| _ | | _ | | | The course was named for Karsten Solheim, the inventor of Ping golf clubs and an individual devoted to improving the game of golf for all to enjoy. Designed by Pete Dye, his unique touch is etched in all 18 holes and on every bent grass green. Rolling fairways sculpted by lush mounding only hint at the challenge that lies inherent in the layout. Arizona Golf Journal voted #9, #16, and #l8 as three of the most difficult holes in Arizona; Western Links Magazine recognized the 18th hole as one of the best finishing holes in the West (including California and Hawaii).
Slope = 133 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | The Arizona Golf Resort offers 18 holes of championship golf on site. The traditional style course features tree-lined fairways and elevated, undulating Bermuda grass greens. The resort course is par 71 and the par threes are regarded as among the best in Phoenix. The course is challenging for players of all levels.
Slope = 123 / **1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | For over two decades Arizona Grand Golf Course has dazzled golfers with its unique blend of traditional links and desert influences. Golfers meander through the majestic beauty of Arizona's South Mountain Park, a protected natural desert preserve. Dramatic elevation changes and breath-taking mountain vistas highlight the diverse and challenging Par 71 layout, which can be seen from The Lobby Grill overlooking the first tee box area. The course complements the grandeur of its spectacular Sonoran desert surroundings with stunning resort conditions.
Slope = 125 / ***1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | The Foothills Golf Club plays through the desert vale beneath the clubhouse, where a large knoll defines the rolling terrain and separates the front and back nines. Except for a few holes, the course is grass from tee to green. From the appropriate tees, the few moderate expanses of natural terrain are not severe and are easily carried. No heroics are required, but the risk/reward factor is very apparent on every hole. Although the course will definitely challenge golfers shooting for low numbers, the Foothills makes no pretense of scaring away players.
Slope = 132 / *** | | | _ | | _ | | | In sharp contrast to its flat surroundings, the radically sculpted layout by Bill Phillips leaves little room for rest or making major errors. Dramatic mounding, rolling fairways, and fast-breaking greens dominate nearly every hole, and lakes come into play on nine holes. Intended to provide a stiff challenge to stronger players hitting from the back tees, the course is not nearly as difficult as it may appear from the regular tees. Come to Kokopelli Golf Club ready to play. This course will definitely test anyone's mettle. But for all its challenges, the course still can be played - and enjoyed - by golfers of all levels.
Slope = 132 / *** | | | _ | | _ | | | Mountain views and the desert landscaping make this Ken Kavanaugh designed 18-hole championship golf course pleasurable. Add the variety of contours and hazards, players of all skill levels will enjoy the experience. Longbow Golf Club brings all the hazards into play you can find on a desert course. Desert landscaping, water, waste areas, bunkers, and grassy depressions all add to the challenge and intrigue.
Slope = 128 / ***1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | Even as new golf courses of every persuasion crop up in the Southwest, it is unlikely Arizona will ever see another golf course in a setting as unique as Ocotillo Golf Resort. This highly awarded, upscale oasis offers three nine-hole layouts - White, Gold and Blue - each designed around 95 acres of man-made lakes with more than seven miles of shoreline to provide a luxurious golf experience. Accented by lush landscapes and cascading waterfalls, Ocotillo is the work of Ted Robinson who is a master at maximizing the impact of water as a decorative and strategic design feature.
Slope = 128 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | The 18-hole Palms course at the Palm Valley Golf Club facility in Goodyear features 7,015 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. Designed by Arthur Hills, ASGCA, the Palms golf course opened in 1993. The Palms Course has been rated among Arizona's best public golf courses by The Phoenix Business Journal, and the ninth hole is routinely cited by avid players as one of the best par-5s in the state.
