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31 August 2026
Arizona has earned a reputation as one of the premier golf destinations in the United States, and it is easy to understand why. With dramatic desert landscapes, mountain backdrops, sunny weather, and hundreds of courses scattered throughout the state, Arizona offers unforgettable golf for players of nearly every skill level. Scottsdale may receive much of the attention, but exceptional courses can be found from Tucson to Sedona and throughout the greater Phoenix area. If you are planning an Arizona golf getaway, these are some of the best public courses to put on your list.
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Located in North Scottsdale, Troon North Golf Club is practically synonymous with Arizona desert golf. Its Monument and Pinnacle courses wind through enormous granite boulders, towering saguaros, natural desert washes, and the foothills near Pinnacle Peak. The Monument Course was designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, while Weiskopf designed the Pinnacle Course. Both offer dramatic elevation changes and spectacular Sonoran Desert scenery. Golfers looking for the quintessential Scottsdale experience will find it here. The courses are challenging enough for experienced players while multiple tee options make them accessible to a wider range of golfers.
Located on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation east of Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club offers something increasingly rare in metropolitan Arizona: desert golf without houses lining the fairways. Its two courses, Saguaro and Cholla, are surrounded by largely undeveloped Sonoran Desert and panoramic views of nearby mountains. The Saguaro Course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is particularly acclaimed for incorporating the landscape’s natural contours into its design. Cholla provides another beautiful desert experience with dramatic terrain, washes, and towering saguaros.
Tucked into the High Sonoran Desert northwest of Phoenix, Quintero Golf Club feels remarkably remote despite being within driving distance of the metropolitan area. Designed by Rees Jones, the course is known for dramatic elevation changes, mountain views, desert washes, and memorable par-3 holes. Golfers encounter a mixture of elevated tees, rolling fairways, and rugged desert terrain throughout the round. For players who value scenery as much as the game itself, Quintero is one of Arizona’s true bucket-list courses.
Want to play where the professionals play? The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale is home to the annual WM Phoenix Open and one of the most recognizable holes in professional golf. The par-3 16th transforms into a massive enclosed stadium during tournament week, when thousands of fans create an atmosphere unlike anything else on the PGA Tour. Outside the tournament, golfers can experience the course themselves and discover that there is much more to it than its famous 16th hole. The back nine offers plenty of risk-and-reward opportunities, including the drivable par-4 17th.
Another Scottsdale favorite, Grayhawk Golf Club features two 18-hole courses: Raptor and Talon. The Tom Fazio-designed Raptor Course has hosted professional and collegiate tournaments, including the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships. Wide fairways provide some forgiveness, but strategically placed hazards and challenging greens ensure that good course management still matters. Talon offers its own distinctive desert experience, making Grayhawk a great choice for travelers hoping to play multiple rounds without changing locations.
Few Arizona golf courses have scenery quite like The Boulders. Located in the Carefree area north of Scottsdale, the courses weave through spectacular formations of enormous granite rocks. The North and South courses use the surrounding desert as part of the experience, with fairways tucked among saguaros, rock formations, and natural desert terrain. The result is a round that feels distinctly Arizona and provides plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the view between shots.
Southern Arizona deserves a place on any serious golf itinerary, and The Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Marana offers an excellent reason to head toward Tucson. The Jack Nicklaus Signature design features 27 holes surrounded by saguaros and the Tortolita Mountains. The facility gained international recognition when it hosted the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. The higher Sonoran Desert setting, elevation changes, and mountain scenery create a golf experience that feels noticeably different from many Phoenix-area courses.
For a more traditional golf experience, head west of Phoenix to Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park. Unlike many of Arizona’s target-style desert courses, Wigwam features mature trees, broad fairways, and a classic resort atmosphere. The property has three 18-hole courses, giving golfers an impressive 54 holes to choose from. The Gold Course is the property’s flagship layout and is particularly appealing to golfers who want a break from the rugged desert style found elsewhere in the Valley.
It is difficult to concentrate on your swing when Sedona’s famous red rocks are towering in the background. Sedona Golf Resort is located in the Village of Oak Creek and combines an 18-hole championship course with panoramic views of the area’s spectacular rock formations. Elevation changes and strategic holes make the golf interesting, but the scenery is unquestionably the star. If your Arizona vacation includes Sedona, this is one of the state’s most memorable places to squeeze in a round.
Arizona golf is available throughout the year, but the experience varies dramatically depending on the season. Fall through spring is prime golf season in the lower deserts around Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson. Temperatures are generally much more comfortable, although green fees are typically higher during this popular period. Summer brings extreme desert heat but can also mean significantly lower rates. Anyone golfing during the summer should choose an early morning tee time, carry plenty of water, use sun protection, and take the heat seriously. Higher-elevation destinations can provide alternatives during warmer months, with northern Arizona generally experiencing cooler temperatures than the Phoenix and Tucson areas.
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What makes Arizona such an incredible golf destination is not simply the number of courses. It is the variety. You can play through giant granite boulders in Scottsdale, tee off beneath the Tortolita Mountains near Tucson, enjoy traditional tree-lined fairways in Litchfield Park, or spend a round staring at Sedona’s magnificent red rocks. Whether you are planning an entire vacation around golf or simply looking to play a memorable round while visiting Arizona, the Grand Canyon State has a course waiting for you.
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