I came down in July for 10 days to enjoy our place in San Tan Heights and play our favorite golf course San Tan Highlands. Well what we found was poor conditions and a run down looking course. The cart paths were horrible broken up and huge drop offs on the edges you needed a bronc saddle to stay in your cart in a few places. Coming off of #2 by the green was unbelievable huge ruts and a falling curb hang on cause it’s rough as hell. Fairways were unbelievable hardly any grass on them in the front back was better. The collars of the greens were nothing but mud it was absolutely nothing like we had played in the past here over the years, looks like they just don't care. It's sad cause it is such an incredible layout with amazing scenery. It just needs someone who will give it some tender loving care. I have attached some pictures we took of the poor conditions you will experience when you play here.
6 months ago
Great course. Fun course! Pace of play can be slow, especially when making the turn due to the Back 9 & Breakfast starting. Overall - really fun course!!
a week ago
We are unfortunately quite disappointed in our experience today. The employees were really nice, but the course is very overbooked. Our tee time was at 2:56, and we did not start until about 30 min later. We went to the range to hit some balls due to the delay, and these were not comp’ed, which just seems like common decency when the course is running so late. Due to the overbooking, the course is obviously running very slowly.
The course is beautiful, but I don’t think we will be making the drive back out. I hate to write poor reviews, but clearly something needs to change with the tee times.
4 months ago
The course itself is perfectly fine. Maria's kitchen is awesome. Great food & drink options! Nice greens, decent pace of play, and staff who generally understand professionalism. Except for one cart girl, who acts like she’s competing in an Olympic sport known as Competitive Thirst Trapping. She works the weekends and is the only blonde cart girl. She looks very young from what my spouse has described.
She doesn’t just serve drinks. Oh no. She marches right up to the tee box to challenge guys to outdrive her, like she’s on a mission from the universe to cause chaos. Ladies, consider this your fair warning, she treats the course like her own dating app with wheels. Boundaries? Never heard of them. Professionalism? Couldn’t spot it with binoculars.
Great place to golf. Not so great place if you prefer your relationship unbothered. She made my spouse very uncomfortable.
It would be great to see management address this so the experience can remain enjoyable for everyone.
3 months ago
I used to love playing this course back when it was Johnson Ranch. My buddies and I didn’t mind the 45-minute drive because the course had some truly beautiful holes that went into the mountains, with spectacular views. The maintenance was solid, the pricing fair, and while tee times were sometimes stacked a little close together, it was still an easy course to recommend.
When I heard the course was under new management and renamed San Tan Highland, I was hopeful. I thought the new ownership would bring improvements to a course I already enjoyed. Unfortunately, my recent round left me more disappointed than impressed, and I can’t recommend it at this time.
Here’s why:
Pricing vs. Value: We were charged $79 per person (in summer season). For that price, I expected at least decent conditions and amenities. Instead, the driving range and putting green were both closed, and the putting green grass was already brown. I understand preparing for overseeding, but the price should reflect the course’s condition.
On-Course Service: We asked the starter about a drink cart and were told, “maybe, if she shows up.” Unfortunately, there was no beverage cart the entire round, which was disappointing in the Arizona heat.
Food & Beverage Experience: Around the 8th hole, our GPS gave us the option to order food and drinks in advance for pick-up at the turn. Great idea in theory—but in practice it was poorly executed. When we arrived at the clubhouse, no one was at the bar or pickup window. After waiting, we flagged someone in the kitchen, who didn’t even have our order ready. It ended up taking almost 10 minutes to receive our food, which caused a serious backup on the course and ruined the pace of play for us and those behind us.
To be fair, the layout of the course is still fun, and playing golf is always better than not playing. But between the price point, the course conditions, lack of service, and poor food/drink execution, this was the least enjoyable round I’ve had here.
I hope management takes these concerns seriously. This course has so much potential—it used to be a gem worth the drive. If improvements are made, I’d gladly give San Tan Highland another chance. But unless I see evidence of positive changes, I won’t be returning, and I can’t recommend others make the trip either.
5 months ago