Slope = 130 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | Scottsdale Silverado Golf Club, a daily-fee, public golf facility, is quite simply Greater Phoenix's best golf value. With its Par 70, 18-hole PGA championship layout, Silverado offers golfers a challenging and enjoyable golf experience in a beautiful setting. Silverado lures golfers into a skillful test of accuracy with its narrow fairways, strategically placed bunkers and water hazards. Include undulating terrain, elevated tee boxes and breathtaking views of Camelback and Mummy Mountains and it's obvious why Silverado has rapidly earned the respect of both high and low handicappers.
Slope = 111 / ** | | | _ | | _ | | | Starfire at Scottsdale Country Club, a 27-hole, public golf facility, is one of Scottsdale's most historic and well-respected golf courses. With its simplistic beauty, reasonable green fees and central location, the new and improved Starfire is a classic golf experience. Starfire has three distinct nine-hole layouts, the Squire, the Hawk, and the King. Each offers a solid test for all levels of players. Starfire also boasts a state-of-the-art clubhouse that features a stylish golf shop, full-service restaurant, locker rooms and meeting space.
Slope = 123 / **1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | Stonecreek touts a challenging but very playable layout by the renowned golf architectural firm of Arthur Hills and Associates. Hills determined that the most obvious landmark could not be avoided or denied, so he created some outstanding risk/reward challenges along the spruced-up wash, renamed Stonecreek. A rock-laden dry wash on some holes and a treacherous water hazard on others, this feature is the focus of the course's strategy. The rule of thumb on most holes is: the closer the shot is to Stonecreek, the easier the next shot becomes. Overall, Stonecreek is an extremely fair test - rewarding good execution but not severly penalizing less-than-perfect shots.
Slope = 134 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | Built in 1986, the course was purposefully designed with visual stimulation that makes it a show-stopper. Now, over 20 years later, the palms and weeping willows have matured along the fairways, lakes, and meandering sand bunkers. The concept has succeeded beyond all expectations, and a round at Superstition Springs is certain to be remembered. Named in honor of the legendary mountain range a few miles farther east, Superstition Springs offers an escape from the harsh environments of both city and desert in a setting reminiscent of golf in the tropics.
Slope = 135 / ***1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | Desert Canyon Golf Club's 18-hole championship course is one of Arizona's top golfing facilities. It features elevated tees coupled with a variety of elevation changes. Fairways, though open, play tight and prove challenging with strategically placed doglegs. Each hole of the par-71 course plays to a backdrop of pristine sky and views of some of Arizona's most beautiful mountains.
Slope = 123 / ** | | | _ | | _ | | | The #1 rated public golf course in Arizona is ready to offeryou a truly unique golf experience in the high sonoran desert. Every tee box here presents a panoramic vista and an exhilarating challenge to your game. The course will take you up, over and around Dinosaur Mountain with dramatic tee-to-green elevation changes and long, loping fairways. The views of the nearby Superstition Mountains are spectacular. Signature holes #4 and #5 are among the most memorable in the game.
Slope = 143 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | Estrella Mountain Ranch offers a challenging round of golf on a course designed by Nicklaus, and affords breathtaking beauty in a natural desert environment. Fairways roll across the natural contours of the land, while elevated tees unveil views of the Sierra Estrella Mountains. Golfweek magazine rated this par-72, 18 hole course one of the best public courses in the country and it is also ranked among the 10 best public courses in the U.S. by Golf Magazine.
Slope = 138 / ****1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | Designed by Scott Miller, this dramatic course is set apart from any other desert golf experience. Emerald green fairways are etched into golden-colored desert grasses, sweeping over constantly changing elevations to flawless bentgrass greens. More than three hundred bunkers guard the way, along with lakes, dry desert washes and strands of desert trees. At Kierland Golf Club, every guest is treated as a member. With its spacious 27-hole layout and food and beverage service, Kierland Golf Club is ideal for groups and tournaments as well as individual play. Most notably, this high-quality golf experience is conveniently located central to the exclusive Scottsdale Road resort corridor.
