Arizona guide
Best golf resorts in Arizona
Three hundred days of sun, target-golf in the Sonoran Desert and a resort scene that quietly rivals anywhere on earth. Here is where to go and when.
Arizona's golf belt runs from north Scottsdale through Phoenix and down to the Saguaro forests around Tucson. Our picks weigh course pedigree (Nicklaus, Weiskopf, Fazio designs), resort amenities and the best playing windows around the desert's brutal summer.
AZ, USA
Scottsdale
TPC Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa, Troon North. Desert architecture, rooftop pools, and Old Town until 2 a.m.
- Best season
- Nov – Apr
- From
- $1,500
- Luxury
- 85/100
- Nightlife
- 92/100
#2
AZ, USA
Phoenix
Sister to Scottsdale — Wigwam, ASU Karsten, and great value desert golf.
- Best season
- Nov – Apr
- From
- $1,600
- Luxury
- 70/100
- Nightlife
- 80/100
AZ, USA
Flagstaff
Quiet golf scene in Northern Arizona. Locals know the value plays; visitors should skip unless lodging or schedule already brings them here.
- Best season
- Summer
- From
- $1,700
- Luxury
- 96/100
- Nightlife
- 78/100
AZ, USA
Tucson
Underrated stop in Arizona. A short list of solid public courses, a few resort options, and almost no waiting list — best treated as a side trip rather than a full week.
- Best season
- Winter-Spring
- From
- $1,260
- Luxury
- 85/100
- Nightlife
- 50/100
AZ, USA
Marana / Dove Mountain
Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, Jack Nicklaus desert canyon course.
- Best season
- Oct – Apr
- From
- $2,200
- Luxury
- 92/100
- Nightlife
- 40/100
AZ, USA
Tucson
Ventana Canyon, Dove Mountain, saguaro forest fairways.
- Best season
- Oct – Apr
- From
- $1,600
- Luxury
- 80/100
- Nightlife
- 52/100
AZ, USA
Sedona / Verde Valley
Quiet golf scene in Northern Arizona. Locals know the value plays; visitors should skip unless lodging or schedule already brings them here.
- Best season
- Spring-Fall
- From
- $1,340
- Luxury
- 61/100
- Nightlife
- 40/100
AZ, USA
Sedona
Seven Canyons in red rock country — the prettiest round in Arizona.
- Best season
- Apr – Oct
- From
- $1,600
- Luxury
- 85/100
- Nightlife
- 45/100
AZ, USA
Lake Havasu
Underrated stop in Western Arizona. A short list of solid public courses, a few resort options, and almost no waiting list — best treated as a side trip rather than a full week.
- Best season
- Spring
- From
- $1,160
- Luxury
- 70/100
- Nightlife
- 66/100
AZ, USA
Prescott
A secondary Northern Arizona market — pleasant turf, modest green fees, no headline architecture. Pair it with a bigger destination rather than centering a trip on it.
- Best season
- Spring-Fall
- From
- $1,280
- Luxury
- 71/100
- Nightlife
- 57/100
FAQs
When is the best time to golf in Arizona?
+−
Mid-October through mid-May. Peak conditions and prices land in February and March; November and April offer near-identical weather at a discount.
Is it too hot to play in summer?
+−
Mid-June through mid-September daytime highs run 105–115°F. Tee off at sunrise, walk only the front nine, and you'll save 60–70% on green fees.
What airport should I fly into?
+−
Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) covers Scottsdale and Phoenix with a 20-minute transfer. Tucson International (TUS) is best for southern Arizona resorts.
Notable courses
Courses featured in this guide
We-Ko-Pa Saguaro
Scottsdale · Coore & Crenshaw
Par 71 · 6,966 yd
Troon North Monument
Scottsdale · Tom Weiskopf
Par 72 · 7,028 yd
TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course)
Phoenix · Tom Weiskopf, Jay Morrish
Par 71 · 7,261 yd
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (Saguaro Course)
Phoenix · Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
Par 71 · 6,966 yd
Forest Highlands Golf Club (Canyon Course)
Flagstaff · Tom Weiskopf, Jay Morrish
Par 72 · 7,094 yd
Pine Canyon Club
Flagstaff · Jay Morrish
Par 71 · 7,013 yd
Starr Pass Golf Club
Tucson · Arnold Palmer
Par 71 · 6,862 yd
The Golf Club at Dove Mountain - Saguaro Course
Marana / Dove Mountain · Jack Nicklaus
Par 36 · 3,932 yd
Sample itinerary
A 4-day trip, blueprinted
Day 1
- Morning
- Land at Phoenix Sky Harbor, transfer to Scottsdale (20 min).
- Afternoon
- Range session and 9 holes at a resort short course.
- Evening
- Old Town Scottsdale dinner + walkable bars.
Day 2
- Morning
- Sunrise tee time at TPC Scottsdale or Troon North — afternoon winds build past 1 PM.
- Afternoon
- Pool / spa.
- Evening
- Steakhouse on Camelback Road.
Day 3
- Morning
- Second championship round (We-Ko-Pa or The Boulders).
- Afternoon
- Sonoran Desert hike or Pinnacle Peak.
- Evening
- Mexican + mezcal in Old Town.
Day 4
- Morning
- Sleeper round at a hidden public gem.
- Afternoon
- Late lunch, head to PHX.
Travel tips
What our editors actually do
- 01Tee off before 9 AM in Mar–May — afternoon winds 15–25 mph routinely shut down scoring.
- 02Peak weather + peak prices land in February and March. November and April deliver near-identical conditions for 30–40% less.
- 03Mid-June through mid-September daytime highs hit 105–115°F. Sunrise tee times only — and you'll save 60–70% on green fees.
- 04Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) covers Scottsdale and Phoenix; Tucson International (TUS) is best for southern Arizona resorts.
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