Plan Your Phoenix / Mesa Golf Trip in 60 Seconds

Massive metro, massive course list, zero pretense

Phoenix is Scottsdale's blue-collar neighbor with just as much great golf at half the price. Papago is a municipal legend, We-Ko-Pa is 30 minutes east, and the East Valley (Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler) has dozens of playable tracks. The nightlife skews more sports-bar than bottle-service, which is exactly what most groups want.

The best courses, bars, and rentals in Phoenix / Mesa — curated for groups.

5 coursesSpring, FallPHX (10 min drive)50-200k population

Courses

Papago Golf Course

Solid

Iconic Phoenix muni nestled between the Papago Buttes — where the locals play and the views punch way above the green fee

$45-$80desertPar 72 · 7,068 ydsWalkableLOCALS' FAVORITE

ASU Karsten Golf Course

Solid

Pete Dye design for ASU — sneaky tough college course with great conditioning for the price

$40-$75desertPar 72 · 7,002 ydsWalkable

Longbow Golf Club

Solid

Ken Kavanaugh design in Mesa with water on 13 holes and mountain backdrops — great value

$50-$95desertPar 71 · 6,750 yds

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (Cholla Course)

Premium

Scott Miller design on Fort McDowell Yavapai land — wide fairways framed by untouched Sonoran Desert

$130-$240desertPar 72 · 7,225 yds

Aguila Golf Course

Budget

No-frills Phoenix muni that is perfect for a warm-up round or a hangover special

$25-$50parklandPar 72 · 6,701 ydsWalkable

Where to Stay

houseSleeps 12-20

$500-$1800/night

East Valley (Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler) for course proximity, or Central Phoenix/Tempe for nightlife access

private poolhot tubgame roomBBQ grillfire pit

houseSleeps 8-14

$300-$1000/night

Mesa near Longbow or Superstition Springs — newer communities with golf course homes

private poolputting greenoutdoor kitchenmountain views

Dining

Steak 44

$$$$

steakhouse

One of the Valley's best steakhouses with tableside prep and a buzzing bar scene

Rustler's Rooste

bbq

Mountaintop BBQ spot with rattlesnake appetizers, a slide entrance, and panoramic city views

Los Dos Molinos

mexican

New Mexican-style heat that will humble your spice-tough buddy — the green chile is legendary

Pizzeria Bianco

italian

James Beard Award-winning pizza in Heritage Square — worth the wait

Nightlife

Casey Moore's Oyster House

Late Night

patio

Legendary Tempe patio bar in a haunted 1910 house — cheap pitchers and big energy

Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour

Late Night

cocktail

Award-winning cocktail bar in a former Prohibition headquarters — creative drinks in a speakeasy vibe

The Whining Pig

Late Night

sports bar

Self-pour beer wall with 40 taps and big screens — the group picks their own pours

Activities

Salt River Tubing

water sports3-4 hours$20-$25/pp

Float the Salt River with coolers of beer on a hot Arizona day — peak rest-day activity

Topgolf Scottsdale

go karts2-3 hours$30-$60/pp

Climate-controlled driving range bays with food and drinks — great for arrival day

Arizona Hiking — Camelback Mountain

hiking2-3 hours$0-$0/pp

Iconic Phoenix summit hike with 360-degree Valley views — bring water and start early

Octane Raceway

go karts1-2 hours$25-$50/pp

Indoor electric kart racing in Scottsdale — competitive and air-conditioned

Ben Avery Shooting Facility

shooting2-3 hours$30-$80/pp

World-class public shooting facility with trap, skeet, and rifle ranges

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