Best golf courses near Phoenix, AZ

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.

Phoenix Country Club is one of the best private courses in the Scottsdale area. Read our course reviews here

Papago is one of the best values in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, offering incredible views of the nearby Camelback Mountains and downtown Phoenix. A recent $8 million investment into the course and the impressive Thunderbirds Golf Complex, where the Arizona State men's and women's golf teams train, have reengerized this municipal course that hosted the 1971 U.S. Amateur Public Links. The four-acre short game area boasts one of the most impressive collegiate practice facilities in the country with three acres of rough and fairway to mimic a variety of lies and a six-acre hitting area with 21 target greens and a number of fairway bunkers.

As the name suggests, the Faldo Course at Wildfire was designed by six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo. Set on just over 6,800 yards, it plays relatively open, with ample landing areas off the tee and into greens, although there are some 140 bunkers strategically placed throughout.

William “Billy” Bell—designer of Torrey Pines and a slew of other notable California courses—delivered the original layout at Maryvale Golf Course, which is now Grand Canyon University Golf Course. A recent John Fought redesign added new tee boxes, extended fairways and enhanced bunkers to recapture the nostalgic beauty of the historic course. Now owned and operated by the City of Phoenix, the course is a traditional parkland layout with contoured fairways and strategically placed bunkers.

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.

Designed in the mid-1930s by William P. Bell, Encanto is a quality Phoenix municipal with terrific views of the downtown skyline. Though the layout is flat and straightforward, Encanto provides terrific value, with rates regularly under $50.