With over 200 golf courses in the Scottsdale area alone, Arizona is among the top states with lots of excellent golf courses. The Grand Canyon State has no shortage of desert golf destinations.
So, the main issue is choosing the best layouts to try on your next trip. The best thing is that there are lots of affordable options.
Whether you are looking for local golf courses or planning a golf getaway, there are fantastic options for you.
We will cover some of the best public golf courses in Arizona to help you narrow down your search. So, let’s get started.
List of the Best Public Golf Courses in Arizona
- Troon North Golf Club: Best Overall
- TPC Scottsdale, Stadium Course: 1st Runners Up
- Quintero Golf Club: 2nd Runners Up
- Los Caballeros Golf Club
- Oakcreek Country Club
- Westbrook Village Golf Club, Lakes Course
- Wildfire Golf Club, Palmer Course
- Whirlwind Golf Club, Devil’s Claw
- Copper Canyon Golf Club
- Whirlwind Golf Club, Cattail Course
- Desert Canyon Golf Club
- Aguila Golf Course
- Raven Golf Club, Phoenix
- Wildfire Golf Club, Faldo Course
- Elephant Rocks at Williams
- Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
- Lookout Mountain Golf Club
- The Phoenician Golf Club
- Camelback Golf Club, Ambiente
- San Ignacio Golf Club
- Camelback Golf Club, Padre
- Oakwood Golf Club
- Starr Pass Golf Club
- The Highlands at Dove Mountain
- Arizona National Golf Club
The Best Public Golf Courses in Arizona
1. Troon North Golf Club
- Location: Scottsdale
- Length: 7,039 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Tom Weiskopf
- Year Established: 1990
- Championships: The 2023 PGA National Club Championship; the 1990 USGA Mid-Amateur Championship
This is another exceptional golf course in the deserts of Arizona. It is unique in many ways, from the names of some holes to the ability to play bump-and-run shots into greens.
We also believe that the Monument Course at the Troon North Golf Club is one of the best public golf courses in Arizona because of its odd location.
2. TPC Scottsdale, Stadium Course
- Location: Scottsdale
- Length: 7,115 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish
- Year Established: 1989
- Championships: Annual Phoenix Open since 1987; 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship
Designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, the Stadium Course at Scottsdale was designed with high drama in mind and was supposed to host major PGA championships.
That is why the course has hosted the Phoenix Open since 1987.
3. Quintero Golf Club
- Location: Peoria
- Length: 7,249 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Rees Jones
- Year Established: 2000
- Championships: Quintero Cactus Cup (annually)
Located a few miles away from Scottsdale and Phoenix, the Quintero Golf Club is a challenging course with so many nine-tees per hole.
Another great thing about it is that it can accommodate players of different abilities.
4. Los Caballeros Golf Club
- Location: Wickenburg
- Length: 7,020 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin
- Year Established: 1979
- Championships: 2024 PGA Works Collegiate Championship
If you are looking to play on a less crowded golf course, then you need to book your time at the Los Caballeros Golf Club.
Here, the greens are very interesting, and the overall status of the course is solid.
5. Oakcreek Country Club
- Location: Sedona
- Length: 6,824 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
- Year Established: 1968
- Championships: 1993 AWGA Stroke Play Championship; 1994 SW Section Seniors PGA Championship
This is one of the best public golf courses in Arizona and is worth your time.
The course is beautiful, well maintained, and offers lots of challenges. Some visitors have, however, complained of substandard amenities and the high cost of playing.
6. Westbrook Village Golf Club, Lakes Course
- Location: Peoria
- Length: 6,412 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): Ted Robinson Sr. and Ken Cavanaugh
- Year Established: 1983
- Championships: the Westbrook Invitational in 2012; the 2023 Westbrook NCAA Invitational
The Lake Course is one of the two fantastic golf courses at the Westbrook Village Golf Club.
The course is surrounded by residential communities, but they rarely interfere with the game.
Another interesting thing about the course is that it has a traditional design with a landscape that is accented with mature trees.
7. Wildfire Golf Club, Palmer Course
- Location: Phoenix
- Length: 7,145 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Arnold Palmer
- Year Established: 1997
- Championships: The 2011-2018 LPGA Founder’s Cup
This 18-hole golf course was designed by Arnold Palmer for players who want to celebrate the sheer fun of the game.
The course features a GPS option that offers players detailed mapping, precise yardages for tee shots, and approach shots.
8. Whirlwind Golf Club, Devil’s Claw
- Location: Chandler
- Length: 7,029 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Gary Panks
- Year Established: 2000
- Championships: The Let Them Play Classic in 2021
The Devil’s Claw Course is one of the two golf courses at Whirlwind Golf Club.
It has interesting views of four mountain ranges and the Colorado River.
Besides this, it has fast greens, and the whole course is in the best shape.
9. Copper Canyon Golf Club
- Location: Buckeye
- Length: 6,865 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley
- Year Established: 2007
- Championships: Copper Rock Championship in 2024
The Copper Canyon golf course is exceptionally exclusive.
On one hand, it has that premium and luxurious atmosphere that is associated with expensive golf courses. Interestingly, it has reasonably priced tee times.
It is also among the best public golf courses in Arizona because of its spacious undulating greens flanked by generous fairways.
10. Whirlwind Golf Club, Cattail Course
- Location: Chandler
- Length: 7,334 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Devil’s Claw and Cattail
- Year Established: 2002
- Championships: Nationwide Gila River Classic in 2003 and 2004
This is another golf course at the Whirlwind Golf Club, featuring 36 holes.
One interesting thing about this golf course is that it is just 12 miles away from Phoenix.
It also has native beasts and wild horses that roam the landscape.
11. Desert Canyon Golf Club
- Location: Fountain Hills
- Length: 6,410 yards.
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): John Allen
- Year Established: 1971
- Championships: 1st Annual Senior Club Championship in 2020; Men’s and Women’s Senior Club Championship in 2024
Nestled within Fountain Hills, the Desert Canyon golf course offers a variety of elevation changes with impressive views of the canyon and mountains.
Generally, it is a desert-style course with open fairways and elevated tees.
12. Aguila Golf Course
- Location: Laveen
- Length: 7,073 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Gary Panks
- Year Established: 2000
- Championships: 2024 Phoenix City Men’s Amateur Championship; 2023 Phoenix City Men’s Team Championship
This golf facility has two great golf courses. One of them is a par-3, nine-hole course, while the other one is a championship-length course.
The championship course is particularly impressive when it comes to views and layout.
13. Raven Golf Club, Phoenix
- Location: Phoenix
- Length: 7,078 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Gary Panks and David Graham
- Year Established: 1995
- Championships: 2001 World Series Champions
Raven Golf Club is among the best public golf courses in Arizona because it is a one-of-a-kind round of desert golf.
The layout features rolling fairways framed by thousands of mature trees and plush.
14. Wildfire Golf Club, Faldo Course
- Location: Phoenix
- Length: 6,846 yards
- Par: 71 yards
- Designer(s): Nick Faldo
- Year Established: 2002
- Championships: 2010 EREF Fall Environmental Classic Golf Tournament; Children’s Miracle Network Golf Tournament in 2015
Faldo Course is a fantastic championship course that lies on 174-acre land and features some differences from the average desert-themed courses.
Besides this, Wildfire Golf Club: Faldo Course offers abundant fairways, big bentgrass, and tee boxes.
15. Elephant Rocks at Williams
- Location: Williams
- Length: 6,695 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Gary Panks
- Year Established: 1990
- Championships: Williams Junior City Championship in 2024; the 2023 Territorial Cup; the 2023 Economic Summit Golf Tournament
This is not only one of the best public golf courses in Arizona but also a must-play course for anyone who loves the game, especially if it is played in great weather.
On top of this, the club has one of the friendliest staff.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, most of the golf courses here are open throughout the year.
Do not let the summer heat prevent you from enjoying your golf.
Premier golf destinations in Arizona, such as Scottsdale and Phoenix, have golf courses that offer early morning tee times to help players beat the heat.
As mentioned earlier, Arizona is one of the golf-heavy states.
So, it boasts a number of top public and private golf courses.
In total, there are over 270 golf courses in the state, with Scottsdale and Phoenix taking the biggest chunk.
The good thing about these golf courses is that they are for both beginners and experienced golfers.
The best time to play golf in the Grand Canyon State is between January and April.
These are warm months. But you will still find golfers enjoying the game even in hotter months.
Final Thoughts
Arizona is synonymous with desert golf, but what many people may not know is that the state has a number of cool public golf courses.
The good thing about the majority of the best public golf courses in Arizona is that they are well maintained and affordable.
TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course, Troon North Golf Club, and Quintero Golf Club are some of the popularly known golf courses that you shouldn’t miss out on your next trip to the Grand Canyon State.
You may also want to sample some of the top public golf courses listed on this list.
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