My 14-year-old son and I will be spending this Thursday through Sunday at the Embassy Suites in Phoenix on Paradise Village Pkwy. I think we've got the restaurant recommendations nailed down, but we need to know where to play golf. 1.) We are looking for a course that won't be too difficult/intimidating for my son. Ideally, a place he can take a lesson and then go out and play. 2.) Are there any nine-hole courses to play on our last day before the flight home?

Also, we are going to the ASU game on Saturday night. What should we do during that day in the Tempe area?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

I'm not much of a golfer (OK, not at all), but there is an excellent municipal course (Papago) that is in a beatiful location very close to the airport. It is in the middle of Papago park where the Botanical gardens and Zoo are located. My son golfs there occasionally. Also Coronado golf course in South Scottsdale. More upscale but not far from where you are staying is Kierland, laid out as 3 different 9-hole courses, you can check them out online.
Mentioned in an earlier post is the bike show this weekend where Paul and Paul Jr. from Orange County Choppers will be on hand, might be cool for a 14-year-old.
After the game, there is quite a scene happening on Mill Avenue in Tempe. It's a pretty hip area (do they still use that word?). Gets QUITE interesting at night. It's still interesting during the day if you want to walk around there, but not quite as eye-popping as at night.

Oh yeah, there's a Jillian's up a little north of where you are staying that would be fun for a 14-year old. Food and fun. Amazing video, pool tables, bowling. Of course you can also do the more educational/cultural activities like the Heard museum.

Immediately next to the hotel is Stone Creek golf course which is opwn to the public. It looks very playable ie. not a desert course.
Walking around Mill avenue on gmae day is always interesting. Go down to Tempe Town lake (Near Mill Avenue) and check it out-you can take boat rides on it or even possibly rent a boat. There is an ASU golf course -Karsten -which may be appropriate if you are interested in playing during the day. Papago GC has a good reputation but as a municipal course it is hard to get onto. If you are looking for a nice playabel short course (par 3s and a few 4s, check out Continental Golf Course on Osborn near Hayden Road in Scottsdale. You can play 9 holes and it is about 15-20 minutes from the airport (add an extra 30 minutes if returning a rental car).

There are about 200 golf courses within an hour of your hotel. I've played a few dozen, but my favorite remains Hillcrest in Sun City West. It's all-grass and very forgiving of a high handicapper.

An interesting museum near Tempe is the Pueblo Grande at 4619 E. Washington. It's an archaeological site with annotated displays of the civilization created by the indigenous peoples of Arizona. An interesting fact is that the land here was under irrigation when London and Paris were bunches of huts (in the words of one sponsor's exhibit).