Top Arizona Golf Courses Directory

Scottsdale/Phoenix Golf Course Top 40 Rankings and Local PGA Review

Top 40 Phoenix/Scottsdale Golf Courses List Below:

Information on each course and rankings have been gathered by local Phoenix Area PGA Professionals:

Golf Course Rating & Scale Guidlines

  1. Scottsdale/ Phoenix Area Golf Course Level of DIFFICULTY
    1. 1-10: 1= Easiest/ 10 hardest
  2. Scottsdale/ Phoenix Area Golf Course AWE FACTOR
    1. 1-10: 1= Dud/ 10 Amazing
  3. Scottsdale/ Phoenix Area Golf COURSE CONDITIONS
    1. 1-10: 1=Goat Ranch/ 10 Augusta
  4. Scottsdale/ Phoenix Area Golf Course VALUE/BANG FOR YOU BUCK
    1. 1-10: 1= Lowest Value/ 10 Amazing Bargain
  5. Scottsdale/ Phoenix Area Golf Course LAYOUT
    1. 1-10: 1= Dud/ 10 Amazing
  6. Scottsdale/ Phoenix Area Golf Course SERVICE
    1. 1-10: 1= Terrible/ 10 Amazing
  7. Scottsdale/ Phoenix Area Golf Course PROXIMITY to Prime Hotels, Restaurants and Activities
    1. 1-5:
      1. 1= boondocks- 1hr+
      2. 2= outskirts- 45+ mins
      3. 3= city fringe- 30+ mins
      4. 4= sweet spot- 20+ mins
      5. 5= stumble home- 10 mins or less
  8. Scottsdale/ Phoenix Area Golf Course Overall Ranking (40 courses reviewed)
  • Troon North Golf Club offers 36 holes of pristine golf and is undoubtedly the best public golf course in the state.  Since being built in the 90’s Troon North has been the flagship of desert golf around the world.  Troon North is one of two public golf course facilities that offer Bent Grass greens, which [...]

  • We Ko Pa Golf Club offers 36 holes of spectacular golf in the middle of the Sonoran desert. Located on the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation provides its visitors unspoiled desert vistas and landscape with zero interruptions from buildings or houses. Other than the clubhouse, there are zero structures located on the course or facility. This [...]

  • Wickenburg Ranch is a new course which opened in 2015 is one of the finest public courses in Arizona. The course is maintained at the highest level, due to new home construction and deep pockets by developers. This is great news for out of town travelers looking for a private golf experience offered to public [...]

  • The Boulders Golf Resort consists of 36 holes of true desert golf. The South course might be the most picturesque true desert golf course in the valley. The North Course, while not quite as picturesque is a better layout than the South course.  The South course is easier, shorter and more forgiving than the North [...]

  • Quintero Golf Club is located approx. 60 miles west of Scottsdale located on some of the best Sonoran Desert terrain a person will find anywhere in the world. Elevation, elevation, elevation…..The changes in elevation are breathtaking and consistent through all 18 holes. All 18 holes move upward or downward, with only 3-4 holes on flatter [...]

  • Grayhawk Golf Club is world renowned and one of the first public, desert golf courses built in the world.  Following shortly behind Troon North’s entrance on the desert golf world, Grayhawk built a gem in the North Scottsdale desert.  Boasting 36 holes and the best clubhouse in the Phoenix area, Grayhawk fulfills every golfer’s desires.  [...]

  • Camelback has and 18 holes of exceptional links style golf (Ambiente) and 18 holes of resort golf (Padre- See rating below). This rating is all about the new course Ambiente…. Fantastic re-design in 2013!! Ambiente re-design came at a cost of 10 million dollars and is set on an unimpressive piece of land, however, the [...]

  • SunRidge Canyon is a hidden gem located just outside of Scottsdale.  SunRidge Canyon has the best vistas, golf property and design of any public golf course in the state.  At SunRidge Canyon, each hole has a feel of its own and moves with the land, canyon and terrain.  The front nine runs down through a [...]

  • Hidden gem and value! Verde River Golf & Social Club is perched just outside of the Tonto National Forrest and offers the best vistas in the Phoenix area, bar none! It is a new development by Shea Homes, so there are very few house or structures on the property, which enhances the golfer’s experience. The [...]

