The Duke at Rancho El Dorado

I typically play southern dunes when I come out to
Maricopa. However, after not enjoying the players that play at dunes I decided to give the Duke a try. I didn’t feel rushed on pace and didn’t have people hitting into us all day like they do at dunes, greens were in Great shape so were the tee boxes, staff was extremely friendly, club sando rec was very good, value of the round with cart for less than $40 I’ll be back for sure.

Place was a ghost town, tons of vacant tee times online. Booked on Golfnow showed up about 45 min prior and asked if we could go out early. "Absolutely not" was the response. " We have a shotgun start going soon. No such thing happened except for some mens league guys we talked to making the turn. Greens had been aerated and were quite bumpy, bare patches and irrigation leaks in some fairways all things that they should tell you before you pay for a round. Disappointing for sure.

Not a bad course. Wish they would let the grass grow more in the fairways. Some spots are bare and some spots ok. Mostly mowed too short. Summer heat kills the short grass. Iron play is tight lies. Not the good kind. You'll find yourself playing your approach shots off grass roots or hard ground. Greens are usually ok. Water is probably very expensive here in Maricopa so I get it. But this time of year prices could be better and/or course could be better.

Course appears to have had a good snowbird season and is reinvesting in the course. Maintenance was hauling white sand to the sand traps. Course was dry but in relatively good condition.

This course is always a great choice. Fairway conditions were not quite what we have seen in the past but the greens were fantastic as always. This is with out a doubt the best value in the metro area and is very much worth the drive down from the south central valley at any time of the year.

This was the first time I had played this course and it was a really enjoyable round. Showed up 30 minutes early and upon checking in, they said I could go out whenever I was ready as there were not groups ahead. The pace moved quickly with less people on the course. The greens and tee boxes were really well kept. The fairways look to have been recently aerated and we’re recovering. The rough was a bit burned out, but to be expected for the summer in AZ. Overall a good experience and will look to play again soon.

Played around 3:00 on a Friday afternoon and surprisingly had not wait at all, even as a single. Greens in good shape for summer and fairways decent. Good price on Golfnow.