Arizona has earned its place among America's top golf destinations. Sunshine, dramatic desert landscapes, and hundreds of courses make it easy to build an entire vacation around the game. But the best Arizona golf for tourists isn't necessarily about finding the most famous or expensive course. When you're traveling, the experience around the round matters too.
A great golf destination should give you memorable scenery, convenient public access, things to do when you're not playing, and enough variety to make the trip worthwhile for golfers and non-golfers alike. From Scottsdale's famous resort scene to the Colorado River communities of western Arizona, there's no single way to experience golf in the Grand Canyon State. Here's how to find the right destination for your trip.
What Makes the Best Arizona Golf for Tourists?
Locals can choose a course based almost entirely on the golf. Tourists usually have a few more things to consider. You may only have three or four days in Arizona. You might be traveling with someone who doesn't golf. Or perhaps golf is just one part of a longer Southwest road trip.
That makes several factors especially important:
- Public access and convenient tee times
- Memorable Arizona scenery
- Nearby hotels and restaurants
- Activities beyond the course
- Convenient access from other travel destinations
- A course that's enjoyable for different types of golfers
Fortunately, Arizona has destinations that check all of those boxes.
Laughlin Ranch Golf Club
The Ranch Bar and Grill View
Scottsdale and Phoenix: Arizona's Most Famous Golf Getaway
It's difficult to discuss the best golf courses in AZ without starting with the Phoenix-Scottsdale area. This is Arizona's best-known golf region, with an enormous concentration of public, private, and resort courses. Visitors can find everything from bucket-list desert layouts to more approachable daily-fee courses.
There's also plenty happening beyond golf. Scottsdale offers resorts, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, spas, and easy access to desert recreation. The trade-off is popularity. Peak golf season brings plenty of other travelers, and premium tee times can come with premium prices. For golfers who want a classic Arizona resort vacation and lots of courses to choose from, however, Scottsdale remains an obvious contender.
Best Arizona Golf for Tourists Exploring Western Arizona
Travel west and Arizona golf starts to feel a little different. Bullhead City sits along the Colorado River across from Laughlin, Nevada, creating an interesting base for travelers who want golf without spending their entire vacation inside a traditional golf resort. Laughlin Ranch Golf Club is one of the area's standout experiences. The championship public course combines desert terrain with elevated views across the Colorado River Valley. Its location also makes it accessible to visitors staying in Laughlin as well as travelers exploring western Arizona.
Golf isn't the only reason to stop here. The Colorado River brings opportunities for boating and other outdoor recreation, while nearby Laughlin offers hotels, restaurants, casinos, and entertainment. Laughlin Ranch itself also offers dining and spa experiences, so golfers can easily transition from a morning round into a slower afternoon.
For road trippers, Bullhead City can also fit naturally into a larger Southwest itinerary involving Nevada, Southern California, or Utah.
>> Related Post: Arizona Golf Destinations Worth Visiting This Year
Tucson: Desert Golf With a Different Pace
Tucson is another strong option for tourists who want excellent desert golf paired with a more relaxed atmosphere.
Surrounded by mountain ranges and Sonoran Desert scenery, the region delivers the cactus-lined fairways many visitors picture when imagining Arizona golf. Tucson is also a particularly good choice if your vacation extends beyond the course. Hiking, desert sightseeing, local food, and the city's Southwestern character give travelers plenty to explore between rounds. The city's selection of resort and public golf means you can build a multi-day itinerary without playing the same style of course every day.
Sedona: Golf With Unforgettable Scenery
Some travelers want their golf trip to look spectacular in the photos. Sedona makes that easy.
The area's famous red rock formations create a dramatically different backdrop from the desert landscapes around Phoenix or western Arizona. There are fewer courses here than in the state's major golf hubs, so Sedona may make more sense for travelers who want golf to be one part of the vacation rather than the sole purpose of the trip. That's hardly a disadvantage. Hiking, sightseeing, dining, scenic drives, and wellness experiences make it easy to fill the rest of your itinerary. For couples or groups with a mix of golfers and non-golfers, that balance can be especially appealing.
Looking for A Stay & Play Deal?
If you wish to enjoy scenic desert views in the Arizona-Nevada area, make sure to check out Laughlin Ranch Golf Club's stay and play partners for the one of the best accommodation and golf experiences.
How to Choose the Best Golf Courses in AZ for Your Trip
With so many choices, picking a course based solely on rankings can actually make planning harder.
Start with the kind of vacation you want. If your goal is to play as many rounds as possible, a major golf hub such as Scottsdale may make sense. If you want golf alongside river recreation and entertainment, western Arizona offers a completely different experience. For scenery and outdoor exploration, Tucson and Sedona deserve consideration.
Your budget matters as well. Arizona golf prices can vary considerably by destination, course, season, and tee time. Instead of automatically booking the biggest name, compare what you're getting for the entire trip. Sometimes a less famous destination leaves you with more room in the budget for another round, a good dinner, a spa treatment, or an extra night in Arizona.
When Should Golf Tourists Visit Arizona?
For many visitors, fall through spring is the most appealing period for an Arizona golf vacation. Cooler desert temperatures make long days outdoors more comfortable, particularly for travelers escaping winter weather elsewhere in the country. That popularity also means certain destinations and tee times can be in high demand. Golfers looking for value may want to investigate shoulder seasons and different times of day. Summer can offer opportunities for lower golf rates in some areas, but Arizona's heat is serious. Visitors considering warm-weather golf should prioritize early tee times, hydration, sun protection, and their own ability to handle high temperatures.
Tips for Planning an Arizona Golf Vacation
Don't make every day of your trip identical.
- If you're visiting for four days, for example, you don't necessarily need four packed days of golf. Play a standout course, explore the surrounding area, try another round, and leave yourself enough time to actually enjoy being in Arizona.
- Booking ahead is also worthwhile during popular travel periods, particularly if there's a specific course or tee time you don't want to miss.
- For groups, discuss priorities before booking. One person may want challenging championship golf while another cares more about scenery and a relaxed round. Choosing destinations with several options makes it easier to keep everyone happy.
- And if you're driving through the Southwest, think beyond a single city. Arizona can pair naturally with golf and travel in Nevada and Utah, turning a simple golf weekend into a longer road trip.
Finding Your Best Arizona Golf Experience
There's a reason Arizona attracts golfers from across the country. The state offers enough variety that two golf vacations here can look completely different. One trip might revolve around luxury Scottsdale resorts. Another could combine red rock sightseeing and golf in Sedona. A western Arizona itinerary might bring together championship golf at Laughlin Ranch, time along the Colorado River, and evenings across the state line in Laughlin. That's ultimately what makes the best Arizona golf for tourists so difficult to narrow down to a single course. The best choice is the one that fits the vacation you actually want.
Look beyond rankings when comparing the best golf courses in AZ. Consider the scenery, location, public access, nearby activities, and what you'll be doing once the clubs are back in the bag. After all, you're not just choosing where to play 18 holes. You're choosing where to spend your Arizona vacation.