  • Simply put, The Raven at Verrado Golf Club Golf Club is Grayhawk on steroids without the clubhouse.  The Raven offers a spectacular course layout and great Sonoran desert terrain.  The course is always in immaculate condition and clubhouse is awesome.  If not for the proximity to Scottsdale and Phoenix hotels and other courses, The Raven [...]

  • Southern Dunes started out as a private facility in the southernmost tip of the Phoenix area. This private feel is still in Southern Dunes bones and provides a very cool atmosphere for golfers vacationing in the Phoenix Area. It is hard to put a finger on what makes this course so alluring….Course condition are fantastic, [...]

  • Host to the largest tour event in the world! TPC Scottsdale is a tough course to leave out of a golfer’s bucket list when traveling to Phoenix area. Pristine conditions, great course layout, newly remodeled clubhouse and wonderful practice facilities. TPC did a renovation on all bunkers in 2018 and some work on the course. [...]

  • Legend Trail is set 2,500 feet above sea level, which keeps the temperature very nice even in the shoulder months. This elevation also is set in the true Sonoran desert which gets more rain and has a better climate than many courses in the valley. The front nine is a high quality nine, however, offers [...]

  • 36 holes of great golf located in the middle of a JW Marriott resort and next to “City North” complex. The two golf courses differ a bit, as one is a desert layout (Palmer Course) and the other (Faldo Course) has more of links feel to it. Both courses are immaculately maintained and both layouts [...]

  • Eagle Mountain offers 18 holes of great golf and dramatic views of the Phoenix skyline. Eagle Mountain is the only course in the valley that truly offers a panoramic view of the Scottsdale and Phoenix cityscape. The course is a rugged desert layout with much elevation change, which keeps golfers guessing on each shot. Mounding [...]

  • Whirlwind Golf Club offers 36 holes of pristine golf. Pristine conditions are the predominant feature at Whirlwind, as they are consistently in the top conditioned 3-4 courses in the valley. The course layouts are very solid and have no houses on either course! With that said, both courses offer very little elevation change or dramatic [...]

  • The Phoenician offers 18 holes of pristine resort golf conditions. The course had a renovation in 2018 and reduced from a 27-hole facility to an 18-hole facility. The renovation worked, as they reduced the number of quirky holes and made new 18 holes a real treat. A Troon managed facility and a 5-star resort guarantee [...]

  • Papago Golf Course has been a part of the valley’s golf tradition since 1963. Papago has consistently been ranked in the top 20 municipal golf courses in the USA. Papago Golf Course is now home to The ASU golf team and has gone through many renovations since 2010. They have updated turf, greens and bunkers [...]

  • Talking Stick offers 36 holes of pristine golf located on Indian Reservation in the heart of Scottsdale. The course is always in impeccable condition, and design is above average on a flat piece of property. One of the courses is a resort/Parkland layout and the other is a links style course. A beautiful view of [...]

  • Gold Canyon offers 36 holes of true desert golf. The sidewinder course is fairly quirky and unimpressive, but still a nice course for individuals looking for a quality rate. The star is the Dinosaur course, which is one of the best and most dramatic desert courses in the valley. With towering saguaros, deep ravines and [...]

  • Estrella Mountain is a wonderful Jack Nicklaus Jr. designed golf course set in the foothills of South Phoenix. The design is superb and the course views are very, very impressive. If not for the 1 hour plus drive from the Scottsdale area, this course would’ve ranked higher on this list. The clubhouse is older and [...]

  • Kierland Golf Club is set right next to Kierland commons a wonderful spot for restaurants and nightlife. Kierland is A Troon managed facility located at the foot of a spectacular Westin Resort, so conditions are always perfection. Keirland has 27 holes of resort style golf, which caters to the average golfer and offers a bit [...]

  • Trilogy at Vistancia is an 18 hole links style golf course located on the outer edge of the Phoenix area. This location allows for a nice piece of property, set in a beautiful desert surrounding. The golf course is very solid and will test all types of golfers. The clubhouse is elegant and very well [...]

  • The Raven is an interesting property lined with pine tree and pine straw, which harkens a golfer back to the East coast. The property the course sits on is flat and fairly unimpressive, however, the architect and builders did a great job of mounding and designing the course. The course is superbly designed, without any [...]

