The BLT sandwich is served with a half-pound of bacon and a side of French fries and ranch dressing at the Duke at Rancho El Dorado’s Silver Spur Grill on July 30, 2025. [Monica D. Spencer]
The facts don’t lie.
Fact 1: It’s hot in Maricopa in the summertime.
Fact 2: Many snowbirds flock to cooler northern locations.
Fact 3: Higher temperatures and a smaller number of people equal fewer golfers and, in turn, less customers for the Silver Spur Grill at The Duke at Rancho El Dorado.
Business is “down quite a bit, at least 75% between June and August,” Terry Duggan, CEO of the local operation, told InMaricopa earlier this month. “It’s pretty normal. You just have to get a little more creative, and we continue to do that.”
One of the traditional methods to try and encourage golfers to brave the heat is The Duke Summer Punch Pass. For one price ($299 plus tax), golfers get 10 rounds, an equal number of drink tickets, a dozen golf balls and 10 small buckets for use on the driving range.
The passes are good through Sept. 28, just prior to the course closing for two weeks for its last grass overseeding before the busy season commences.
“We get early golfers [in the grill] until about 9:30 a.m.,” Duggan said. “We’re trending up a little this year [in both golf rounds and restaurant guests]. At lunch a few more come in. The afternoon is pretty sparse right now.”
The chef salad served at the Duke at Rancho El Dorado’s Silver Spur Grill is a dish that light but not overly so. It features a hefty mix of vegetables, bacon, turkey, salami, pepperoni, cheese and boiled eggs. [Monica D. Spencer]With golfers hitting the tees at first light, one special offers the opportunity to play the back nine holes (starting before 6:30 a.m.) followed by breakfast. “We get a few of those every morning,” Duggan said.
Three summer tournaments with early morning shotgun starts typically attract about 100 golfers each with lunch and drinks following.
Enticing the non-golfers to come out to the grill and bar is where the creativity comes in. A few examples:
Special showings of the Love Island USA reality dating show. The idea: Get fans of the program to gather to watch the “action” together and enjoy some food and drink specials while doing so.
A recent prime rib night, with another possible, as well as an Italian themed dinner.
Staying open a little later (past the normal closing times of 7 p.m. for food and 8 p.m. for drinks) to attract an evening crowd.
Duggan said the efforts are successful at times, while other days find the grill shutting down in the late afternoon.
“July is typically the slowest. We have the most humidity, the highest temps and a lot of people on vacations,” he said. “When people are back in school, it starts to pick up a little. September picks up a little more. By October, we’re at full strength again.”
During a commercial break, friends Saria Becerra, Crystal Cuarenta and Alex Alvarez discuss the happenings of the first segment of “Love Island” during a watch party at Silver Spur inside The Duke at Rancho El Dorado on July 8, 2025. [Monica D. Spencer]The busy season will continue through the end of April, with Duggan noting that May of 2025 was particularly strong.
“The golf course is in really good shape right now. The greens are the best they’ve ever been.”
And whether or not you do a little putting on the golf greens, Duggan and staff are happy to serve a few greens — or meats or other menu items — at the Silver Spur.
Silver Spur Grill
42660 Rancho El Dorado Parkway
Hours
Kitchen: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Bar: 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday Fish Fry: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Happy Hour: 2-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday
