Trying to name the single best golf course in Arizona is like trying to pick your favorite star in the night sky - there's an overwhelming number of stunning options, and the best one often comes down to personal preference. Instead of declaring one winner, this article will guide you through the can't-miss contenders, breaking them down into categories that matter to real golfers. We’ll look at the best overall experience, the toughest test, the most scenic layout, and the best value, all while I provide some coaching tips to help you tackle these incredible courses.
As a golf coach, the first thing I teach players is to understand the situation before pulling a club. We should apply the same thinking here. What does "best" mean to you? For a scratch golfer, "best" might mean a brutal, championship challenge that tests every part of their game. For a vacationing 20-handicapper, it might mean immaculate conditions and jaw-dropping views they’ll remember for a lifetime. For someone else, it could mean the purest golf experience at a reasonable price.
Arizona’s golf landscape is vast, primarily split between the Scottsdale/Phoenix area's lush, manicured layouts and Tucson's more rugged, authentic desert tracks. The state boasts designs from nearly every master architect: Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Rees Jones, Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw. Each brought a unique philosophy to the Sonoran Desert canvas. So, rather than giving you one impossible answer, let's find the best course for the specific experience you're after.
When money is no object and the goal is sheer perfection, The Estancia Club is in a class of its own. This is a highly exclusive private club, but for those lucky enough to get an invitation, it represents the absolute pinnacle of Arizona golf. It's not just the course, it's the impeccable service, the flawless conditioning, and the feeling of stepping into a world totally dedicated to golf.
Tom Fazio’s 1995 design is a masterclass in subtlety. Woven seamlessly into the foothills of Pinnacle Peak, the course feels like it was discovered rather than built. There are no gimmicky holes here. The challenge comes from strategic bunkering that frames fairways and enormous, undulating greens that feature some of the purest putting surfaces you’ll ever find. Elevation changes are natural, presenting players with gorgeous vistas without ever feeling unfair or forced. It’s a course that rewards intelligent play over brute strength, making it an enjoyable walk for players of all abilities.
The main defense at Estancia is its complex green surfaces. The mistake most high-handicappers make is firing at every pin. At Estancia, that’s a recipe for three-putts. Before you leave your cart, study the slope of the green. The pin location is a distraction, your target is the flattest, most accessible quadrant of the green. Hitting the middle of the surface will leave you with a reasonable putt every time. Getting aggressive and short-siding yourself will lead to a score that ruins an otherwise perfect day.
If you want to walk in the footsteps of the pros and face a true championship test, there’s no better choice than the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale. As the host of the WM Phoenix Open, this course is designed specifically to challenge the world's best players, especially down the dramatic finishing stretch. It’s loud, it’s famous, and it’s a brilliant examination of risk-reward golf.
Designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, the Stadium Course is a fantastic public-access layout that culminates in one of golf’s most exciting finishes. You have the short, reachable par-5 15th that’s guarded by water. Then comes the legendary par-3 16th, an otherwise simple hole transformed into a cauldron of pressure by the stadium atmosphere. It’s followed by the drivable par-4 17th, with water lurking left and a sliver of fairway to bail out right. And finally, the brutish 18th, with water and bunkers framing the entire hole. The course tests your nerve as much as your swing.
Big and bold on your scorecard at TPC Scottsdale is rarely big and bold out on the course. On hole 17, for example, the big temptation for low-handicappers is to pull the driver and go for eagle. A Golf Pro will tell themselves "If I can put a good strike on it, my reward of eagle is bigger than my risk of a penalty", and maybe he has the skills to pull his off! but for us normal mortals, the odds are not in your favor. Laying up with a hybrid or a long iron to a comfortable wedge distance gives you a much better chance at birdie or a surefire par, avoiding the bogey or worse that can wreck your round. Tearing up the scorecard with big numbers isn’t the plan here!
When you close your eyes and picture “Arizona golf,” you’re probably picturing Troon North. This 36-hole facility - comprising the Monument and Pinnacle courses - is the gold standard for high-desert golf. It’s a stunning landscape of monolithic granite boulders, towering saguaro cacti, and panoramic views of the Sonoran Desert. Getting a tee time here is like booking a starring role in a desert postcard.
