GOLF?

Before you ask, no, I don’t golf. Well, mini-golf, yes. But golf, golf? No.

I tried before years ago and got incredibly frustrated, incredibly fast. Many years later, I gave it a go again—at Top Golf. Don’t laugh. That counts. It was still just as hard, and just as frustrating. And, I nearly tweaked my back.

But, I do like driving a golf cart. And, being out on the range with my dad and my brother—on very rare days when our schedules align—remains one of my all-time favorite things to do.

And for some reason, I also really like golf course food. Which is reminding me about how much I also like bowling alley food (note to self, find a bowling alley).

Anyway, back to the food. But first…

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I’ll never forget the first morning we woke up in our new house here.

It was a sweltering Saturday in June and we were starving. Verrado felt like Mars back then—quiet, unfamiliar, and already 107 degrees at 9 AM. A prolonged Yelp search finally led me to Sundance Golf Club, and they were open for breakfast. I called in a to-go order, got lost on the way, and then felt like I might actually melt in the parking lot.

But the moment I stepped into the restaurant, it felt like a cool, retro time warp—and the girl at the counter was the nicest person! She even handed me a huge bag of ice to take home, for free! I’ll never forget that. It was my first real taste of Buckeye kindness, and it sealed the deal on day one: this was home. This was also the very first place I ate in Buckeye!

[Shortly after that, the restaurant closed for renovations and it now looks completely different inside than it did back then.]

SCENIC ROUTE

Fast forward to now. I left the house on Tuesday morning with every intention of grabbing breakfast—I was initially headed here, to the golf course. Except somewhere near the Verrado overpass, I decided to try the new place downtown that’s been causing quite a buzz. By the time I got down there, I missed the breakfast cutoff by 30 minutes.

Next thought? Poké. Always a contender. So I headed in that direction. But then I remember that soy sauce and I are currently not on speaking terms (gluten drama), so I vetoed that too.

And somehow, without fully realizing it, I found myself pulling into the Sundance Golf Club parking lot. An 18-mile detour. It’s like my soul knew, this is what I had been wanting all along.

THE PATIO

Most likely you’ve driven by Sundance Golf Club a hundred times and never stopped. But trust me, you’re missing out. The back patio is a hidden gem. I’ve been visualizing having breakfast there for months.

Even though I missed their breakfast cutoff (by the way, it ends at 11 AM), I decided to stay. The weather was beautiful—well, breezy (I had to chase my menu and my napkin twice)—but the view is stunning. It’s amazing how deceiving the place is from the parking lot. Out back, it opens up to a wide, peaceful vista and a perfectly manicured, vast rolling green, with mountain views. You’re going to have to trust me on that though too, because none of the pictures I took do it justice.

THE FOOD

I was figuring I was going to have to have a salad (due to my seriously annoying gluten intolerance)¹ , but much to my surprise and delight, they have gluten free options! Very unexpected!

I was almost afraid to ask if the reference to ‘gluten free crust’ on the menu really meant that they served gluten free pizza and HOT DOG, they do!

Even better, they serve a ‘Sweet Spicy Pepperoni’ that has… are you sitting down?!… Mike’s Hot Honey on it!!!

The pizza was DIVINE! Often gluten free breads and crusts can ruin a good meal, but not this one. Holy cow! It was perfection. Thin and super crispy, and one of the best gluten-free versions I’ve ever had—no weird taste or texture. I did think there was a tad bit too much sauce, so next time I’ll ask for that ‘light,’ but even that was really flavorful and in-all a perfect combo!

THE MENU

Don’t rely on the online menu, it’s different than the in-person menu. And, yes gluten-free pizza and burger buns are available (without the usual upcharge!).

Hopefully, you can zoom in to read these:

THE ENTERTAINMENT

Lately, I’ve been watching that Netflix golf show, Full Swing. As I write this, I’m realizing that I like everything about golf, except for golfing. Ha! Anyway, those pros make golf look so easy.

As I ate my lunch, I watched this fella above having a heck of a time, putting his line of balls and missing most of the time. This darn game, I truly am amazed that so many people stick with it. It obviously takes a lot of patience and practice to actually get good at it.

This guy gets an A+ for the effort he put in that day and bonus points for not getting frustrated. For me, I found it oddly entertaining and relaxing to watch. And, it gave me something else to do besides scroll my phone.

TUESDAY TRADITION

Just as I finished eating, a swarm of golfers—20 or so fellas—descended on the patio. Up until that moment, I’d had the place to myself.

But suddenly, the quiet gave way to exaggerated tales, friendly heckling, and the kind of teasing that only groups of guys like this understand. They were a jovial bunch—cajoling each other, swapping stories, reliving their best (and worst) swings of the day. And best of all, laughing.

It was a glimpse into something really sweet. Friendship. Community. A weekly ritual that clearly means the world to them. It makes me smile, even now, writing about it.

Watching them, I was reminded of something simple but important: how vital connection is. How friends really do make the world go ’round. How nice it is to go where everybody knows your name. I miss that.

THE SERVICE

My waitress was helpful, knowledgeable, and honest—which I appreciated. She knew her stuff and was upfront about what was good. I trusted her and she was right!

Only hiccup? The check never came. I waited a solid 15-20 minutes before finally going inside to ask for it. I was ready to be annoyed… until I realized this poor girl was serving the entire restaurant—mainly that patio of 20 fellas—all by herself. Once I saw that, my frustration melted and I left her a big tip. Hopefully they did too!

THE TAB

For as delicious as this meal was, I think this was a very fair price. And, bonus, they didn’t charge me extra for gluten free which never, ever, ever happens. There’s typically a $3-$5 up charge per gluten free item.

SAVE THE DATE

🌮 Don’t miss Taco Tuesdays starting at 4:30 PM—three crunchy shell tacos, chips & salsa, and a fountain drink make for a perfect casual dinner with a view.

🎤 They also host Karaoke every Saturday night from 6 PM to close! Now that I know this, I’ll add it to the weekly ‘Live Music Mix’ listings.

🌺  They’ll also be hosting a Mother’s Day Brunch you might want to check out!

Buzz Rating

Food: 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 (5/5) **Mmmmm gluten-free options!!! 🤩 Looking forward to going back for breakfast!

Service: 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 (5/5) **I can’t dock my waitress for the delay in getting the check as they were obviously short-staffed. If you go, wear your patience pants in case you run into the same issue.

Outside Vibe: 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 (4/5) **There are not enough dining tables & chairs on the patio. By the time I was done with my lunch 3 of my 4 chairs had to be swiped for use at other tables.

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1  My gluten intolerance shows up in the form of a rash which is so seriously annoying, I can’t even tell you. And, the effects aren’t immediate, so I can eat a little gluten here and there but I never know where the tipping point is. Well, the point has been tipped, because I’m currently dealing with a rash, which means I have to be super strict with making sure I have zero gluten. And, it sucks because I love to eat and wish my diet wasn’t so limited so I could share about more amazing food in Buckeye. Boo hoooooooo!