Just picture yourself playing golf at some of the best golf courses in Arizona while being surrounded by breathtaking scenery, including towering rock formations, verdant valleys, and stunning vistas. This tranquil desert setting is ideal for working on your game strategy and perfecting your swing. 

Even though a desert climate may not seem suitable for golf, Arizona is home to more than 300 courses that are among the best in the world. Arizona is a favorite destination for golfers because of the state’s beautiful landscapes and the abundance of high-quality hotels and resorts.

Scottsdale is the state’s undisputed golf mecca, and it’s hard to imagine a more alluring or beautiful destination in Arizona. Enjoying a few golf games at the best golf course in Scottsdale can lift your vacation to new heights this fall. After all, the prime season starts in November. 

If you’re interested in exploring the wonders of desert-style golf this fall, we’re happy to recommend some of the most popular and fascinating Arizona golf courses. 

Grayhawk

At Grayhawk Golf Club, golfers may choose between two challenging courses that couldn’t be more different from one another in terms of style and design. Graham & Parks International came up with the Talon in 1994, and Tom Fazio’s creativity made the Raptor a reality the following year.

The Raptor is the more popular of the two, providing a more conventional test of golf in Arizona with wider fairways, deeper greenside bunkers, and strategically placed water hazards. The Talon, on the other hand, is more in line with the image of a desert course, what with its deep box canyons on the back nine and its many wastelands that are sure to snag a stray shot.

TPC Scottsdale

Aerial View of the Waste Management Phoenix Open

The legendary TPC Scottsdale, set in the Sonoran Desert, features two breathtaking Arizona golf courses, the Stadium, and the Champions. The Stadium is where the annual Phoenix Open is played. The 16th hole, a par 3, is the showpiece since it is the only one on the PGA TOUR that is entirely encircled by grandstands during tournament week. The classic desert-style Stadium is kept in PGA TOUR condition all year long so you can count on quick greens and rich fairways.

The Champions Course at TPC Scottsdale is a Randy Heckenkemper-designed course that opened in 2007. The design is comparable to its predecessor and provides the challenge players can appreciate, all while taking in breathtaking vistas of the nearby McDowell Mountains.

Quintero

The Quintero golf course is often cited as one of the region’s “purest” due to the fact that it was painstakingly carved out of a particularly lush patch of Arizona desert. A challenging but fair test of golf, this Rees Jones-designed course features strategic bunkering and multi-tiered bentgrass greens and boasts stunning views of the surrounding rocky, mountainous desert.

The par-3 ninth hole, where the tee shot is blasted across a lake to a green that rests on a rock wall, is often regarded as the course’s trademark (or at least most memorable) hole. It’s no surprise that Quintero is considered one of the best golf courses in Arizona.

Troon North

Golfing in Arizona shouldn’t go without a round of golf at Troon North. The Monument and the Pinnacle have 36 holes, making a clear favorite difficult to determine. 

Few golf courses provide such aesthetic enjoyment, being entirely encircled by Pinnacle Peak and being such a good test of your game. Tom Weiskopf’s Open Championship triumph at Royal Troon in 1973 inspired Jay Morrish, who worked with Weiskopf for the first time on these courses.

We-Ko-Pa

Located on a territory owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the natural beauty of We-Ko-Pa Golf Club will never be jeopardized by the introduction of artificial elements. Cholla and Saguaro, the two courses, are universally adored by golfers and considered some of the best golf courses in Arizona.

Cholla winds its way through arroyos and ridges of the desert, bordered by mountains. The Saguaro is a challenging layout cut into the natural landscape, with elevation variations and more views of the mountains blended into the round.

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes

Located on 320 acres of the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation, the beautiful Ak-Chin Southern Dunes provide unparalleled panoramic vistas of the Arizona desert. Before the land was donated to the public, the course was a private club with a design inspired by the Australian Sand Belt by Fred Couples and Brian Curley. 

As a prime example of desert golf, it is frequently used as a U.S. Open qualifying location. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes is an absolute must-play for golfers seeking challenging Arizona golf courses, set in an area with a deep historical legacy.

Wickenburg Ranch Golf Club

Wickenburg Ranch Golf Club’s desert design is both an homage to and a compelling test of the local desert environment. Designed by Bill Brownlee, the Big Wick course debuted in 2015.

Golf Digest ranked it as the fourth-greatest new course in North America shortly after it opened, and it has garnered many other awards since then. Wickenburg Ranch is the pride of golfing in Arizona, with its breathtaking mountain vistas, perfectly manicured bentgrass greens, and challenging pin placements.

Seven Canyons Golf Club

Golfer Putting Golf Ball on the Green Golf, Lens Flare on Sun Set Evening Time.

The Seven Canyons Golf Club is located in the Coconino National Forest, just eight miles north of Sedona. The course is bordered on three sides by the sharply eroded Vermilion Cliffs, making for a wonderfully stunning location. Tom Weiskopf did an incredible job with the design, mixing the layout with its natural surroundings.

Seven Canyons is a must-experience golf in Arizona. The course’s 18 holes make use of natural arroyos, cliff walls, ancient pine trees, and well-placed bunkers. A high score can be achieved through precision, strategic planning, and calculated risk-taking.

Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club

The Santa Catalina Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop for Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club. Tom Fazio designed these two fantastic and very different courses.

The Mountain’s trademark third hole, located at the course’s highest point, gives it a more attractive setting. The Canyon design will veer you off on a different path, but the breathtaking Esperero Canyon will remain in your line of sight the whole time. Each course has wide fairways and stunning scenery, typical of golfing in Arizona. 

The Golf Club at Dove Mountain

Play any combination of 18 holes from the Golf Club at Dove Mountain’s three nines (Wild Burro, Tortolita, and Saguaro), created by Jack Nicklaus. From 2009 to 2014, Jason Day was the champion of the WGC Accenture Match Play, held at the resort. 

The courses feature a variety of elevation changes, with some holes sitting at an astounding 3,000 feet above sea level and offering otherworldly vistas of the valley below, making up for some finest golf in Arizona. 

We at Meridian CondoResorts want you to have a wonderful time while taking on these stunning and demanding courses this fall. They are a true test of golfing ability and welcome players of all skill levels.

Whether you’re a solitary traveler or part of a large group, we have flexible alternatives to meet your needs. Golfers especially love Phoenix and Scottsdale for their luxury lodgings, exclusive amenities, and excellent location.