Top 25 Public Golf Courses in Arizona: Ranked by Real Golfers (2026)
Powered by real golfer reviews and sentiment, with green fees, best time to play, insider tips, and confidence scores.
January 5th, 2026 · 9 min read
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Arizona produces some of the most memorable public golf courses in the country, from pure desert layouts to resort courses players plan entire trips around.
This Top 25 ranking is built from golfer sentiment, not industry hype. We analyzed 3,200+ verified reviews, 700+ Reddit discussions, and multi-year sentiment trends to identify the public-access courses golfers consistently say are worth the trip.
The result is a transparent, data-driven list of Arizona’s best daily-fee, resort, and semi-private courses with public tee times, ranked from #25 to #1.
Scroll to see which courses made the cut.
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- Take the Golf Trip Quiz to see whether Scottsdale, Vegas, or another city matches your vibe.
How This List Was Ranked
- Review data: 3,200+ golfer reviews from GolfPass, Golf Advisor, TripAdvisor, and Google
- Community input: 700+ Reddit threads and forum discussions analyzed
- Scoring model: Each course earned a confidence score from 80-100 based on review volume, sentiment strength, and recency
- Public access only: Daily-fee, resort, or semi-private courses with public tee times
- Time window: Data collected between 2022–2025 to balance recent buzz with long-term consistency
25. Raven Golf Club (Phoenix)
Course type: Public
Why golfers love it: One of Phoenix’s biggest surprises, Raven feels more parkland than desert, with pine-lined corridors, smooth greens, and a relaxed vibe that plays well for travel days.
Best time to play: October to May for firm conditions; summer offers value if you can handle the heat.
Green fees: About $100–$120 in peak winter.
Insider tip: Great arrival or departure round thanks to airport proximity.
Confidence score: 80/100.
24. Longbow Golf Club (Mesa)
Course type: Public
Why golfers love it: Longbow delivers clean conditioning and quick greens without resort pricing, making it a favorite for locals who want straightforward, honest golf.
Best time to play: November to April; early mornings for calm air.
Green fees: About $100–$120 peak.
Insider tip: Watch for the breeze later in the day, and plan approach shots below the hole.
Confidence score: 80/100.
23. Emerald Canyon Golf Course (Parker)
Course type: Public
Why golfers love it: Emerald Canyon is unforgettable for its cliffside tee shots and river-hugging holes, offering scenery you won’t find anywhere else in Arizona.
Best time to play: October–April; mornings are usually lighter winds.
Green fees (2026): ~$50–$70.
Insider tip: Bring a camera and a couple of extra balls for the canyon holes.
Confidence score: 82/100 (Signal volume: ~200 reviews.)
22. Elephant Rocks Golf Course (Williams)
Course type: Public/Municipal
Why golfers love it: A true mountain-golf outlier, Elephant Rocks combines cool-weather pines, walkability, and strong municipal value just outside the Grand Canyon corridor.
Best time to play: Late May–September.
Green fees (2026): ~$60–$75 (summer).
Insider tip: Early tee times are crisp and calm at 7,000 feet.
Confidence score: 83/100 (Signal volume: ~250 reviews.)
21. Whirlwind Golf Club – Cattail (Chandler)
Course type: Resort/Public
Why golfers love it: Cattail stands out for its immaculate conditioning and serene desert setting, offering a polished resort feel without Scottsdale chaos.
Best time to play: November–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$150–$175 (peak).
Insider tip: If you have time for 36, pair with Devil’s Claw and compare finishes.
Confidence score: 84/100.
20. Sedona Golf Resort (Sedona)
Course type: Resort/Public
Why golfers love it: This is Sedona golf at its most accessible, with postcard red-rock views on a friendly layout that’s as fun as it is photogenic.
Best time to play: March–May, September–November.
Green fees (2026): ~$100–$125.
Insider tip: The par-3 10th is the postcard hole; plan to take photos there.
Confidence score: 84/100 (Signal volume: ~600 reviews.)
19. Verrado Golf Club – Founders (Buckeye)
Course type: Public
Why golfers love it: Verrado Founders rewards wide drivers with generous fairways, rising elevation, and consistent conditions that punch above its price point.
Best time to play: November–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$100–$125.
Insider tip: The back nine climbs into the White Tanks for the best vistas.
Confidence score: 85/100.
18. Papago Golf Course (Phoenix)
Course type: Public/Municipal
Why golfers love it: Papago blends classic municipal golf with a championship feel, featuring walkable routing, zero housing, and Camelback Mountain views throughout.
