12 Must-Play Golf Courses Around Paradise Valley In Arizona

Golf in Paradise Valley is a lifestyle.

Surrounded by rugged peaks, architect-designed fairways, and some of Arizona's most exclusive real estate, these courses reflect what the area does best: elevated living with zero pretense.

Whether chasing your next birdie or scouting neighborhoods that back onto the greens, this top Paradise Valley golf course lineup showcases the best where design, precision, and desert beauty collide.

Criteria For Selecting Top Golf Courses

We kept it simple: this list focuses on layout, conditions, and the kind of play that keeps you coming back. Greater Phoenix has many options, but only a few hit every mark.

Here’s what made the cut:

• Bold, playable layouts with real shot strategy
• Elevation shifts that mess with your club choice
• Clean turf and greens that roll true
• Crisp bunkers, firm fairways, zero excuses
• Ridgeline views that punch you in the gut
• Sonoran Desert shaping every shot
• Practice zones stacked with swing tech
• Online tee times that actually work
• Private feel without the waitlist
• Post-round food that hits just right

These courses bring a premium golfing experience. From design to desert backdrops, everything’s tuned up. That’s the standard. Nothing less.

The Top 12 Paradise Valley Golf Courses

From iconic PGA stops to tucked-away gems known only to locals, these standout Paradise Valley golf courses capture the essence of Arizona golf, where championship design meets elevated desert living.

1. TPC Scottsdale, Stadium Course

Yes, it’s technically in Scottsdale. No, that doesn’t matter. TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course is iconic, plain and simple. Designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, this course feels like a stage.

Every year, the PGA TOUR’s Waste Management Phoenix Open transforms it into a roaring coliseum of golf, with the infamous 16th hole becoming a stadium in the truest sense of the word.

It’s the only hole in professional golf where noise is not just allowed but expected.

Outside of tournament season, you’re treated to pristine fairways, lightning-fast greens, and a desert landscape that feels more like a curated experience than a natural environment. The course layout dares you to take risks while rewarding strategy and ball control.

And yes, you’ll try to replicate that iconic wedge shot on 16 minus the crowd of 20,000.

It’s just up the road from DC Ranch, where luxury homes and a love for the game live side by side. Many of our clients who own here make TPC their go-to course for prestige and playability.

2. Camelback Golf Club, Ambiente & Padre Courses

This is Paradise Valley Golf at its purest and most convenient. Nestled within the town's luxurious residential fabric, Camelback Golf Club is as local as it gets, yet its dual-course setup offers enough variety to satisfy players across the Valley.

The Ambiente Course lives up to its name (Spanish for “environment”), presenting an eco-forward design filled with native grasses and visual layers that reward creative shots. It’s the kind of course that forces you to think through every club selection and leaves you with at least three holes to replay in your mind over dinner.

The Padre Course offers an entirely different rhythm. Its layout is more traditional, with gently contoured fairways, lush tree canopies, and a design that feels more relaxed without ever being boring. It’s a go-to for casual rounds, client meetings, and anyone looking to focus on tempo rather than brute force.

Both courses are well-maintained, and the property features modern amenities, including a full-service clubhouse and a professional-grade Paradise Valley golf course driving range that’s popular with locals looking to fine-tune their swings.

This club is often the first thing clients mention when inquiring about golf course homes in Paradise Valley. From the course quality to its proximity to our listings, it checks all the boxes for lifestyle-driven buyers.

3. The Phoenician Golf Club

The Phoenician Golf Club delivers a curated 18-hole experience that mirrors the resort's elegance. Located at the base of Camelback Mountain, the course weaves through rolling terrain, sculpted water features, and desert flora.

Architect Phil Smith redesigned the routing in 2018. The result was a smoother, more intuitive round that flows better from start to finish.

Gone are the 27 older holes; in their place, a single championship-caliber loop that challenges low handicaps while staying playable for resort guests. Add in the elevated tee boxes, pristine green complexes, and lightning-fast putting surfaces, and you’ve got a playable and polished course.

It’s also one of the few Paradise Valley golf courses where the luxury off-course matches the play on it.

Think high-end locker rooms, modern carts with GPS, and a clubhouse experience that feels more like a boutique hotel than a pro shop.

We frequently work with clients drawn to the Phoenician lifestyle, looking for a blend of five-star service and private-home tranquility. This lifestyle is a natural match for buyers seeking refined, low-maintenance luxury near the fairways.

4. Paradise Valley Country Club

If “understated elegance” were materialized as a golf course, it would be Paradise Valley Country Club.

This private club is steeped in tradition. Established in 1953, it remains one of Arizona’s most exclusive golfing destinations, known for its timeless layout and high-level membership experience.

The course is a throwback in the best way: walkable routing, subtle elevation shifts, and mature shade trees that line nearly every hole. The fairways are generous, but the greens are where the course defends itself, fast, sloping, and nuanced.

It’s the kind of layout that keeps members engaged for decades.

Set against Camelback’s iconic profile, the club offers a one-of-a-kind rhythm. There’s no rush here, no stacked tee sheets. Instead, there’s a culture built around quality, relationships, and respect for the game. It’s exclusive without the ego.

5. Talking Stick Golf Club, O’odham & Piipaash Courses

Owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and designed by the legendary Coore and Crenshaw duo, Talking Stick Golf Club doesn’t try to impress with flash. It effortlessly wins with substance.

The iconic course has two 18-hole layouts: O’odham, an actual links-style track with broad fairways and strategic bunkering, and Piipaash, which traditionally features tree-lined holes and subtle elevation shifts.

What sets this place apart is its purity. There are no homes lining the fairways, no towering resort buildings breaking the skyline, just sky, turf, and strategy. It’s a rare public facility with a private-course feel.

