If you have yet to experience desert golf, now is the time to start making some plans for AZ. In early February the temperature in Phoenix starts hitting the low 70’s, and continues to climb through the 80’s in March and April—generally cracking 90 sometime in early May.
Our Top 15 Arizona Golf resorts are below, listed by GolfDay Rating. We’ve included links to the Resort Website, as well as direct links for course description and accommodations. We have also provided current USGA course and slope ratings, course architect(s), a practice facility overview, and a link to Google Map and Directions for each location.
We-Ko-Pa in Fort McDowell is No.1, with two fantastic eighteen-hole layouts (Cholla, designed by Scott Miller and Seguaro, by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw)
Ventana Canyon was a very close second with a pair of terrific Tom Fazio deigns, and Jack Nicklaus laid out two of our top 10 (No. 5 La Paloma and No. 7 Dove Mountain).
Take a look at our AZ Top 40 Public, or click Arizona Public Courses for a comprehensive list of all Arizona courses you can play (shown by Golfday Rating).
To view courses by location, use the GolfDay Search Engine and enter the city where you plan to be.
1. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club/Fort McDowell, AZ
We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses)
- Course Architects: Scott Miller/Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Cholla: 73.4 Rating/138 Slope
Saguaro: 72.0 Rating/137 Slope - Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- RV Park
- Golf Packages
- GolfDay Rating: 97.4
- Location
2. Ventana Canyon Golf & Club/Tucson, Arizona
Ventana Canyon Club and Lodge
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses)
- Course Architect: Tom Fazio
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Canyon: 72.1 Rating/137 Slope
Mountain: 72.9 Rating/141 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls included with Green Fees.
- Course Descriptions
- Golf Academy
- Accommodations
- Golf Packages
- GolfDay Rating: 97.3
- Location
3. Troon North Golf Club/Scottsdale, AZ
Four Seasons
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses)
- Course Architects: Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish/Phil Smith
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Monument: 73.3 Rating/148 Slope
Pinnacle: 73.2 Rating/147 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens.
- Video Tour
- Performance Center
- Accommodations
- Golf Packages
- GolfDay Rating: 95.9
- Location
4. AK-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club/Maricopa, AZ
Harrah’s AK-Chin Casino & Resort
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley/Fred Couples
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.5 Rating/142 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and “Mini Dunes” Nine Hole Par 3 Practice Course (Open Dec. 15-April 1). Range Balls included with Green Fee.
- Course Description
- Junior Golf
- Accommodations/Golf Packages
- GolfDay Rating: 94.3
- Location
5. La Paloma Country Club/Tucson, AZ
The Westin
- Holes: 27 (3 Nine Hole Courses)
- Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Canyon: 36.8 Rating/149 Slope
Ridge: 36.1 Rating/151 Slope
Hill: 35.9 Rating/144 Slope - Practice Facilities: Covered Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (2). Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- Junior Golf
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 93.6
- Location
6. Wildfire Golf Club/Phoenix, AZ
JW Marriot Desert Ridge
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses)
- Course Architects: Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay/Nick Faldo
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Palmer: 72.7 Rating/142 Slope
Faldo: 72.2 Rating/132 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers and Golf School.
- Course Descriptions
- Golf Academy
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 93.6
- Location
7. The Golf Club at Dove Mountain/Marana, AZ
Ritz-Carlton
- Holes: 27 (3 Nine Hole Courses)
- Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Saguaro: 37.2 Rating/151 Slope
Tortolita: 37.0 Rating/144 Slope
Wild Burro: 37.0 Rating/143 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls included with Green Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- Golf Academy
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 93.6
- Location
8. Rancho at Caballeros/Wickenburg
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Greg Nash/Jeff Hardin
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.5 Rating/138 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
- Course Description
- Accommodations
- Golf Packages
- GolfDay Rating: 93.8
- Location
9. Tucson National/Tucson, AZ
Omni Resorts
- Holes 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses)
- Course Architects: Robert Von Hagge/Bruce Devlin/Tom Lehman
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Catalina: 74.3 Rating/133 Slope
Sonoran: 70.7 Rating/129 Slope - Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls included with Green Fee.
- Course Descriptions
- Golf School
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 92.3
- Location
10. Lookout Mountain Golf Club/Phoenix, AZ
Pointe Hilton
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Forrest Richardson/Bill Johnston
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 70.0 Rating/130 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Golf Academy.
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 91.4
- Location
11. Starr Pass Golf Club/Tucson AZ
JW Marriot/Troon Golf
- Holes: 27 (3 Nine Hole Courses)
- Course Architects: Bob Cupp/Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay/B
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Rattler: 36.7 Rating/141 Slope
Coyote: 36.6 Rating/139 Slope
Roadrunner: 35.3 Rating/139 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 91.2
- Location
12. Gold Canyon Golf Resort/Gold Canyon, AZ
- Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses)
- Course Architects: Ken Kavanaugh/Greg Nash/Jeff Hardin
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Dinosaur Mountain: 71.5 Rating/144 Slope
Sidewinder: 71.4 Rating/133 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Golf School.
- Course Descriptions
- Golf Academy
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 90.5
- Location
13. The Wigwam Resort/Litchfield Park
- Holes: 54 (3-Eighteen Hole Courses)
- Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Red Lawrence/Jeff Hardin/Greg Nash/Forrest Richardson/Tom Lehman
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Gold: 75.0 Rating/137 Slope
Red: 72.0 Rating/125 Slope
Blue: 70.4 Rating/129 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers and Golf School.
- Course Descriptions
- Accommodations
- Golf Packages
- GolfDay Rating: 89.1
- Location
14. Sewailo Golf Club/Tucson, AZ
Casino Del Sol
- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Notah Begay/Ty Butler
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.6 Rating/137 Slope
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens
- Course Description.
- Accommodations
- RV Park
- GolfDay Rating: 89.0
- Location
15. The Boulders/Carefree, AZ
- Holes: 36
- Course Architect: Jay Morrish
- USGA Course/Slope Rating:
North: 73.3 Rating/140 Slope
South: 72.6 Rating/144 Slope - Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers and Golf Academy.
- Course Description
- Golf Academy/Junior Golf
- Accommodations
- GolfDay Rating: 89.0
- Location
The GolfDay Resort rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), the variety of courses located at the property, updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews, as well as the quality of accommodations and level of service.
