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3.4
282 Reviews (282)
5 Stars
31
4 Stars
122
3 Stars
75
2 Stars
31
1 Stars
23
Conditions
2.6
Value
4.0
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.2
82.3%
Recommend this course
232 out of 282 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Style Desert
Par 72
Length 7519 yards
Slope 145
Rating 74.6

Editor's Note: Course closed for business in 2021.

The Apache Stronghold Golf Course is situated upon pristine land that, according to legend, was created by the God Usen to provide the Apaches with everything they needed to survive. It was called the Apache Stronghold because it had the protection of the Chiricahuas, Aravaipas, Superstition and White Mountains, and it is said that here the Apaches could walk invisibly among their enemies. The scenic golf course is the centerpiece of the Apache Gold resort. The unique landscape provides elevated tees, desert arroyos, and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. This 7,519-yard golf course will reward long hitters but golfers should be mindful of the washes and arroyos that crisscross the fairways. The layout doesn't have any water but there are 50 strategically placed bunkers coming into play and the rolling terrain provides plenty of hazards. Many holes are carved right into the foothills.

Course Details

Year Built 1999
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Tom Doak (1999) Jim Urbina (1999)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs No
GPS No
Pull-carts No

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Caddies No
Teaching Pro No
Pitching/Chipping Area No
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Collared shirt, slacks/capris, no cutoffs, no denim.

Lodging

Lodging Available

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Conference Facilities, Banquet Facilities

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Courses for Layout in the U.S. (2018 #20)
  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Courses for Pace of Play in the U.S. (2017 #18)

Reviews

3.4
282 Reviews (282)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 19
19th Hole Scenic Views 6
Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 55
Forced Carries 55
Undulating Greens 44
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 61
Advanced Golfers 43
Locals 28
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 56
At a Resort 26
Near Local Attractions 11

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course condition

Course in bad condition, greens need mowed and attention. Won’t be playing Apache stronghold for a while.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 56
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Worst greens I ever tried to play on.

For such a great layout the course is in poor shape and there is no grass on the greens, just weeds. It is a shame to call it a golf course as they could do so much better. The two of us were the only golfers on the course and now know why.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Need new Greens

The course layout and the friendliness of staff is great however the greens need to be completely re-sodded as the weeds and bad crab grass has overtaken the greens. Had to just play as two putt greens which does not help the effectiveness of exactly how you are playing start to finish. I would not recommend this course unless you are only paying $20 a round until the re-due the greens

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

unplayable conditions

I've played this course a number of times over the past 15 years and it was always a good experience. The course condition has always been a bit rough, but a really nice pure desert course. The most recent visit (10-1-21) was extremely poor. The course does not seem to have any regular maintenance. Large amounts of overgrown grass and vegetation, weeds, dead areas. The putting surfaces are unbelievably bad, crab grass clusters everywhere, it was impossible to actually putt the ball. This place needs to be closed for several months and have a full restoration done

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Unplayable greens

Greens were unplayable, this golf Course never should never be on your site.. spent $165 I’d like to be reimbursed. Worst golf experience ever

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Then course needs a lot of work

This course is not ready it needs a lot of work especially the greens.
My rating is 0 and we only played 4 holes because of then condition.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Poor greens

Fairways where in fair condition. Greens where terrible, weeds everywhere on putting surface.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

This course is a message. Nightmare greens

This course has a no cooler rule that caused my family to become dehydrated and had to leave the course early. 100 degree weather and you must rent a cooler from them that only holds 3 bottles. This is after I just dropped over $300 between tee times and pro shop purchases... They wouldn't let me bring my cooler that only had ice and water. Plus they didn't have enough golf balls for sale. The staff was friendly enough But it didn't make up for the terrible greens and asinine rules. If there Was a beverage cart coming around I could understand the no cooler rule. We won't be back

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Avoid

The staff are the friendliest and kindest at any course I’ve ever played.
The course could use a major amount of TLC starting with a lawnmower on the tee boxes. Then the fairways. And the greens need a ton of work. This is like a municipal course not a casino course.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Previously Played

Beware

Before you drop $60+ dollars, the course is in horrible shape! You could probably putt better on shag carpet and I am not exaggerating. The greens are not mowed and I have never seen anything like it. Fairways are not cut, I actually lost balls in the middle of the fairway. A hard stroke on the green and the ball goes 5-10’ MAX! The management should be ashamed at charging the fees they do for the quality of golf. They also had “no carts on fairways” like it’s going to hurt anything! I used to love playing this course and I am very disappointed on how bad it is. Rudy and Mrs. Chapman were very pleasant as usual.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

Don’t go There

Course is horrible! A cow pasture would be better. Unfortunately management hasn’t been able to maintain any kind of consistent staff so the course has turned into a cow pasture, even the greens.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Larry

For this time of the year when fairways in the mountains are dormant the greens are in great shape. The Greens really held approach shots.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 52
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Stringhold

Excellent layout. Too bad course has no maintenance. No green grass to be found. Fairways and greens all dead bermuda. No wonter seed planted. Bunkers have little sand. This course has the potential to be excellent but with no care from management down this course is in horrible shape. Really sad.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course is great layout

Needs different grass on fairways. Needs a food service. Use to have water available on the carts and on the course. Both gone now.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

The course is still improving. Not bad for winter conditions, but water for the golfers on the course would be helpful.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Very friendly staff, fairways are in pretty poor shape

Very friendly staff, fairways are in pretty poor shape As are a a lot of the greens

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 49
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Apache Stronghold ok - enjoyable

Love course layout. Natural desert type course. Needs some tender loving care. Not place to golf if you enjoy relaxing after your round with your playing partners and a beer or two. “clubhouse” was closed when we completed our round and were only cars remaining.... almost appeared that person came back to golf course to put our two carts up for the day.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Beautiful Views

This course has a beautiful setting. However, it needs new grass, improved bunkers and at least some gravel on cart paths. Employees are friendly and worth going to at least once maybe. A few more signs to help direct hole to hole would be an improvement. Unfortunately, the management switched the hole numbers and they no longer line up with any GPS. However, to compensate they do have GPS in the carts.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 52
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Love the layout but....

The course has a real strong layout and it very scenic. The staff is outstanding and the course just excites you with it's architecture and vistas. But you need to put aside your need for pristine conditions and enjoy the course.
There is no over seeding, other than the tees. The greens putt true and are of average speed. The fairways are dormant and the bunkers are well, abysmal. There is no 19th hole and no water on the course.. The greens are over watered and that creates some very soft conditions short of the green.
But, the course is fun and the holes are well designed and a joy to play. There were 12 of us and we had a great time. We thought the greens were fine, the views were solid and the course layout was outstanding. We all agree that we would be back and accepting of the conditions. Make the drive and give it a try.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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