Best Public Golf Courses in Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona · Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2006) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,225 yards

Built on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land, We-Ko-Pa's Saguaro Course is a Coore & Crenshaw gem set against the Four Peaks and Red Mountain. The minimalist design celebrates the raw beauty of the Sonoran Desert with wide playing corridors and creative green complexes.

Phoenix, Arizona · Rees Jones (2000) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,232 yards

Set in a remote canyon northwest of Phoenix, Quintero is one of Arizona's hidden gems. The Rees Jones design navigates through rugged desert canyons with several jaw-dropping holes that emerge from the landscape.

Scottsdale, Arizona · Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish (1990) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,070 yards

Set against Pinnacle Peak in North Scottsdale, Troon North's Monument Course is the definitive desert golf experience. The layout weaves through massive granite boulders, towering saguaros, and native desert washes.

Phoenix, Arizona · Brian Curley & Lee Schmidt (2002) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,546 yards

A links-style desert course south of Phoenix, Southern Dunes features dramatic dune formations, wide fairways, and a windswept feel that's unique in the Valley of the Sun. Consistently ranked among Arizona's top public courses.

Scottsdale, Arizona · Tom Fazio (1994) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,135 yards

Host of the NCAA Championship, Grayhawk's Raptor Course is a Tom Fazio desert design with wide fairways, bold bunkering, and one of the best post-round scenes in golf at Phil's Grill.

Phoenix, Arizona · Bill Brownlee (2015) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,870 yards

Northwest of Phoenix in the charming town of Wickenburg, this modern desert layout offers a relaxed pace and stunning high-desert scenery. The course features creative routing through mesquite-dotted terrain with Bradshaw Mountain views.

Tucson, Arizona · Robert Trent Jones Jr. (1995) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 6,785 yards

A Robert Trent Jones Jr. design adjacent to the Saguaro National Park, Arizona National delivers desert golf with panoramic mountain views and close encounters with native wildlife. The course features dramatic elevation changes through saguaro-studded Sonoran terrain.

Scottsdale, Arizona · Keith Foster (1996) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 6,823 yards

A Keith Foster design in Fountain Hills, SunRidge Canyon is famous for its dramatic par-3 finishing stretch known as the "Wicked Six." The course features 200-foot elevation changes and panoramic views of the McDowell Mountains and Verde River Valley.

Phoenix, Arizona · William F. Bell (1963) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,068 yards

Phoenix's beloved municipal gem, Papago sits at the base of the iconic Papago Buttes and has been a favorite of locals and touring professionals for decades. The mature desert layout offers outstanding value and an unforgettable setting.

Phoenix, Arizona · Tom Lehman & John Fought (2004) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,258 yards

Set against the White Tank Mountains west of Phoenix, Verrado's Victory Course is a Tom Lehman & John Fought collaboration that delivers championship desert golf at daily-fee prices. The 7,258-yard layout features wide fairways and dramatic desert carries.

Tucson, Arizona · Unknown (1997) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 6,601 yards

Built in a former quarry south of Tucson, Quarry Pines offers one of the best public golf values in southern Arizona. The compact layout uses the quarry's dramatic rock walls to frame several memorable holes, creating visual interest that belies its affordable green fees.

Tucson, Arizona · Robert Trent Jones Jr. (1994) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 6,899 yards

An RTJ Jr. design in the Sabino Canyon area of northeast Tucson, the Raven at Sabino Springs features a target-style desert layout through the Santa Catalina Mountain foothills. The par-71 blends dramatically with the native Sonoran terrain while offering generous fairways and strategic bunker complexes at an accessible daily-fee price point.