Best golf in Northern Arizona

[exgolfpro]

Hey guys, I usually hang out in the Midwest folder, but have a question regarding golf in northern arizona. My wife and I are considering a trip to Sedona next summer. My wife does not golf, but I would like to add a few courses if possible. I would rather play something memorable and nice. Ive done a little research and see that most of the really nice places are private. It it possible to get on any of them? Forest Highlands? The Rim? GC at Chaparral Pines? Pine Canyon? If not, are there any that you guys would recommend as a nice place to play? Lets just assume I am willing to drive anywhere in northern arizona and cost is no issue. What you got?

[az2au]

There are zero truly good public courses in Northern AZ. Oak Creek is not bad. Sedona Golf Resort and Elephant Rock are right behind it (If someone has a strong opinion that any of those three are better than the others, fine, I don't and haven't played any of them in probably 12 years or so). Stoneridge is pretty but it is an absolutely terrible design. Antelope Hills is nothing special either. Wickenburg Ranch is a fun drive if you don't take the interstate but it isn't in Northern AZ. It is however significantly better than any of the public courses I listed above. I mean, like, in a different league better.

Private Clubs in Northern AZ ranking (az2au's opinion only):

Pine CanyonThe RimForest Highlands-CanyonCapital Canyon (starts to go down a bit here)Talking RockForest Highlands-MeadowTorreon-Tower (I think, I'll be honest, I get these two mixed up but they're close enough)Flagstaff RanchTorreon-Cabin (the original one is slightly better IMO, can't ever remember which one is which though)Chaparral PinesPrescott LakesSeven Canyons (very pretty, not a very good golf course)PinewoodI don't really know how hard it is to get on these because I have reciprocal arrangements in some way with each. My guess is that you're not getting on Pine Canyon (even with full reciprocal we have to take a forecaddie) or Forest Highlands without connections. The others should be considerably easier. There are few more up there that I haven't played as well. We usually play at Pine Canyon 1-2 times every summer and The Rim 1-2 times as well. The rest just aren't worth trekking up there consistently (to me). Not saying that they aren't good courses, they are, just not worth the full day commitment and coordination required.

[jggerard9]

Like az2au mentioned all of the good courses in that area are private, the only course I would recommend playing up there that is not private is Oak Creek Country Club in Sedona. I have never played the resort course in Sedona but I have heard that it is pretty good. You might be able to get on at Seven Canyons and it has some amazing views and backdrops but the course is very goofy, Sedona is probably your best bet if you are looking to play golf. My brother is the Assistant Pro at Chaparral Pines and they do not allow guest play unless accompanied by a member and the same goes for the Rim.

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

https://www.pinecanyon.net/discovery-visit/

[toypor]

Where would you put Pinetop CC and White Mountain CC into your ranking?

[az2au]

I've never played White Mountain but I have played Pinetop and totally forgot about it. So, not too high :). From what I remember it was a fun, average course so somewhere outside the top 10 but right around there. My memory of it is definitely not strong enough to make that a solid ranking.

[vallygolf]

White Mountain CC is a classic 1950's course. It is well maintained and a really good layout. Best club in the Pinetop area by far. I prefer Silvercreek GC and both Torreon courses if Im up there. Depending on the season I may try to get on out at WMCC (It is cooler and in the tall trees). I really like @az2au's rankings. Pine Canyon is one of my top 5 courses ever. Great combination of elevation, variation, esthetics, design and conditioning. Not long, but you have to keep it in play. I would put WMCC near 11-12 on az2au's list. I would put Silvercreek near Chaparral Pines, although it is a totally different beast. If you catch Silvercreek with firm conditions and the greens speeds are up (which happens frequently) it is one of the most fun rounds to be had anywhere.

As far as the OP's desire to play private courses. If you go to the White Mountains and Rent a cabin at Torreon you can have access to both courses there. Both are worthwhile as noted above. There are also some decent public options there (These are farther away from Phoenix than Sedona, but I like this area alot). Pine Canyon is going to be the most difficult to get on then the Forest Highland courses. Chaparral pines and the Rim are the most accomodating to outside play and depending on a home club you may be able to get on with a phone call.

