Arizona is one of the premier golf destinations in the country, and the Scottsdale-Phoenix corridor is ground zero. The Sonoran Desert provides a setting that no other golf region can match - saguaro cacti, red rock formations, McDowell Mountain backdrops, and over 300 days of sunshine a year. But the quality goes beyond scenery. Arizona’s best public courses feature designs by Coore & Crenshaw, Tom Fazio, Tom Weiskopf, and Jay Morrish, built across terrain that produces dramatic elevation changes, canyon carries, and strategic desert-wash hazards.

The GolfPass 2026 Golfers’ Choice rankings analyzed nearly 20,000 reviews of Arizona courses to compile their annual list. Golf Digest and Golfweek also rank multiple Arizona courses nationally.

Scottsdale and the East Valley

Scottsdale is the capital of desert golf, with more top-ranked public courses per square mile than almost anywhere in the country.

TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course plays 7,261 yards at par 71 and is home to the WM Phoenix Open - the best-attended event on the PGA Tour. The course is defined by its par-3 16th hole, which transforms into a 20,000-seat stadium during tournament week. The rest of the year, it plays as a well-conditioned resort course with risk-reward holes throughout. Golfweek ranks it the 4th best public course in Arizona.

Troon North Golf Club is set against the foothills of Pinnacle Peak in north Scottsdale. The Tom Weiskopf-designed Monument Course plays 7,070 yards at par 72, with dramatic elevation changes, rock formations, and fairways carved into the natural desert. Troon North also operates the Pinnacle Course on the same property. Both are considered among the finest desert golf experiences in the world.

Grayhawk Golf Club in north Scottsdale offers two 18-hole courses. The Talon Course plays 6,973 yards at par 72 with canyon carries, elevation changes, and panoramic views of the McDowell Mountains. Golfweek ranks Talon the 10th best public course in Arizona. The Raptor Course at 7,135 yards provides a complementary layout. The Phil’s Grill restaurant between the courses has become a Scottsdale golf scene landmark.

SunRidge Canyon Golf Club in Fountain Hills plays 6,823 yards at par 71 through a canyon setting east of Scottsdale. The Keith Foster design features dramatic elevation changes and the signature “Wicked Six” stretch of closing holes that drops 200 feet through a desert canyon.

Tribal Land Courses

Some of Arizona’s best public golf is on Native American tribal land, where designers have had access to pristine desert terrain untouched by residential development.

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is home to two courses that rank among the best in the state. The Saguaro Course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is ranked the No. 1 public course in Arizona by Golfweek. The walking-friendly layout flows naturally with the desert terrain, featuring wide corridors, strategic bunkering, and open approaches. The Cholla Course, designed by Scott Miller, offers a contrasting target-golf style. The 7,225-yard par-72 Saguaro Course plays through untouched Sonoran Desert with no housing on the borders - a rarity for courses of this caliber.

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club on the Ak-Chin Indian Community south of Phoenix is a Brian Curley and Fred Couples design. The links-inspired layout is unusual for Arizona, with rolling terrain, fescue grasses, and wide fairways that play firmer and faster than typical desert courses.

Greater Phoenix

Papago Golf Club is a municipal course in the shadow of the Papago Buttes in central Phoenix, playing 7,333 yards at par 72. The city invested $8 million in a renovation that reenergized the layout, and it is widely considered one of the best values in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area. Views of Camelback Mountain frame several holes.

North of Phoenix

Quintero Golf Club in Peoria is a Rees Jones design about 45 minutes northwest of Scottsdale. The course winds through box canyons and desert washes with dramatic elevation changes. The remote setting and limited play keep conditions excellent.

Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club northwest of Phoenix offers a more relaxed pace in the high desert foothills outside the city. The layout provides sweeping views and is accessible without Scottsdale pricing.

Planning Your Trip

Arizona’s peak golf season runs from November through April, when temperatures are ideal and snowbird visitors fill the courses. Green fees during peak season at premium Scottsdale courses range from $150 to $350+. Summer rates drop dramatically - sometimes 50-70% off - but temperatures regularly exceed 110°F. The sweet spot for value is May, late September, and October, when weather is still excellent and prices have moderated.

Browse all Arizona golf courses in the FairwayDB directory, or use the interactive map to explore the Scottsdale corridor and beyond.