Best Golf Trips in Arizona: Your Complete Guide to Desert Golf Paradise

Arizona is the easiest sell in golf trip planning. Warm in January, 200+ courses in the Valley alone, and green fees that range from $70 to 'your accountant will call you.' Here's how to actually plan it right.

The desert backdrop stretches endlessly, cacti stand sentinel, and you realize this is exactly why Arizona consistently ranks as America's premier golf destination. Whether you're planning a weekend Nassau bet tournament with friends or a full-scale golf vacation, Arizona delivers experiences that transform good trips into legendary ones.

From December through March, there are few better places in the world for a golfer than Arizona. The weather is generally warm and dry enough to play golf every day. The Valley of the Sun, encompassing the greater Phoenix and Scottsdale areas, is home to nearly 100 top places to play.

Phoenix and Scottsdale: The Ultimate Golf Mecca

The Phoenix-Scottsdale mecca boasts 200-plus courses and an array of world-class resorts and spas. This concentration of championship golf makes it the natural starting point for any Arizona golf trip.

Must-Play Courses:

TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course: If you want to play TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course, you will be paying a hefty price. In the weeks after the Phoenix Open, which is the high season for golf in the area, the TPC Scottsdale green fee is as high as $550 at the peak of the day. But where else can you play the hole that hosts 200,000 screaming fans during the WM Phoenix Open?
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club: "Played the Saguaro Course and it was everything you could want and handle. 1st rate range and practice facilities to warm up before the round. Super friendly staff from the moment you drop your bag off to the time you walk to the parking lot. Highly recommend you get a tee time and check our Arizona's best course." With green fees ranging $69-$349, both the Saguaro and Cholla courses offer stunning desert target golf.
Grayhawk Golf Club: The Raptor Course hosts PGA Tour events and offers Green fees (2026): ~$250–$275. Insider tip: If you only choose one Grayhawk round, Raptor has the tour pedigree; add Talon if time allows.
Troon North Golf Club: Two championship courses (Monument and Pinnacle) wind through dramatic boulder formations. The courses cost upwards of $275 in prime season and can play them for $60-$70 during the summer.

Where to Stay: Consider staying at Talking Stick Resort for easy access to two Ben Crenshaw/Bill Coore-designed courses, or the Four Seasons Scottsdale for luxury with golf packages to premium courses. Explore Scottsdale golf trips

Tucson: Hidden Gem with Incredible Value

Tucson: Located about two hours south of Phoenix, Tucson features incredible courses that are often more affordable than those in Scottsdale or Phoenix. It's worth the trip for golfers seeking value and variety.

Standout Courses:

Gallery Golf Club North: The North course at Gallery Golf Club features plenty of elevation changes and offers beautiful panoramic vistas of the surrounding Sonoran desert landscape. This John Fought/Tom Lehman design just north of Tucson plays through two valleys flanked by imposing mountains. The North course is demanding off the tee with penalizing deep-faced bunkers lining most fairways.
Sewailo Golf Club: Sewailo surprises golfers with a softer, parkland feel in the desert, combining water features, lush turf, and consistent conditions that make it one of Tucson's most playable resort rounds. Green fees (2026): ~$100–$125.
Omni Tucson National: You can get the full golf resort experience at Omni Tucson National, especially on its tree-lined Catalina Course, which hosted a PGA TOUR event for more than four decades and more recently a PGA CHAMPIONS event.

Pro Tip: Tucson offers the perfect blend of championship golf and affordability, making it ideal for groups looking to maximize rounds without breaking the bank.

Sedona and Flagstaff: Mountain Golf Paradise

Summer golf can be comfortable too in high-altitude climes like Sedona and Flagstaff. These destinations offer a completely different Arizona golf experience.

Sedona Highlights:

Seven Canyons Golf Club: Situated in the Coconino National Forest in Sedona, Seven Canyons is a picturesque desert layout with views of the surrounding jagged rock faces that characterize the region. The course is not long (playing even shorter at a 4,500-feet elevation) and instead prioritizes accuracy with narrow fairways and small greens. The scenic course cracked our Second 100 Greatest ranking in 2013-2014 and has consistently ranked among our Best in Arizona.
Sedona Golf Resort: Like at Sedona Golf Resort, located an hour south of Flagstaff. There you will encounter the par-3 10th hole, which offers an unforgettable backdrop of the Red Rocks in the distance.