Slope = 133 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | Opened in 1995, designed by Robert Trent Jr., Las Sendas is a traditional par 71 layout in a high desert setting with a distinctly Southwestern theme. The fairways on this upscale course are narrow and winding. Grass mounds grace the fairways, roughs and greens and, while beautiful, can be intimidating. You won't see any drastic elevation changes on Las Sendas, which is good, because the course is tough enough without them. With its dramatic views and peaceful setting, golfers will enjoy this course.
Slope = 149 / ****1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | The Legacy Golf Resort features an 18-hole golf course designed by renowned architect Gary Panks. Lush green fairways, forgiving rough, well placed hazards, and manicured greens offer a challenge for golfers of all skill levels. The rolling terrain is surrounded by indigenous grasses, wild flowers, shrubs, and trees. Its elevation provides exceptional views of South Mountain, Camelback Mountain, Squaw Peak and the downtown Phoenix skyline.
Slope = 125 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | Lookout Mountain Golf Course is a par-72 championship course, and is ranked among Arizona's Top 20. This course also hosted celebrity events such as the Harmon Killebrew Invitational, the Royce Clayton Charity Classic and the Phoenix Suns Scramble. Featuring lush greens, entwined by carefully preserved desert terrain, this championship 18-hole course combines challenging play with striking desert scenery.
Slope = 135 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | The 18 hole course at Orange Tree was designed in 1957 by Johnny Bulla. This tree-lined course offers 6,762 lush yards of tranquil beauty and strategic challenges. Mature vegetation, expansive fairways, and mountain vistas are graced by water on six of the holes, offering an excellent test of golf for players of all skill levels.
Slope = 122 / **1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | Rancho Manana Golf Club, located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert in historic Cave Creek, AZ, features a par-70 championship course with dramatic elevation changes and unspoiled desert terrain. The stunning, high desert course invites you to match your skills against nature while enjoying the unparalleled and unforgettable surrounding desert. At the award winning Tonto Bar & Grill, players will experience a charming, rustic ambiance with an eclectic mix of cuisines, while enjoying the spectacular views of Skull Mesa, Elephant Butte and the nearby Tonto National Forest. This is where Mother Nature plays golf!
Slope = 125 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | The Raven Golf Club at Verrado provides a unique all-inclusive golf experience. Players enjoy true "member for the day" status with: unlimited golf, unlimited use of the practice facility, two full meals (breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner ordered from Verrado Grille), golf car, and on-course snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
Slope = 132 / ****1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | Sidewinder snakes around the base of Dinosaur Mountain, through natural arroyos and dry creek beds, Native cholla and prickly pear cacti, mesquite and palo verde trees line the challenging twists and turns that will keep you on top of your game. Similar to the Dinosaur course, Sidewinder is a scenic adventure that will bring you back again and again. The Sidewinder course is noted for its creative design and challenging desert landscape. Round after round, you'll never get tired of the panoramic vistas. Bring your clubs, bring your camera, and we'll bring on one of the best golf experiences you'll ever encounter.
Slope = 130 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | With rolling hills, native grasses, and tees that stretch from 5,800 yards to more than 7,500 yards, Southern Dunes is a unique golf experience that will challenge the most accomplished golfer while still accommodating the novice. Spread out over 320 acres, the course is reminiscent of the great links courses with wild, rugged land forms covered in native grasses. Within the undulating mounds are pockets of sandy hollows creating a dunes-land appearance. The par-72 venue at Southern Dunes in Arizona is a true player's course from the back tees, still it is a fun and enjoyable for players of all levels from the tee options available to players. | | | _ | | _ | | | Built on the former site of TPC Scottsdale's Desert Course, the completely new Champions Course was designed to fit seamlessly into the natural desert terrain. Rivaling its famous sister course in both beauty and playability, the brilliantly crafted Randy Heckenkemper designed Champions Course offers the consummate desert golf experience. Featuring 7,115 yards of undulating Bermuda fairways, pristine greens and challenging bunkers, the par-71 course meanders over natural ravines and picturesque foothills, with five par-3's and a diverse variety of par-4's and par-5's to thrill golfers of all skill levels. A quartet of dramatic finishing holes make this golf gem a "must play" at prices commensurate with municipal golf facilities, including being able to walk the course. | | | _ | | _ | | | Talking Stick Golf Club is an extraordinary 36-hole facility built by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and gets its name from the ancient instrument used to mark significant historic events. The two uniquely divergent golf courses assure a host of memorable golf experiences, from links-style adventure through the grasslands and ingenious bunkering on the North course, to a traditional style of play on the tree lined fairways of the South Course. The uninterrupted desert panorama takes in the distant mountain ranges, reflecting cherished rural seclusion within an urban environment.
