Arizona is one of the most extraordinary golf destinations in the United States — arguably in the world. Blessed with over 300 days of sunshine per year, a desert landscape that creates visually stunning backdrops, and a concentration of elite course design that rivals any state in the country, Arizona draws golfers from across North America and beyond. This guide covers the best golf courses in Arizona by region, from the world-famous fairways of Scottsdale to the high-altitude beauty of Flagstaff.
Why Arizona Is a World-Class Golf Destination
The Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area averages less than 8 inches of rain per year, with the majority of days offering clear skies and minimal wind — conditions that allow year-round play and maintain immaculate course conditions. The desert setting creates a landscape unlike any other golf experience: saguaro cacti lining the fairways, red rock formations framing approach shots, and mountain backdrops on virtually every course.
Arizona hosts the WM Phoenix Open (one of the most attended sporting events in the world) and has historically attracted both Tour players and architects seeking blank-canvas desert terrain. The result is a concentration of genuinely world-class public courses that makes Arizona a premier golf travel destination.
Scottsdale: Arizona’s Golf Capital
TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course)
Home of the WM Phoenix Open, TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course is the most famous golf course in Arizona. The iconic par-3 16th hole — a short iron into a green surrounded by grandstands holding 20,000 fans during tournament week — is a bucket-list experience. The course is open to public play year-round: championship standard throughout, with open desert fairways, firm greens, and precision demands on every approach.
Troon North (Monument and Pinnacle Courses)
Troon North consistently ranks among the top public golf courses in the United States. The Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish-designed Monument Course weaves through the Sonoran Desert with massive boulders, ancient saguaros, and dramatic elevation changes. The Pinnacle Course’s par-4 7th hole, with a fairway split by a towering rock formation, is one of the most photographed in Arizona. Both courses reward accuracy over power — the desert penalty areas are severe.
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
Located on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, We-Ko-Pa consistently ranks in the top tier of Arizona public courses and represents exceptional value. The Cholla Course by Scott Miller is a brutally honest ball-striking examination with target-oriented desert landing zones. The Saguaro Course by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw is a more flowing, natural design that many consider the best pure golf experience in Arizona. Without real estate development surrounding the courses, We-Ko-Pa has an authentic, immersive desert atmosphere.
Grayhawk Golf Club
Grayhawk’s Talon and Raptor courses in North Scottsdale have hosted multiple professional events. The Raptor Course by Gary Panks and David Graham is a challenging, target-driven desert layout with McDowell Mountains backdrop and Championship difficulty. Talon offers a more welcoming round for mid-to-high handicappers. The clubhouse and teaching academy are among the finest in the state.
Camelback Golf Club (Ambiente Course)
Phil Mickelson’s recent redesign of the Ambiente Course at Camelback represents Arizona golf’s evolving aesthetic — links-style mounding blended with Sonoran Desert landscaping in a visually dynamic, strategically engaging layout. Part of the Omni resort, Camelback offers full golf-trip infrastructure alongside quality course design.
Greater Phoenix: Urban Golf Without Compromise
Quintero Golf Club
Located in Peoria at the foot of the New River Mountains, Quintero is a Rees Jones design consistently cited by Golf Digest as one of Arizona’s top public courses. Dramatic high-desert terrain with significant elevation change creates a demanding, memorable round — and at a lower price point than the Scottsdale flagships.
Wigwam Resort (Gold Course)
The historic Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park features the Gold Course — a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design and one of Arizona’s best resort courses. The flat terrain contrasts with Scottsdale’s desert topography, rewarding different skills. Exceptional greens and strategic bunkering make this a consistent favourite for visiting golfers.
Sedona: Golf Among Red Rocks
Sedona’s Seven Canyons Golf Club (a private Tom Weiskopf design in a spectacular red rock canyon) and the Sedona Golf Resort by Gary Panks offer golf experiences found nowhere else on earth. Playing a round with towering 300-million-year-old red sandstone formations as the backdrop makes concentration genuinely difficult. At 4,500 feet elevation, Sedona plays slightly longer and is 10°F cooler than Phoenix — making it a popular summer escape when the valley is too hot for comfortable play.
Tucson: Underrated and Authentic
Ventana Canyon Golf (Fazio Courses)
Tom Fazio’s Canyon and Mountain courses at Ventana Canyon are among his finest desert designs. The Mountain Course’s par-3 3rd hole — playing across a wash to a green framed by giant saguaros and the Santa Catalina Mountains — is widely considered one of the most beautiful holes in America. Both courses offer a pristine, uncrowded desert experience at a fraction of Scottsdale prices. At 2,400 feet, Tucson is generally 10°F cooler than Phoenix, making summer golf more viable.
Golf Club of Estrella
A Jack Nicklaus Signature design in southwest Tucson, Estrella is a challenging course where course management is the primary skill tested. The green complexes are characteristically Nicklaus — multi-tiered, fast, and punishing of approach shots that leave uphill putts. Our course management strategy guide covers the thinking approach that makes demanding courses like Estrella more manageable.
Flagstaff: High-Country Golf at 7,000 Feet
Flagstaff sits at 7,000 feet elevation — making it the perfect summer retreat when Phoenix and Scottsdale are genuinely too hot. The Elden Hills Golf Course and courses at Continental Country Club offer legitimate golf in a pine forest setting completely unlike Arizona’s southern desert courses. At this elevation, the ball flies significantly further — expect 20–25 extra yards on the driver — creating interesting shot-making challenges.
Best Time to Visit Arizona for Golf
October through April is peak season for Phoenix/Scottsdale. Winter temperatures are mild (65–75°F / 18–24°C), courses are in peak condition, and the light is extraordinary. January and February are the coolest months — still very playable with occasional cold mornings requiring layers. May and September offer shoulder-season pricing with early-morning tee times (6–8am, when temperatures are tolerable). June through August in the valley exceeds 40°C regularly — head to Sedona or Flagstaff if you must play in summer.
Planning Your Arizona Golf Trip
Book tee times well in advance — TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, and We-Ko-Pa regularly sell out weeks ahead during peak season. Multi-round packages often offer significant savings; many Scottsdale resort hotels bundle accommodation and green fees at favorable rates. Hydration is critical in the Arizona sun — 32 oz (1 litre) of water per 9 holes is a minimum. Our golf nutrition and hydration guide covers fuelling for full days on the course.
For golfers planning multi-state trips, our guides to the best golf courses in Florida, best golf courses in Texas, and best golf courses in California cover the other top Sun Belt destinations.