Flagstaff Options:

Pine Canyon Golf Club: This luxury mountain community in Flagstaff features a championship golf course consistently ranked in the top 10 on our Best in Arizona list. There are a variety of holes at Pine Canyon, with towering ponderosa pines, meandering streams, tall native grasses and pristine ponds all coming into play. The San Francisco Peaks tower over the course and offer scenic views, especially on the back nine.

Best For: Groups who want to escape desert heat in summer or experience Arizona's incredible scenery diversity.

When to Plan Your Arizona Golf Trip

Peak Season (January-April): That brings me to the high peak season of January through March. During these months we experience the best temperatures across the world for travelers. The golf courses and hotels are at the highest prices during this timeframe and there is a lot going on in the valley. Tourism is at the highest this time of year, so this is the most expensive time to travel to Arizona. Shoulder Season (October-December & April-May): In my opinion this is one of the best times to travel to Arizona as the weather is fantastic and the golf courses and hotels are cheaper than the peak season months of January through March. March still carries peak-season pricing, but by April and May, available tee times become more plentiful, and rates begin to drop. Summer Value Season (June-September): Summer is when golf in Scottsdale is at its most affordable. Yes, it gets hot –daytime highs often top 105°F – but for early birds and budget-minded golfers, this is a golden opportunity. Like at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club in Fort McDowell, just east of Scottsdale, where green fees plummet from a peak season cost of $309 to $109 between mid-June and late August. Or Grayhawk Golf Club (above), where the Raptor Course can be as low as $102 in August, compared to more than $350 during prime time. Booking Strategy: Book 60 to 90 days ahead, especially for top-tier courses like TPC Scottsdale and Troon North during peak season.

Arizona Golf Trip Costs: What to Expect

Premium Courses (Peak Season):

TPC Scottsdale: $436-$550
We-Ko-Pa: $69-$349
Grayhawk Raptor: ~$250–$275

Value Options:

Sterling Grove: $68-$139
Wigwam Red: $106-$208

Trip Cost Estimates: Budget-friendly: A week-long trip with shared accommodations, mid-range golf courses, and careful spending could cost around $1,500 to $2,500 per person. Moderate: A week-long trip with a mix of luxury and budget options, including multiple rounds of golf and some dining and entertainment, could range from $2,500 to $4,000 per person. Luxury: A week-long stay at a high-end resort, playing top-tier golf courses, and indulging in premium dining and spa treatments could easily exceed $5,000 per person.

Planning Your Perfect Arizona Golf Trip

Group Size Considerations: Arizona excels at accommodating groups of all sizes. Many courses offer group rates for 12+ players, and the abundance of quality options means you can easily fill a 4-day itinerary without repeating courses. Game Formats: The desert setting is perfect for Nassau bets, skins games, and match play. The dramatic elevation changes and target golf reward precision over power, making for exciting competition regardless of handicap. Beyond Golf: Arizona offers incredible dining, spas, hiking, and nightlife. Scottsdale's Old Town provides endless entertainment options, while Sedona offers world-class spa experiences and spiritual retreats. Weather Preparation: Early morning tee times are ideal to enjoy cooler temperatures and avoid the midday sun, which can still be strong even in cooler months. Be prepared for variable weather by dressing in layers, as mornings and evenings can be chilly while afternoons warm up pleasantly. Despite the mild climate, it's important to stay hydrated and protect your skin with sunscreen, as sun exposure remains significant year-round

Making It Happen

Arizona represents everything great about American golf travel: world-class courses, perfect weather (at least half the year), incredible value options, and experiences that create lifelong memories. Whether you're drawn to the PGA Tour pedigree of Scottsdale, the value and variety of Tucson, or the stunning scenery of Sedona, Arizona delivers golf trips that exceed expectations.

The key to a successful Arizona golf trip lies in matching your timing, budget, and group preferences with the state's diverse offerings. Peak season delivers perfect conditions but premium pricing. Shoulder seasons offer the sweet spot of great weather and reasonable costs. Even summer can be magical if you embrace early morning rounds and afternoon pool time.

Explore Arizona golf trips

Your crew is already talking about it. Make it happen at nassau.golf. You can coordinate group travel, track bets and games, and ensure every member of your foursome has the trip of a lifetime. Because in Arizona, every round is an opportunity to create the kind of golf stories you'll be telling for years to come.