Best time to play: October–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$80–$100 (non-resident peak).
Insider tip: Best pace and surfaces early; twilight is a strong value play.
Confidence score: 85/100 (Signal volume: ~1000+ reviews.)
17. JW Marriott Camelback Inn – Ambiente (Scottsdale)
Course type: Resort
Why golfers love it: Ambiente offers a rare Scottsdale links-style experience, with firm surrounds, native grasses, and strategic angles that reward thoughtful play.
Best time to play: November–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$200–$225.
Insider tip: Avoid short-siding; tightly mown surrounds are quick.
Confidence score: 87/100.
16. SunRidge Canyon Golf Club (Fountain Hills)
Course type: Public
Why golfers love it: SunRidge is defined by its dramatic canyon setting and the brutal but beloved “Wicked Six” finish that golfers talk about long after the round.
Best time to play: November–April; mornings for lighter winds.
Green fees (2026): ~$150–$175.
Insider tip: Manage energy and expectations on holes 16–18, they bite back.
Confidence score: 87/100.
15. Grayhawk Golf Club – Talon (Scottsdale)
Course type: Public
Why golfers love it: Talon delivers Grayhawk’s most scenic stretch, pairing canyon visuals with creative par-3s and a lively post-round atmosphere.
Best time to play: November–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$250–$275.
Insider tip: If you only choose one Grayhawk round, Raptor has the tour pedigree; add Talon if time allows.
Confidence score: 88/100.
Planning an Arizona golf trip? Start with our complete Scottsdale Golf Trip Guide, including courses, lodging zones, and a proven 3-day group itinerary.
14. Sewailo Golf Club (Tucson)
Course type: Resort/Public
Why golfers love it: Sewailo surprises golfers with a softer, parkland feel in the desert, combining water features, lush turf, and consistent conditions that make it one of Tucson’s most playable resort rounds.
Best time to play: October–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$100–$125.
Insider tip: Tee shots are generous; approaches require trajectory control.
Confidence score: 88/100.
13. The Boulders Resort – North (Carefree)
Course type: Resort
Why golfers love it: North is classic Arizona target golf, weaving through massive granite boulders and desert corridors that create nonstop photo ops and memorable risk-reward shots.
Best time to play: November–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$250–$275.
Insider tip: North gets the slight edge for scenery; golden hour is stunning.
Confidence score: 89/100.
12. Laughlin Ranch Golf Club (Bullhead City)
Course type: Public
Why golfers love it: Laughlin Ranch blends elevated desert views with smooth, fast greens and service that feels closer to a private club than a daily-fee stop.
Best time to play: October–April; winter mornings are ideal.
Green fees (2026): ~$115–$150 (dynamic).
Insider tip: Pair with a river weekend; afternoon winds can kick up.
Confidence score: 90/100 (Signal volume: ~400 reviews.)
11. Gold Canyon Golf Resort – Dinosaur Mountain (Gold Canyon)
Course type: Public/Resort
Why golfers love it: Dinosaur Mountain delivers Arizona’s most dramatic elevation changes, with downhill tee shots and Superstition Mountain views that feel made for highlight reels.
Best time to play: November–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$150–$175.
Insider tip: Club down on the big drops; chase morning light for the best views.
Confidence score: 90/100 (Signal volume: ~600 reviews.)
10. Ventana Canyon – Mountain (Tucson)
Course type: Resort/Semi-Private
Why golfers love it: Ventana Canyon’s Mountain Course is defined by forced carries and canyon drama, capped by one of Arizona’s most famous par-3s played straight over granite.
Best time to play: October–April (resort guests get the best access).
Green fees (2026): ~$150–$175.
Insider tip: Aim for proper positions into firm, contoured greens—below the hole wins.
Confidence score: 90/100.
9. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club – Cholla (Fort McDowell)
Course type: Resort/Public
Why golfers love it: Cholla offers a bolder, more demanding counterpart to Saguaro, with larger desert washes, longer carries, and the same top-tier We-Ko-Pa conditioning.
Best time to play: November–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$200–$300
Insider tip: Ideal 36, play Cholla in the morning, Saguaro in the afternoon.
Confidence score: 91/100.
8. Grayhawk Golf Club – Raptor (Scottsdale)
Course type: Public
Why golfers love it: Raptor delivers a true tour-venue feel, pairing generous fairways with firm, well-defended greens and immaculate conditioning from tee to green.
Best time to play: November–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$250–$400.
Insider tip: Budget time for Phil’s Grill post-round, it’s part of the Grayhawk experience.
Confidence score: 92/100 (Signal volume: ~800 reviews.)
7. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club (Maricopa)
Course type: Public
Why golfers love it: Southern Dunes is pure, uninterrupted golf, wide fairways, rugged bunkering, no houses, and a links-inspired design that rewards creativity and shot shaping.
Best time to play: November–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$150–$175.
Insider tip: Wind matters; choose conservative lines into crosswinds.
Confidence score: 93/100 (Signal volume: ~700 inputs.)
6. Troon North Golf Club – Monument (Scottsdale)
Course type: Resort/Public
Why golfers love it: Monument showcases Troon North’s most iconic visuals, threading shots between towering boulders on a slightly more forgiving routing than Pinnacle.
Best time to play: November–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$300–$320+.
Insider tip: If playing one Troon North course, Monument is slightly more forgiving.
Confidence score: 93/100 (Signal volume: ~900 reviews.)
5. TPC Scottsdale – Stadium (Scottsdale)
Course type: Resort/Public
Why golfers love it: Stadium lets golfers experience a PGA Tour setup firsthand, from immaculate conditions to the famous par-3 16th that defines Arizona golf theater.
Best time to play: January–March (rates spike around tournament week).
Green fees (2026): ~$300–$375.
Insider tip: Book early; expect a longer pace in peak season.
Confidence score: 94/100 (Signal volume: ~1,500+ golfer inputs.)
4. Verde River Golf & Social Club (Rio Verde)
Course type: Semi-Private / Public Access
Why golfers love it: Verde River feels like a private-club escape, featuring wide desert corridors, dramatic washes, and sweeping Four Peaks views, all without the long drive to Quintero.
Best time to play: November–April; shoulder-season afternoons often combine better value with golden-hour light.
Green fees (2026): ~$150–$180 (dynamic; AZ resident rates can trend lower).
Insider tip: Choose tees conservatively; the desert carries and crosswinds can sneak up, and the back nine plays a touch tighter than it looks from the tee.
Confidence score: 94/100.
3. Troon North Golf Club – Pinnacle (Scottsdale)
Course type: Resort/Public
Why golfers love it: Pinnacle is Scottsdale target golf at its purest, demanding precision through granite corridors, elevated tees, and constant desert exposure.
Best time to play: November–April.
Green fees (2026): ~$300–$320+.
Insider tip: Favor accuracy over power, especially into the wind.
Confidence score: 95/100 (Signal volume: ~1,000+ reviews & discussions.)
2. Quintero Golf Club (Peoria)
Course type: Public
Why golfers love it: Quintero delivers a true destination-golf experience, with remote desert surroundings, pristine greens, and dramatic elevation changes that separate it from metro Phoenix courses.
Best time to play: November–April (shoulder seasons = value).
Green fees (2026): ~$150–$175.
Insider tip: Pick tees wisely, elevation can trick depth perception.
Confidence score: 96/100 (Signal volume: ~800+ combined reviews/mentions.)
1. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club – Saguaro (Fort McDowell)
Course type: Resort/Public
Why golfers love it: Saguaro represents desert golf at its most thoughtful, a house-free Coore & Crenshaw design that rewards angles, walking, and strategic decision-making from start to finish.
Best time to play: November–April; afternoon light is magic.
Green fees (2026): ~$225–$300 (peak).
Insider tip: Walk if you can; the routing flows and rewards angles.
Confidence score: 98/100 (Signal volume: ~1,200 golfer reviews & mentions.)
Honorable Mentions
- TPC Scottsdale – Champions
- Verrado – Victory
- Ocotillo
- Las Sendas
- Aguila
- Encanto 18
- Starfire
- Talking Stick – Piipaash
- Talking Stick – Piipaa
Planning Arizona Golf Trip?
Whether you’re dreaming of Scottsdale or seeking hidden gems in Phoenix, planning an Arizona golf trip can be overwhelming. That’s where we help:
- Unlock the Scottsdale Golf Trip Template
- View Scottsdale Content Hub
- Join the 18Away Membership
- Design a Custom Arizona Golf Trip Plan
Still deciding? Take the Golf Trip Quiz and see which destinations fit your vibe.
Sources & Data
This 2026 ranking is based on golfer sentiment from 3,000+ reviews and 700+ Reddit mentions collected between 2022 and 2025 in Arizona. By using a three-year dataset, we captured both recent buzz and long-term consistency.
Data was aggregated from:
- Reddit golf community threads
- GolfPass (formerly Golf Advisor) rankings and reviews
- Google, TheGrint, and other public review platforms
- Verified media coverage of GolfPass Players’ Choice awards
