey hawk is my choice first for a business golf event i the Valley of the Sun.  Its the best on-site turnkey and business function…headaches gone…it has the best way to deal with logistics…fire and forget.”

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