6. Westin Kierland Golf Club

The Westin Kierland Golf Club offers 27 holes and provides a top-tier golfing experience. Located in North Scottsdale and surrounded by upscale shopping, restaurants, and resorts, this golf destination feels more like a luxury campus than a traditional club.

And the golf? It’s accessible, creative, and undeniably fun.

Each of the three nine-hole layouts (Acacia, Mesquite, and Ironwood) can be mixed and matched, giving players multiple ways to build their round. The design encourages aggressive play, with wide fairways, elevated greens, and enough visual flair to keep things interesting.

But what really sets Kierland apart is how it embraces modern golf culture. Climate-controlled carts, music-compatible GPS, and bagpipers sending you off at sunset are theatrical without being over-the-top, especially when paired with resort amenities at the adjacent Westin.

We often recommend Kierland to clients buying at Optima Kierland, where resort-style condo living pairs perfectly with year-round access to vibrant golf and dining.

7. Arizona Country Club

Arizona Country Club remains a well-kept secret among golf purists. It is tucked into the lush corridor between Arcadia and Paradise Valley.

This private, member-owned club has maintained its prestige by doing things quietly. It’s a favorite among longtime residents, athletes, and professionals who prefer quality over clout.

The course is a classic parkland-style layout framed by mature trees and subtle water hazards. Walkability is a major plus here, as is the pace of play, which is efficient but never rushed. The fairways are generous, but the approach shots and greens demand finesse.

Off the course, the club caters to those with kids, offering an inclusive, engaging environment with updated facilities and a laid-back sense of elegance. Clients eyeing Arcadia–Paradise Valley properties frequently mention the Arizona Country Club.

It’s a club for those who know the scene and don’t need to prove it.

8. Papago Golf Club

Papago Golf Club might be the best value play in the Greater Phoenix area. Once a sleepy municipal track, it's become a must-play course for anyone serious about quality golf on a public-access layout.

Framed by the dramatic red rocks of the Papago Buttes, the course delivers wide-open fairways, bold bunkering, and a no-frills approach that lets the landscape shine.

It’s also home base for the Arizona State University golf teams, which tells you something about its quality. Conditioning is excellent year-round, and while the greens are large, they’re tiered and fast, inviting three-putts if you’re careless.

This course pairs well with buyers looking just south of PV or interested in properties offering quick access to downtown while still enjoying mountain views.

9. Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, Estates & Links Courses

Few courses in Arizona combine history, design, and high-end proximity like the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club.

Situated adjacent to the iconic Biltmore Resort, this club has two distinct 18-hole tracks: The Estates, with its mature trees and classic doglegs, and The Links, which plays longer, faster, and more open.

Both courses maintain that mid-century Palm Springs feel, timeless but never outdated.

Recently refreshed, the club offers modern amenities, updated practice facilities, and a laid-back clubhouse that feels more like a private enclave than a public facility. This course often seals the deal for buyers exploring Biltmore-adjacent neighborhoods or lock-and-leave properties.

It's one of the Valley’s most reliable lifestyle anchors.

10. Mountain Shadows, The Short Course

Mountain Shadows’ Short Course is a par-3 layout, but don’t expect a pushover. With sleek architecture, precision-required tee shots, and postcard-worthy Camelback Mountain views, this 18-hole experience is about dialing in your short game under pressure.

Designed by Forrest Richardson as a tribute to the original 1961 course on the site, each hole is unique, and rounds are brisk but memorable. It’s become a local favorite for early-morning sessions, late-afternoon loops, or even competitive matches among scratch players.

And then there’s the setting, nestled within one of Paradise Valley’s most visually stunning pockets. The mountain practically casts a shadow on every green, and the area offers truly breathtaking views.

Ideally situated near Desert Highlands, this course is a huge lifestyle plus for buyers who want luxury homes with a low-key, golf-focused rhythm.

11. Stonecreek Golf Club

Stonecreek Gold Club flies under the radar, and that’s precisely the point. Tucked just east of Paradise Valley, this semi-private course is the go-to for locals who care more about turf quality than trendy clubhouses.

The Roy Dye design mixes just enough trouble (tight doglegs, water carries, and elevated greens) to keep you honest.

The routing rewards clever play. The greens hold speed. Fairways stay sharp, even in the dead heat.

No bloated tee sheets. No fluff. Just a course that delivers, round after round. If you know, you know. And if you don’t? You will.

12. McCormick Ranch Golf Club

McCormick Ranch is Scottsdale golf with a backbone. Two 18s, Palm and Pine, offer wildly different rounds without ever leaving the property.

Palm has lakes, oversized greens, and enough risk-reward to keep it spicy. Pine tightens things up with narrow corridors and classic parkland angles that punish the lazy swing.

It’s all framed by Camelback views and a layout that favors walkers and grinders. The vibe’s old-school, the conditions are clean, and the crowd? Mostly regulars who want options without the overhead.

If Paradise Valley had a casual cousin that still knew how to hit fairways, this would be it.

Conclusion

When it comes to teeing up in style, the Paradise Valley golf course landscape offers a curated mix of challenge, beauty, and lifestyle.

Whether you're seeking the strategic layouts of Talking Stick, the prestige of Paradise Valley Country Club, or the resort polish of Kierland and Camelback, each course on this list delivers something memorable.

Thank you for stopping by the LUXE BLOG. If you found this guide helpful, feel free to bookmark it. We always share up-to-date insights on Greater Phoenix’s evolving lifestyle and luxury real estate scene, from new communities to behind-the-scenes intel.

Questions? We're here to share what we know, not pitch what we sell. Get in touch.