[toypor]

Thanks for the insight both. I have only played Torreon Cabin and Silver Creek in the White Mountain area. Thought both were quite a bit of fun. I’ve heard some good things about WMCC and PCC so curious how they stacked up in your opinion... very highly respected for both of you : ) At some point I wouldn’t mind considering a summer place in the mountains and a fun course is required! I think WMCC is very walkable which is a plus.

[596]

I lived in Sedona for 8 years. My favorite course was Sedona Golf Resort in the Village of Oak Creek. Greens are fast and quite sloped. 7 canyons is a course with post card views on every hole. Some holes are a bit funky as the course is fit into a tight canyon, thus the gorgeous views. If you are 5 yards off the fairway you are in the desert and may not find your ball. The greens are very sloped and very fast. I've had a few approaches to the middle of the green that ended up off the green down a hill. Oak Creek Country Club is a nice course, older then the rest. It's tighter then most of the others and very busy. A little known course is Verde Santa Fe in Cottonwood, just west of Sedona. Great course, nice people, fun to play. Greens are large, were always perfect, but not as fast as the rest.

I lived near 7 canyons. The golf pro was my B&B managers husband.

[az2au]

I thought I at least knew about every course in the state but I'd never heard of that one. It is now called Agave Highlands instead of Verde Santa Fe in case anyone else is looking for it.

[Bonneville85308]

I played it last fall, and have never met anyone who had ever heard of it either, both under the current and previous name. The course runs through a housing development just east of Cottonwood, but has a few interesting holes that make you think (mainly on the back nine), is easy to walk, cheap (think I paid $45 to walk on a weekend morning?), and usually not crowded. Also I believe it has zero sand bunkers on the entire course. Basically a locals course but a good place to go out and hit the ball on a budget if one finds the Sedona GC/OakCreek rates too pricey. Apparently it had been in rough condition a few years ago, but then changed ownership and the new owners have been bringing it back. The greens were in really nice condition for a budget course when I played last fall. I think the course was a few weeks out of overseed at the time.

[596]

Many many moons ago, at least prior to 2006 , they filled all the bunkers and made them grass bunkers to save money. If you look close at the pic above, that green used to have bunkers on the right and left. It's a fun course to play. I never needed a tee time which was nice.

[1puttTUT]

I am mulling the same decisions for when I'm in Flag for work later this summer. I've already played SGR, Oak Canyon, 7 canyons, Stoneridge in Prescott and Elephant rocks multiple times. I've also played the Rim. If staying in Sedona, I'd say SGR is your best bet for combination of price/conditions/views/location. I found Oak Canyon frustrating. It's super narrow and fairly short. I also remember quite a few dogleg left holes, and being a lefty that draws the ball, I was forced to lay way back. Some people might like it though. It does have a chill and old school vibe and it was pretty lush when I was there.

Elephant rocks is worth a play if it's too hot everywhere else. It's always breezy there for some reason and it's at like 7k feet. These factors can make it pretty challenging if you're not used to those things.

Seven Canyons is cool to play once, but not worth the $160 for regular play. I want to say SGR is half that or even less if you play twilight and the views are very similar.

I really enjoyed The Rim, it's a very unique course and we almost had the place to ourselves. Everyone there was also super friendly and made you feel welcome. That's a place I could join if I lived in the area. Unfortunately it's quite a hike from Flag or Sedona.

Stoneridge in Prescott gets murdered for the quirky design, but it's pretty fun to play once you accept that. I think they have GPS on the carts now, which helps. It's also quite a drive from Sedona or Flag. I usually play it the day I drive dowm from Flag, on my way to Scottsdale.