Slope = 129 / ***1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | Crafted by renowned golf course architect Gary Panks, the championship design at Trilogy golf club draws upon distinctive land features and a backdrop of stunning Arizona scenery to result in a truly extraordinary setting. With more than 70 pronounced and transitional bunkers that feed gently into the golf course's fairways and native areas, Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia highly rewards careful planning and precise execution by the golfer. Tees range from 5,573 yards to 7,259 yards, allowing players of every skill level to enjoy this exceptional test of golf. Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia is located 25 minutes northwest of Phoenix in Peoria, Arizona.
Slope = 134 / ***** | | | _ | | _ | | | Whirlwind Golf Club is a truly unique southwest golf experience. The course, clubhouse and teaching center are sensitively designed to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Gila River Indian Community. Golf course architect Gary Panks artfully blends saguaro, palo verde, mesquite and cottonwood trees with native grasses and rolling terrain to create a challenging, fair and memorable round. The Cattail challenges the golfer with deep canyons and pristine lakes and incorporates the 2.5 mile, man-made recreation of the original Gila River.
Slope = 123 | | | _ | | _ | | | The Gila River Indian Community has woven championship golf with rich cultural heritage to create Whirlwind Golf Club. Golf course architect, Gary Panks has designed the Devil's Claw - a masterpiece to challenge players of all levels while maintaining a sense of fairness and playability. Devil's Claw encompasses 242 acres of land comprised of 92 acres of turfed area and 150 acres of native landscape enhanced by indigenous grasses and plants, and stands of Mesquite, Saguaro, Palo Verde and Cottonwoods.
Slope = 131 / ****1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | The Wigwam was given new life in the 1960s by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., America's most famous golf course architect. At more than 7,400 yards and par 72, the Gold Course anchors the Wigwam trio of courses. The Gold Course, a long and winding layout, was Jones' West Coast version of the relentless South Course at Firestone. The Gold Course has been consistently rated as one of the top resort courses in the nation, earning Golf Magazine's Silver Medal Award and named one of the top resort courses in Arizona by Golf Digest. It offers nearly twice the acreage as most desert courses built today and features elevated greens, narrow landing areas, elongated tees and strategically placed bunkers and water hazards.
Slope = 133 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | Steeped in tradition, The Wigwam's two 18-hole championship golf courses offer a diversity that cannot be matched by any other Arizona resort. Here, the golf enthusiast has his pick of not just one but two courses, 36 holes of championship golf including one course designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and, in true Wigwam style, each course - The Blue and The Red - offers a unique challenge that adds spice and variety to one's stay at this timeless and relaxing retreat.
Slope = 118 & 122 / *** | | | _ | | _ | | | The Camelback Club Course laid out in links-style, was designed by Arthur Jack Snyder in 1978 and remains a dynamic course testing your best golf game. The Club Course features secluded sand traps, rolling terrain, tree lined fairways, with a magnificent mountain backdrop. The new 36,000 square-foot pueblo-styled Clubhouse designed by Douglas Fredrikson offers golfers an expansive golf shop, The Grill at Camelback Golf Club, The Grill Lounge, meeting and banquet space and amenities unmatched in the Valley.
