Best golf courses near Gilbert, AZ

Phil Smith redesigned an existing 27-hole facility at The Phoenician into a new, ultra-playable 18-hole course that winds through the Sonoran Desert. The par-71 Phoenician can play as short as 4,594 yards or as long as more than 6,518 yards. The back nine winds through the mountainside, providing some dramatic views.

The O'odham course (formerly the North Course) is one of two courses at Talking Stick designed by the acclaimed designed team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The layout places a premium on accuracy, with fairways and greens strategically surrounded by brush and waste areas and features a refreshing mix of long and shorter holes.

Having recently completed a multi-million-dollar renovation, Western Skies now boasts improved irrigation and a lighted practice facility. The affordable public layout is flat and forgiving, with wide fairways and minimal rough, making it a great option for beginners. The drivable par-4 18th is a captivating finisher with water up the entire right side, making longer players debate whether to go for the green off the tee.

Designed by William P. Bell—who worked closely with George C. Thomas on designs such as Riviera Country Club and Bel-Air Country Club—the Adobe course was built in 1928 under the direction of chewing gum icon William Wrigley Jr. Over the years, U.S. presidents, foreign heads of state and Hollywood celebrities have visited the club and played the Adobe layout, which sits adjacent to the Arizona Biltmore Hotel and Resort. The course is a traditional parkland layout with very little elevation change and generous landing areas. Though the conditioning might not be up to the standard of a private club, the Adobe layout is worth playing for its history and subtle strategic elements, including uniquely shaped sharp-edged bunkering.

Raven Golf Club Phoenix is a Gary Panks and David Graham design that plays among stands of pine trees, giving it a unique setting in an area dominated by traditional desert layouts. Though most holes are relatively straight, the prominent contouring in the fairways and variety of bunkering prevents the course from getting monotonous. Vistas of the surrounding rugged mountains and Phoenix skyline are present throughout, which paired with the serene setting make this a fantastic public option in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.

Just a few miles south of the Phoenix airport, The Legacy Golf Club is a par-71 layout that features five par 3s. The course is situated on a former 7,500-acre ranch, and two original grain silos, built in 1902, remain in the 18th fairway. According to the course, the silos were at one time the tallest manmade structures in Maricopa County. The course plays over rolling terrain and features many of desert golf’s signature characteristics: sand lining the fairways, a few forced carries and scenic mountain views.