For the life of me I can't understand why Flagstaff doesn't have any golf resorts. I know it's where people go to escape the heat in the summer, and not everyone that goes up there has a 2nd home or a private membership. For us here in Michigan, the northern part of our state is exactly that: where we go to beat the heat in the summer, and it's literally teaming with amazing public golf options and huge resorts with multiple championship courses. I feel like something like that would kill in Flag. Maybe the developers there have the valley mindset and think anything less than year-round golf won't profit, but we only have a solid 6 month season up there and it does just fine.

Sorry for the long-winded post...hopefully someone finds this useful!

[fore_life]

The little America inn in flagstaff was supposed to build a golf course on the adjacent property but the locals shut it down https://azdailysun.com/news/local/massive-little-america-expansion-on-track/article_7d719d78-3d47-11e3-9013-0019bb2963f4.amp.html

[1puttTUT]

Damn hippies!

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

I’m thinking of going up to show low for the first time tomorrow for 1 night. Is Torreón significantly better than silver creek? Is Torreón tough to get on?

[puttnforthe8]

Torreon is light years better than SC!!!! It can be tough to get on - but they may not be taking outside play yet. I was supposed to play there and Pine Canyon in Flag too, but both indicated no outside play as of a few weeks ago - and I imagine with the spike, it is remains.

 

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

I don’t blame them. Ok thanks

[toypor]

My experience is limited with only 1 round at Torreon (Cabin) and 1 round at Silver Creek... But I will offer a bit different opinion... While I totally agree Torreon is better, I would not say “light years”. Amenities and ambiance at Torreon are light years better, but from a design and fun factor perspective, I think SC is not that far behind. I think one of the “issues” is that Torreon has more elevation change and is in the tall pines whereas SC is flatter and not in the trees. So it is not quite like the “total escape” from desert golf you get at Torreon, which is refreshing. Playing conditions overall were excellent at both when I played, but SC was a bit rough around the edges and Torreon was pristine. I don’t think you would regret playing SC if Torreon isn’t an option.

[toypor]

Did you make the trip?

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Yes thinking of playing silver creek today. I called and he said $18 to walk (Just the cart fee) or $50 to ride. I brought my push cart!

i haven’t heard back from Torreon. Rim is not allowing outside guest play

[toypor]

$18 is a steal! Would love to hear your thoughts If decided to play.

[fore_life]

I love silver reek and $18 it’s bonkers, looks like it’s time for a road trip! Might actually just sleep in my car at silver creek lol

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Silver Creek was excellent thanks for the recommendation. I walked it under 3 hours. Friendly staff, not busy. On the 17th tee I called in a sandwich to go. Good greens. Great value. Hidden gem.

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Silver creek was course #88 for me in AZ. I’d rank it in the top 1/3.

 

man was it windy!

[vallygolf]

Yeah, Silvercreek is worth the drive, even if it is a bit rough around the edges. April-July winds in the White Mountains are brutal. Im always looking for a way to get up there and play Torreon and SC.

[puttnforthe8]

Well, if they open to the public this season I will let you know and you can come up with me - we can see if others want to join. If not next year.

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

What makes silver creek rough around the edges? I liked the relatively firm conditions (for AZ), small clubhouse, lack of cart paths and gravel parking lot. All that really matters to me is interesting, strategic, and varied golf.

one minor complaint is the green to next tee walks were kind of long and the routing didn’t change direction frequently enough for a windy site (see shinnecock hills). But for $17 I dont care.

[AzSuperHack76]

I don’t think either course at Torreón is light years better than Silver Creek. Condition wise and amenities, sure, Torreón is defiantly ahead of the game there. I think Panks designed a gem of a course in Silver Creek. In my opinion its design holds its own to either course at Torreón. Panks courses are just good, solid and fun to play courses. Maybe I’m a little biased due to being such a Panks fan.

 

Usually Torreón isn’t hard at all to get on, just book a Golf Villa, info is on their website. Not sure if the golf villas are open right now though with the C19 stuff going on.

[vallygolf]

Agree completley, you describe perfectly the "rough part. When those greens are firm and fast that is one of the most fun courses around to play. Fantastic risk/reward holes.