Slope = 122 / **1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | The Camelback Resort Course is a classic course layout in a lush parkland setting with spectacular mountain views. Challenge your skills on the 6,868 yard, par 72 Resort Course with multiple lakes, traditional square tees and an abundance of bunkers. The $16 million renovation of the Camelback Golf Club features the newly designed Resort Course with towering trees, subtle landforms and strategic bunkering to sharpen your game.
Slope = 125 / ** | | | _ | | _ | | | Nestled in the ravines of the McDowell Mountains and colorized by dramatic sunrises and sunsets, Eagle Mountain beckons those who desire an outstanding golf experience. Opened in 1996, this Scott Miller designed course is a spectacular representation of man's creation in harmony with nature as it winds through natural box canyons, rolling hills, and lush desert valleys. At Eagle Mountain you'll find a challenging yet fair golf experience, with contoured fairways and immaculately maintained greens throughout this 6,763-yard layout.
Slope = 139 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | Since opening in 1994, Grayhawk Golf Club has quickly become recognized as a premier player on the southwestern golf scene. Nestled within the natural beauty of the Sonoran desert, Scottsdale's acclaimed Grayhawk Golf Club offers two of the Southwest's most enjoyable and challenging golf experiences: The Talon Course and the Raptor Course. Raptor opened for daily fee play in 1995. The 7,108-yard par-72 course (from the back tees) was designed by award winning golf course architect Tom Fazio.
Slope = 136 / ****1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | Scottsdale's acclaimed Grayhawk Golf Club offers two of the Southwest's most enjoyable and challenging golf experiences. In fact, the 6,973-yard, par-72 Talon Course, designed by former PGA and US Open Champion David Graham and architect Gary Panks, was selected as one of Golf Magazine's "Top 10 You Can Play". In addition to thrilling golf, Talon provides players with breathtaking views of the nearby McDowell Mountains and the unspoiled beauty of the great Sonoran Desert. Grayhawk's Talon is the host site of the finals of the Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf.
Slope = 141 / ****1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | The Legend Trail Golf Club is a traditional 18 hole course that is located in the high Sonoran desert. This course is the first Arizona design for acclaimed architect Rees Jones and has been described as a challenging and highly memorable golf course. In this course, the fairways are spacious in width, greens are firm, undulating, and challenging to read. It was rated as one of the best courses of "Top 100 Courses You Can Play" in the U.S.
Slope = 135 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | The McCormick Ranch Golf Club is an award winning facility that provides any caliber of players with two distinctive 18 hole championship layouts. Both are designed by Desmond Muirhead and opened in 1971 and have undergone extensive renovations. These lush, well maintained traditional layouts are located amidst gorgeous scenery in the heart of Scottsdale. These courses are also known for hosting Arizona Amateur Stroke Play Championship and the National Junior College Golf Championship.
Palm: Slope = 137 / *** Pine: Slope = 135 / ***1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | Raven Golf Club at South Mountain has received numerous accolades for its exceptional level of customer service and exhilarating 18-hole test of golf with appropriate challenges for every level of player. The layout features large greens and forgiving fairways. But even with this additional level of comfort, a low score is well earned. Accurate placement and good judgement count as much as sound golf technique. With a relaxed rhythm and flow in the routing, each hole enjoys its own unique look and feel.
Slope = 133 / ****1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | Open since 1995, SunRidge Canyon offers a sensational desert-golf adventure, even displaying a certain smugness for the challenges encountered by low handicappers. The "tough love" approach hasn't gone unappreciated. A poll conducted by the Arizona Golf Association identified SunRidge Canyon as the favorite daily-fee club by the state's most active tournament players. Further accolades and praise include a coveted ranking in Golf Magazine's Golf Courses You Can Play, plus recognition by Golf Shop Operations for operating one of America's Best 100 Golf Shops.