Both the Monument and Pinnacle courses were originally designed by Tom Weiskopf. The front nine of the old Monument Course and the back nine of what was the old Pinnacle Course are combined to form 18 holes of classic desert golf. From the other two original nines, today’s Monument course (front nine) and Pinnacle course (Back nine) come together to continue the Troon standard of target-style excitement. A golfer is forced to navigate their ball from one green oasis to the next. The courses demand precision, particularly with your approach shots. Miss a green, and you’re likely in a deep bunker or a harsh desert wash. Highlights include the giant “Monument” boulder on the 3rd hole of its namesake course and the spectacular elevated tees on the Pinnacle that make you feel like you’re hitting off the top of the world.
Unlike parkland courses where you can run the ball up, desert golf is all about carry. The ground is not your friend. A shot that lands 10 yards short of the green won’t bounce forward, it will stop dead or bounce sideways into trouble. Using a rangefinder with slope adjustment is hugely beneficial here. Trust your carry numbers, take an extra club when in doubt and commit to your shot. Furthermore, when you inevitably find your ball in the desert wasteland, take your punishment without letting your Ego get in the Way. The smart play is almost always to punch out sideways back to the safety of the fairway rather than attempting a low-percentage hero shot through the cacti.
Tucked away northwest of Phoenix, Quintero Golf Club consistently flies under the radar for casual tourists but is a destination for serious golfers. Often cited as the best public course in Arizona, it’s a Rees Jones design that offers a private club experience for a daily-fee price. The layout is magnificent, remote, and exhilarating, with dramatic elevation changes and a feeling of total seclusion from the outside world.
Quintero’s layout is carved into the side of the Hieroglyphic Mountains. Its signature is a collection of spectacular par-3s. The 9th hole, for instance, is a stunning tiered-green hole that plays severely downhill over a canyon, demanding absolute commitment to your club selection. The routing takes you up and down the mountainside, offering one breathtaking vista after another. Jones used the natural terrain brilliantly, creating risk-reward opportunities and demanding thoughtful shot placement off the tee.
At Quintero, visual intimidation is everywhere. A 160-yard shot might play 140 downhill or 180 uphill. This is where you must block out distractions and trust technology. Fire up your rangefinder's "Play AS" Feature. Get your true playing distance and grab your club. Doubt a little less and commit fully to that club a little more. On severely downhill shots, the correct play is often one or even two fewer clubs, swung smoothly. Trying to "guide" or steer ball onto the green at 75% will only produce thin mishits from poor contact. Trust the club, trust the slope, and make an easy swing.
If you’re looking for a premier, 36-hole golf experience without the eye-watering price tag of North Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa is the answer. Located on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, these two courses - Saguaro and Cholla - are pure golf. There are no houses, no roads, and no noisy distractions, just panoramic desert views and brilliantly designed golf holes. It’s an unbeatable value proposition for the quality of golf you get.
What makes We-Ko-Pa special is the contrast between its two courses. The Cholla course, designed by Scott Miller, is a more traditional target-style desert track, demanding aerial precision. The Saguaro course, designed by the famed minimalist duo of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is a totally different animal. It’s more walkable, wider off the tee, and brings the ground game into play, encouraging creative shots that run along the turf. It feels more like an old-style links course thoughtfully placed in the desert.
On the Saguaro course, fight the urge to fly every shot directly to the pin. Coore and Crenshaw designed fairways and green surrounds that feed the ball toward certain areas. Pay attention to the slopes. You can often land the ball 15 yards short of the green and use a little "bump-and-run". This opens up a wider variety of shot options and is a fun departure from the standard "hit-and-stick" desert golf.
As you can see, Arizona's "best" course isn’t a single name but a collection of world-class experiences. The right answer is about finding the perfect layout for your game, whether it's the premium challenge of TPC Scottsdale or the unmatched scenery and value of We-Ko-Pa.
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