The Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, Arizona is a public, daily-fee course that features 27 holes of championship golf. This Troon-managed course is notable for mature trees, colorful flower beds and water features that line the fairways. In fact, there are so many ponds, streams and waterfalls that you’ll find it hard to believe that you’re playing in the desert. Bernard’s Restaurant at the resort was voted Best 19th Hole for 2011 by Arizona Foothills Magazine.

Find out more about Arizona golf at the Ocotillo Golf Resort on the official facility website.

Pine Canyon is a 619-acre private golf course and residential community in Flagstaff, Arizona. Adjacent to the Coconino National Forest, the course features sweeping vistas of pine trees, ponds and streams. In addition to being known for its award-winning course designed by Jay Morrish, Pine Canyon has the reputation of being a family destination. A youth recreation center known as Camp Pine Canyon features hands-on learning experiences and fun activities. Amenities include pools, tennis and basketball courts, a park and stocked lake for fishing.

Unlike other Arizona golf courses, Pine Canyon’s 7,000-ft elevation and alpine setting provides a cool escape from the desert heat. Find out more about this family-oriented golf destination on the Pine Canyon website.

Golf in the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona is in a class by itself.  Besides over 300 days of sunshine per year, there are so many golf courses that every golfer is sure to find the perfect challenge.  Here are our Top Reasons to plan a golf vacation in Arizona.

Read more about Arizona golf vacations on the official Arizona Visitor’s Guide website.

Besides a plethora of public golf courses, Arizona is home to scores of private courses and golf clubs. One if these is Blackstone Country Club, located in the rolling hills of Peoria about an hour from downtown Phoenix. Named for the area’s indigenous volcanic rock, Blackstone features a 30,000 square foot clubhouse and a private, walkable 18-hole championship golf course. The club is family-friendly and located adjacent to a peaceful gated community named Vistancia.

With the housing market still down, many out-of-towners are buying second homes in Blackstone’s gated community. Read about Canadians who have discovered Blackstone Country Club in this Edmonton Times article.

We-Ko-Pa is one of the top golf courses in Arizona.  Developed by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation (“We-Ko-Pa” means Four Peaks in Yavapai), this facility features two outstanding daily-fee courses.   We-Ko-Pa is located in the Sonoran Desert east of Scottsdale and is surrounded by Red Mountain, the McDowell Mountains, Four Peaks and the Superstitions.  The Yavapai Nation is committed to leaving the We-Ko-Pa free from residential and commercial development.

Unique topographic features of the We-Ko-Pa courses provide a challenge for every level of golfer.  In addition of the championship courses. We-Ko-Pa offers a fully-equipped clubhouse and world-class practice facility.

To learn more, visit the We-Ko-Pa website.

In July of 2010, an Arizona golfer was hit by lightning at Fred Enke Golf Course in Tucson.  The golfer subsequently died of his injuries, a sad reminder of the vulnerability of golfers to unpredictable lightning strikes.  According to the National Lightning Safety Institute (NLSI), 5% of all deaths and injuries from lightning that occur each year take place on golf courses. 

The NLSI recommends suspending all activities on a golf course when lightning is determined to be 6 miles away.  Golfers should move to the closest permanent building or completely enclosed metal vehicle.  Trees should be avoided since they attract lightning strikes.

The NLSI website explains how to determine the distance of lightning and provides detailed safety instructions for golfers.

The Alpine Country Club is located near the Apache National Forest in the “Alps” region of Arizona.  With an elevation of over 8100 feet, the club’s 9-hole golf course is among the highest in the nation.  Dense groves of blue spruce, aspens and ponderosa pines border the fairway.  All types of wildlife, including elk, are a common site on the greens.  The Alpine offers some of the coolest Arizona golf in the warm summer months.  Find out more at the Alpine Golf & Country Club website.

Springtime is coming to the White Mountains near Show Low, but the snow is not gone yet. This inspirational YouTube video shows the beauty of springtime snow in the White Mountains:

Where else but Arizona can you find catci covered with a blanket of snow? We’re looking forward to the thaw and getting back to Arizona golf as the warm weather returns.

Emerald Canyon Golf Course in Parker, Arizona, is a truly unique course. Surrounded by spectacular scenery including red rock canyons and views of the Colorado River, the course features sculpted tee areas and bunkers and immaculately manicured fairways. Emerald Canyon is a great year-round Arizona golf value, with 18 holes and cart costing less than $50. For more information and complete directions, see the Emerald Canyon Golf Course website.

SunRidge Canyon Golf Course, located in Arizona near Scottsdale, offers a challenging Arizona golf experience in a natural desert environment. Topographical features throughout the course create a dramatic effect and put the skills of both novice and advanced golfers to the test. The 6823-yard SunRidge Canyon Golf Course begins at the mouth of a canyon and descends via a series of switchbacks to the canyon floor.

This outstanding course has been enhanced with the availability of ProLink’s GPS system, which provides a full-color monitor which displays a map of each hole, yardage to pin information, playing tips and easy communication with the clubhouse. Tournament scoring and leaderboards cal also be tracked with ProLink.

For more information, visit the SunRidge Canyon Golf website.