Golfers brave heat

As Thursday’s temperature in Sun City neared its peak, James Bender was teeing up at 2 p.m. at the Lakes East/West golf course.

"It doesn’t matter to me. Heat is no problem. It’s the cold that gets me," said the 73-year-old Sun Citian.

No worry there. The Valley is about the enter the hottest weekend of the year, and Bender won’t be seeing frost on the greens for, oh, another half year or so.

"Well if you think about it, if you play when it’s this hot out, right in the middle of the day, there’ll be almost no one else out there," Bender said. "You’ll have the course pretty much all to yourself."

He’s not alone in seeing things that way as golfers take advantage of the dip in turnout and lower prices that the Arizona summer brings to area courses.

"With golf rates in the summer, we knock them down a couple bucks from what they are in the winter," said RCSC spokesman Tim Gallen. "The summer rates go from May 1 through Halloween."

They also adjust the twilight rates to sweeten the deal.

"Starting July 1, we extend the twilight rate to start at 10:45 a.m., so golfers who are out in the hot, hot heat can get a little break on the green fee," Gallen said.

RCSCW spokeswoman Katy O’Grady said golfers in Sun City West can take advantage of similar deals, too.

"Summer rates are about half the winter rates," O’Grady said. "During the summer, afternoon rates are about $10 less than the morning rates. So there are some really good deals to be had if you can handle the heat, and you obviously don’t have to contend with the more crowded conditions that exist in prime season."

Encouraging golfers to play when it is 110 degrees outside means being sure they are staying cool and safe, as well, which both Gallen and O’Grady said their rec centers keep in mind.

"We do have water fountains on the courses that are electrically cooled," Gallen said.

O’Grady said they, too, have water fountains for the golfers.

"Our player assistants also travel the course and check with each group to see how they’re doing in the heat during play," she said.

Jeff Dempsey may be reached at 623-876-2531 or jdempsey@yourwestvalley.com.