The best public-access and private golf courses in Arizona, ranked
Looking to play the best golf courses in Arizona? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.
Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.
The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.
KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.
* indicates new or returning to the rankings
Best public-access courses in Arizona
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes in Arizona (Courtesy of Ak-Chin Southern Dunes/Allan Henry)
1. We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro)
Fort McDowell (m)
Book your round at We-Ko-Pa today
2. Quintero Golf Club
Peoria (m)
3. Wickenburg Ranch (Big Wick)
Wickenburg (m)
4. TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)
Scottsdale (m)
Book your round at TPC Scottsdale today
5. Golf Club at Dove Mountain (Saguaro/Tortolita)
Marana (m)
6. Ventana Canyon (Mountain)
Tucson (m)
7. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes
Maricopa (m)
Book your round at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes today
8. Grayhawk (Talon)
Scottsdale (m)
Book your round at Grayhawk today
T9. Troon North (Monument)
Scottsdale (m)
Book your round at Troon North today
T9. We-Ko-Pa (Cholla)
Fort McDowell (m)
Book your round at We-Ko-Pa today
T11. Troon North (Pinnacle)
Scottsdale (m)
Book your round at Troon North today
T11. Grayhawk (Raptor)
Scottsdale (m)
Book your round at Grayhawk today
13. Laughlin Ranch
Bullhead City (m)
14. Casino del Sol (Sewailo)
Tucson (m)
T15. Boulders Resort (North)
Carefree (m)
Book your round at Boulders Resort today
T15. Gold Canyon Golf Resort (Dinosaur Mountain)
Gold Canyon (m)
17. Boulders Resort (South)
Carefree (m)
Book your round at Boulders Resort today
18. Whirlwind (Cattail)
Chandler (m)
19. Los Caballeros*
Wickenburg (m)
20. TPC Scottsdale (Champions)
Scottsdale (m)
Book your round at TPC Scottsdale today
21. Las Sendas
Mesa (m)
22. Verrado (Founders)
Buckeye (m)
T23. SunRidge Canyon
Fountain Hills (m)
Book your round at SunRidge Canyon today
T23. Whirlwind (Devil’s Claw)
Chandler (m)
25. Longbow
Mesa (m)
26. Legacy
Phoenix (m)
27. Wildfire at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge (Faldo Championship)
Phoenix (m)
T28. Camelback (Ambiente)
Scottsdale (m)
T28. Arizona National*
Tucson (m)
30. Wigwam (Gold)*
Litchfield Park (m)
Best private courses in Arizona
Estancia in Arizona (Courtesy of Estancia)
1. Estancia
Scottsdale (17m)
2. Desert Forest
Carefree (63m)
3. Scottsdale National (The Other Course)
Scottsdale (m)
4. Forest Highlands (Canyon)
Flagstaff (T118m)
T5. Whisper Rock (Upper)
Scottsdale (T122m)
T5. The Rim
Payson (T122)
7. Whisper Rock (Lower)
Scottsdale (T138m)
8. Desert Highlands
Scottsdale (T143m)
9. Stone Canyon
Oro Valley (T173m)
10. Mirabel
Scottsdale (T196m)
11. Silverleaf
Scottsdale (m)
12. Forest Highlands (Meadow)
Flagstaff (m)
13. Troon CC
Scottsdale (m)
14. Pine Canyon
Flagstaff (m)
15. Paradise Valley CC
Paradise Valley (c)
16. Flagstaff Ranch
Flagstaff (m)
17. Desert Mountain (Cochise)
Scottsdale (m)
T18. The Gallery (North)
Marana (m)
T18. Torreon (Cabin)
Show Low (m)
20. Desert Mountain (Chiricahua)
Scottsdale (m)
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: The best public-access and private golf courses in Arizona, ranked