by Peter Deering
I played Lowes Ventana Canyon today Novemeber 5TH, the 6TH and final day of my vacation to Tucson. I thought I was saving the best for last and to my surprise I was disapointed from the moment I entered the property. In comparsion to several other courses Vestoso, Gallery, Arizona National the course the experience at Ventana Canyon would be rated the lowest. For starters as a non guest of the hotel I was subject to parking my car in auxilary parking with no option of a bag drop. i had to carry my bag thrrough a double parking area plus a tennis facility. The Golf shop was smaller than a shoe box and inside the golf shop I was given the impression that I was inconviencing the staff on the day of the big Arizona Wildcats football game against UCLA. Once I paid my 205.00 I was advised to find someone below to load my bag onto a cart. Well I proceded down a stair case with my golf bag over my shoulder and ended up loading my bag onto a golf cart without assistance. I was then questioned "what are you doing". I should my reciept and was advised to drive 3/4 of a mile to find the starter. The road you drive on is like a race course for golf carts. They come at you from all directions with blind turns and poorly directed signs along the 3/4 of a mile trek to the starter /practice facility. To my surprise I again found no one available at the area inwhich the starter should be present. A local member gave us direction to the first Tee which we procede to find and TEE off without any instructions. As an experienced golfer i looked at the fairways and saw no cart tracks instantly registering that we must be cart path only. After 2 holes the course came to a grinding halt and we did not see a Ranger until the 8TH Tee. By this time I was totally discouraged about my experience and my brother reminded me of the exceptional golf played previously during the trip. I then reminded him that this was suppose to be the best course certainly it was the most expensive. I did find the conditions of the golf course to be of high standards however the managment for whatever reason on this day took the day off.
I have played other Troon Courses both in Troon North Arizona and Savanah Georgia and the experince was outstanding. I saved for the entire summer of 2005 to take this course and the final day on Ventana Canyon was a complete disapointment.