I never played the old Maryvale course, so I can't make a comparison. The new course is in excellent condition, soft fairways and fast greens. However, the designer must have concluded that the more sand traps, the finer the layout. They're everywhere. Particularly annoying are traps found in the middle of fairways. Sand should punish errant shots, not perfectly struck balls laced down the middle. The course design became increasingly annoying as the round went on. The people were all very nice and the bar has Guinness on draft; that gets a star on its own. So, if you really like sand, play the new GCU course, or better yet, drive the five hours to the beaches of San Diego.