Phoenix has too many golf courses to keep playing the wrong ones.
I ranked the Valley’s Top 20 public tracks across five categories that actually reflect how golf works here.
Some favorites didn’t make it. A few repeats did.
This list isn’t polite. It’s local.
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The Valley Top 20
Phoenix has 4.8M people, and somehow we still argue about the same 3 tee sheets.
If you’ve played golf in the Valley of the Sun long enough, you know the truth.
Most “Top Courses” lists are written for tourists, or for guys who think a $300 green fee counts as a personality.
This list is different.
I ranked the 20 public-access courses that actually matter in the Phoenix metro area, split into 5 categories that reflect how golf really works here: weather, pace, conditioning, value, vibes, and whether the course will expose your fake handicap.
And yes, I’m leaving off a few “popular” spots on purpose. If you want safe takes, read a restaurant menu.
How I’m ranking
I’m weighing: conditioning + design + replay value + pace + vibe + “would I bring a friend here”. Desert golf has specific tax rates, overseed windows, snowbird chaos, cart culture, and “drive time math” that other cities don’t understand.
Alright. Let’s get yelled at.
Desert Icons
The “send this to your out-of-town buddy” Mount Rushmore
No homes, pure desert, and it feels like the land is the architect. Two courses, both legit, this is the cleanest “Arizona” golf experience.
If drama had fairways, it would look like this. Big views, big swings, big numbers. Don’t come here looking for “a relaxing round.”
The boulders are iconic, the vibe is Scottsdale, and the golf is still real. If someone says they’ve “done Arizona,” this is usually what they mean.
Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s still awesome. If you’ve never played the Stadium Course, you’re missing a core Valley experience.
Two courses, primary championship energy, and a vibe that makes you feel like you should have a caddie even if you don’t deserve one.
City Courses
Where real locals play, because we live here
The best combination of location + history + scenery in the city. It’s basically the Valley’s public “town square.”
If you want “premium public” without the full Scottsdale tax, Raven is the move. Excellent service, great conditions, and it actually feels like an experience.
A links-style muni at the base of South Mountain, with skyline views and enough wind to test your emotional stability.
Historic, central, and it has that old-school muni charm. It’s not the hardest, it’s just… Phoenix.
Quietly, one of the best “I just want a solid round” plays near South Mountain. Underrated, and that’s precisely why I like it.
Value Assassins
The “I’m not paying $250 to shoot 78” tier
27 holes, strong conditions, and one of the best “group-friendly” public setups in the East Valley.
Always a reliable, well-run round. If you’re building a “go-to list” for weekly golf, this belongs on it.
Two courses, classic Scottsdale feel, and it’s playable for a wide range of skill levels… a sneaky workhorse.
West Valley deserves respect. Verrado’s setting is legit, and when it’s in form, it punches above its reputation.
The layout is fun, the views pop, and it’s one of those “why don’t we play here more?” courses.
Handicap Police
The five public courses most likely to expose your GHIN lies
Big-boy golf. It’s wide in spots, but it’s a shot-value test, and the wind turns it into a different course.
2) Quintero
Yes, it’s here again. If you can keep it together on the greens when the visuals are screaming at you, you’ve earned it.
3) Troon North
Tourist icon, but it’s not a pushover. The desert framing alone makes you swing tighter.
4) Grayhawk
Championship bones. If your irons are even slightly off, you’re going to have a long day.
Underrated test. Feels fair, then punishes you the second you get lazy.
Vibes and Culture
Because golf isn’t just scorecards, it’s energy
Feels different in the best way, and it’s a real destination round without the Scottsdale cliché. It has also hosted significant events, including the LPGA Ford Championship.
This is the “golf is supposed to be fun” pick. The range culture here is becoming its own thing, and the place doesn’t take itself too seriously.
3) Papago
Again, because it’s the closest thing we have to an actual community hub course.
4) Raven
Excellent service + solid clubhouse energy = a course you actually want to hang out at after the round.
5) We-Ko-Pa
Because nothing beats that “pure desert” feeling when the sun drops and you remember why you live here.
If your favorite course didn’t make it, I’m not saying it’s bad.
I’m saying it’s not Top 20 in 2026.
And if you disagree, good. Send this to a friend and argue about it over a transfusion.
Want more Arizona golf stories you won’t find anywhere else?
Style
Fred Couples teams with Malbon Golf in a style-first pairing that blends timeless golf swagger with modern culture, proving classic cool never goes out of fashion. (shop)
Gear
A limited-run Scotty Cameron H25 putter lands with classic Teryllium feel, sleek black PVD finish, vintage nods, and performance touches that collectors and players will fight for. (shop)
Big Game 3
Encanto 18 Golf Course on Jan 8 at 3 PM.
9 holes. $20 buys all games. Random two-man Beast Ball, net, gross skins, $100 bonus pot, closest-to-the-pin prizes.
Events
Big hitters unite in Mesa! Arizona Long Drive Amateur League fires up Jan 10 at Dobson Ranch for free spectating and fierce distance battles. Fun, shots, bragging rights. (register)
News
The Rules of Golf offer several special permissions on the putting green you won’t find on the rest of the course. The USGA’s Rules of Golf Explained series dives into how to make the most of these rules. (learn)
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