  • The Legacy is located right across the street from The Raven and has a very similar feel. The course is maintained better than The Raven, but doesn’t quite offer the layout The Raven offers. The Legacy has a large, beautiful clubhouse and is one of the best maintained courses in the valley. The course is [...]

  • Let us start by stating Las Sendas is a golfer’s course! It is by far, the toughest course in valley, which makes for a tricky rating on this ranking chart. Design wise, the course only has a few quirky holes, but is pretty solid. It seems Robert Trent Jones got a bit over his skis [...]

  • The Wigwam Golf Resort offers 54 holes of old school golf. The Gold Course is the course to play. Opened in 1964 this course offers golfers a peek back in time. The Gold Course is set amongst old eucalyptus trees, lakes and irrigation canals. It is a long course with small greens protected by deep [...]

  • Camelback has 18 holes of resort golf (Padre) and 18 holes of links style golf (Ambiente). This rating is specifically about the Padre course. This course was re-designed in 2015 and is set on an unimpressive piece of land, however, they have made this traditional parkland style course very playable and fun. The Padre course [...]

  • TPC Champions Golf Course (formerly TPC Desert Course) was re-designed back in 2007. The re-design allowed for this course to make our top 40 list. They renovated clubhouse, added length, bunkers and moved green complexes. The course itself is uninspired but offers a cheaper version to the legendary TPC Scottsdale across the street. The course [...]

  • McCormick Ranch has 36 holes of championship golf, set right in the middle of everything. Both course are superbly designed and have zero bad holes on either course. Both courses are very challenging, but fair and are local golfer’s favorite spot. The clubhouse is a bit dated and the course offers travelers not much in [...]

  • Dove Valley is another course set in the Sonoran desert on the fringes of the Phoenix Area. A Robert Trent Jones design enhances this course’s appeal. The course design is very, very good (especially the back nine) and the conditions are always very good. This course would be rated higher on this scale if not [...]

  • Ocotillo Golf Cub is a 27-hole course set amongst large homes in the Gilbert area. Ocotillo is a parkland style course with traditional feel, sporting many lakes, bunkers and trees. The terrain is fairly flat and offers very little desert feel or contrast. The course is fairly well maintained and easy for all levels of [...]

  • The Pointe Golf Club is located in between two foothills, right in the center of north Phoenix. The setting and resort are breathtaking and offer some the best views in the north valley. The course is always very well maintained, but some of the holes can have you scratching your head. The location, service and [...]

  • Arizona Biltmore Golf Club has 36 holes of resort style golf. Both courses have tree lined and generous fairways. Centrally located and only 15 minutes from downtown Phoenix, makes this course a great site for groups heading to D-Backs or Suns games. Furthermore, there are many world class restaurants near the resort (Camelback corridor). Both [...]

  • Rancho Manana Golf Club is located in the northern most part of the Phoenix area. This location offers golfers a secluded, intimate experience of the Sonoran desert perched atop 3,000 ft. of elevation. The property Rancho sits on is spectacular and the value/cost for golf is in the top 10 for valley courses.

  • Longbow Golf Club is named after the famed Longbow Apache Helicopter and facility located directly across the street from the golf club. This course is a very well maintained course located just on the outskirts of Mesa. The course is true desert course and is a great design for all levels of golfers.

  • Orange Tree Golf Resort is one of the most playable and enjoyable courses in the valley. The course is set on a flat piece of land centrally located between Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. The course is the epitome of an old school resort course – Short (6,600 yds.), very well maintained and has small well [...]

  • Stonecreek is located in north Phoenix/Paradise Valley and is set upon an old creek bed. The design is truly enjoyable and the facilities match the course design. Stonecreek is a really a nice value course for those vacationing to the Phoenix area that don’t want to spend an arm and a leg.

  • Desert Canyon Golf Club is located in beautiful Fountain Hills Arizona, which is just east of Scottsdale. This course offers some of the best vistas and views of any course in the valley. The clubhouse has been recently re-done and the restaurant offers some of the best steak in the valley. Really one of the [...]

  • The Arizona Grand Golf Course has 18 holes of desert/resort style golf. The course is a combination of easy fun holes, coupled with nice desert holes and scenery. There are a few quirky holes and dramatic elevations, which make the course tight in spots and sometimes tough to find good aiming spots. Arizona Grand is [...]