The Best Desert Golf Courses in the USA

By Rick Woelfel

Golf in the desert of the American West and Southwest is an architectural and agronomic marvel. Advances in technology, including the use of recycled water, have led to enhanced designs and playing conditions for golfers of all ability levels.

No list of desert destinations could be considered complete but here are some venues that attracted our attention.

Shadow Creek Golf Course, Las Vegas, Nevada

Shadow Creek Golf Club

First opened for play in 1990 and designed by Tom Fazio, Shadow Creek, which is open to MGM Resorts guests, is home to the Bank of Hope-LPGA Match Play. Visitors are treated as honored guests and are treated to some spectacular views but be advised, the green fees are some of the highest to be found anywhere in America.

Those who accept the challenge will get a stiff test. The layout, which underwent a renovation in 2008, can be stretched to a mammoth 7,560 yards for PGA Tour-level events. Shadow Creek hosted the PGA Tour’s Cup in 2020 and the recent intertour challenge featuring Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Bryson Dechambeau, and Brooks Koepka.

Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California

Mission Hills Country Club

If you appreciate the history of women’s golf, Mission Hills Country Club should be on your bucket list. The Dinah Shore Tournament Course, designed by Desmond Muirhead and open for play since 1971, was the longtime home of ‘The Dinah’, the LPGA Tour’s signature event. The celebrated Par-5 18th hole has been the scene of some of the most memorable events in the history of women’s golf.

The LPGA Tour left after 2022 and was replaced by a PGA Tour Champions event. The layout features five sets of tees, ranging from 5,679 to 7,250 yards to accommodate golfers of all ability levels (par is 72). The private club features two other golf courses, one designed by Arnold Palmer and the other by Pete Dye.

Desert Willow Golf Resort, Palm Desert, California

Desert Willow golf

The Firecliff Course is the most challenging of the two. It maxes out at 7,076 yards from the deepest of six sets of tees and plays to a par of 72. Its defenses include an abundance of water and over 100 bunkers.

Its companion course, Mountain View, plays to a maximum of 6,917 yards and includes five sets of tees. Both courses are the work of the design tandem of Dr. Michael Hurzdan and Dana Fry.

PGA West Stadium Course, LaQuinta, California

PGA West offers an abundance for the traveling golfer, but the Pete Dye Stadium Course is the most celebrated of all. First opened in 1986, the course was recently renovated by architect Tim Liddy who restored much of Dye’s original work.

The Stadium Course has hosted the PGA Tour’s Desert Classic since 2016 (it also hosted the event in 1987). Amateur Nick Dunlap won the event last year, making him the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since 1991.

There are six sets of tees here, all of which are rated and sloped for both men and women. The layout can be stretched to 7,300 yards (par is 72) but can play as short as 4,084 yards.

Wolf Creek Golf Club, Mesquite, Nevada

Wolf Creek Golf Club

Situated a good hour’s drive northeast of Las Vegas, Wolf Creek, which opened for play in 2000, offers a quality golf experience in a setting that’s more laid back than further south.

Architect Dennis Rider and his team carved, or to be more precise, blasted this course out of the surrounding mountains and the course winds its way through a series of red rock canyons, creating some spectacular views. Open to the public, Wolf Creek features six sets of tees and plays anywhere from 4,101 to 6,939 yards with a par of 72. Visitors are advised to choose their tees carefully.

Coral Canyon Golf Club, St. George, Utah

Coral Canyon Golf Club

Located 120 miles northeast of Las Vegas and designed by architect Keith Foster, it plays anywhere from 5,052 to 7,200 yards with a par of 72.

The layout offers some memorable views and, for the newcomer, an authentic experience in what desert golf is all about. Recent upgrades have included enhanced bunkering, new cart paths, and a state-of-the-art irrigation system which in turn has resulted in upgraded turf conditions.

TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course, Arizona

TPC Scotsdale Stadium Course

Most golf fans are familiar with this layout. Designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish and opened for play in 1986 (renovated in 2014), TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course hosts the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open each February. The par-3 16th epitomizes the stadium golf experience.

The course is open to the public for the rest of the year, allowing recreational golfers to test their skills. It can play anywhere from 5,464 to 7,261 yards, offering flexibility for all levels of play.

Grayhawk Golf Club, Scottsdale, Arizona

Grayhawk Golf Club

For three decades now, Grayhawk has provided visitors to Scottsdale with a premium golfing experience. The Talon Course, opened in 1994, was designed by Australian David Graham and architect Gary Panks. Four sets of tees give golfers options from 5,143 to 6,972 yards (par 72).

The Raptor Course, opened in 1995, is the work of Tom Fazio. It also plays to a par of 72 and features four sets of tees measuring from 5,175 to 7,221 yards. Combination tees offer additional options as well.

Scottsdale National Golf Club, Arizona

This private facility, Scottsdale National, may be the ultimate locale for the golfer looking to get away from it all.

Visitors are treated to a PXG club fitting and building experience, along with luxury dining. The Mine Shaft Course is the original layout, first opened in 2003. It features six sets of tees measuring from 4,699 to 7,579 yards (par 72). The course is mostly flat except for a four-hole uphill stretch.

The Other Course, opened in 2012, is considered more forgiving. It features six sets of tees ranging from 4,650 to 7,165 yards, with a par of 72.