Slope = 140 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | The Stadium Course affords players the thrill of discovering firsthand how the Phoenix Open is usually determined on the final four holes. To the architects' surprise, the TPC of Scottsdale Stadium Course has proven to be a stronger, more enjoyable track than first expected. Challenge aside, guests not playing in the Phoenix Open respect the Stadium for its rhythmic flow, natural beauty, and playability.
Slope = 131 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | The Boulders Club is nestled in the tranquil beauty of the high Sonoran desert and 12-million year old granite boulder formations that dot the landscape. Designed by Jay Morrish, The Boulders is world renowned as one of the finest golf resorts in the western United States. The courses are considered the most demanding in the Southwest and are known for their rugged beauty. The course offers 36 challenging holes, golf pro shop, fitness center, restaurant and a residential home development.
North Course: Slope = 135 / ****
South Course: Slope = 140 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | Many have said the blueprint for desert golf was made when Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish designed the Troon North Monument Course back in 1989. It stretches to 7,028 yards and has beauty, challenge and is thoroughly enjoyable to play. The desert frequently comes into play, but the course is not a target course. The monument Course will challenge the golfer with arroyos, natural washes, huge saguaros, mesquite, ironwood and lush green fairways, some hidden behind boulders, high-lipped bunkers and mounds.
Slope = 147 / ****1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | The Pinnacle Course at Troon North Golf Club was designed solely by Tom Weiskopf and is a worthy companion to his previous masterpiece. Built around dramatic granite boulders and striking elevation changes, The Pinnacle features a more traditional desert layout with tighter landing areas and spectacular carries over desert washes. Playing 7,044 yards and a 37-35 par 72, it has huge, tricky greens and many tees seem to be pedestals perched above the fairways.
Slope = 147 / ****1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | The Cholla course at We-Ko-Pa has garnered countless honors and has quickly become recognized as the reference course for quintessential desert golf. Designed by Scott Miller, this 7,225-yard layout was named by Sports Illustrated as one of the 10 best new public courses in the world shortly after its debut. Located adjacent to Scottsdale and Fountain Hills on land owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, We-Ko-Pa (Yavapai for "Four Peaks") is routed through unspoiled Sonoran desert, free from residential or commercial real estate development. In fact, there is not even an out-of-bounds stake to be found on this pristine course where endless mountain vistas provide the backdrop.
Slope = 136 / ****1/2 | | | _ | | _ | | | Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club. Saguaro is a desert golf experience unlike any other. Integrating design elements not commonly found in the desert, the course is built for walking and has more in common with older, more traditional courses where greens are close to tees and the course follows the natural movement of the land. To assist those choosing to walk, battery powered Speedcarts are available to transport your clubs. Ben Crenshaw said:"People will be induced to play different shots and find solutions to new challenges when playing this course." Saguaro has already been featured in numerous golf publications including Golfweek, which currently ranks it as the #1 public access course in Arizona. | | | _ | | _ | | | The Faldo Course at Wildfire Golf Club is a par-71 layout that sits on a 174-acre site, and offers a slight variation from typical Sonoran Desert-theme courses. It features generous fairways, large bent grass greens and tee boxes. The surrounding mountains and century-old saguaro cacti as well as 106 sand bunkers, reminiscent of the Australian sand belt courses, provide a spectacular setting for the golf course and golfing guests.
Slope = 127 / **** | | | _ | | _ | | | The Palmer Signature Course plays up to 7,145 yards, providing a very scenic desert experience. The expansive fairways allow the player to remain in play even on an errant shot. The flashed bunkering on Palmer is superb, and the putting greens carry plenty of undulation, like many Arnold Palmer designs. The expansive square footage of the greens (average size is 7,000 square feet) allow the undulations to create subtle challenges for the short game without feeling contrived or "tricked up".
Slope = 135 / **** | | | | | | |