Phoenix golf is some of the best in the country, and during the winter season, many northerners leave their cold climates behind to enjoy a golf vacation in the Sonoran Desert. On a Phoenix golf vacation, it is always possible to stay at one of the numerous area golf resorts. There are more than 200 golf courses to choose from in the region, which essentially makes every regional hotel a good golfing base. When it comes to the best golf courses in Phoenix, the rates are relatively high, and this is due to the quality of the overall experience. The desert terrain and surrounding mountains make for a truly unique setting, and thanks to modern-day technology, the fairways and greens stay healthy. The Scottsdale golf courses boast some of the best scenery, thanks in part to the scenic McDowell Mountains.

The Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa offers 54 championship golf holes, making it the largest golf resort in the state. Other good golf resorts that are within relatively easy reach of Downtown Phoenix are the landmark Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa and the lesser known Orange Tree Golf Resort in nearby Scottsdale. Word is getting out about the latter, while the former has been a top place to stay and play in the Phoenix area for decades.

A Waldorf Astoria resort, The Boulders boasts two immaculate courses that easily figure among the best courses in the Valley of the Sun. Boulders, cacti, and mountains combine to set a most dramatic stage, and the fairways and greens are absolutely stunning. Winter and spring are the peak Phoenix golf seasons, and it can be especially hard to get a tee time at top rated courses such as those that The Boulder offers. For guests at the golf resorts, however, special golfing privileges are often enjoyed.

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Since Phoenix is so close to Scottsdale, many golfing enthusiasts who are visiting the area choose to base themselves at one of the many excellent Scottsdale golf resorts. In addition to the The Boulders, those who are looking for good golf resorts can also consider the Four Seasons. This luxurious Scottsdale retreat has an enviable partnership with the Troon North Golf Club, where two of the finest desert golf courses on the face of the earth figure among the facilities. One of the best things about the Troon North Golf Club is that it limits the number of people that can be on the courses at any given time. Another thing that helps to make these two amazing courses so favorable is the fact that they offer five different tee boxes on each and every hole. This allows golfers to find a yardage that suits their game.

There are many excellent golf courses in nearby Scottsdale that are not to be ignored when planning a Phoenix golf vacation. One of the most renowned is the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale. Every year, this outstanding course hosts the Phoenix Open, which is one of the most exciting tournaments on the PGA schedule. When the pros aren't in town, you can hope to get a tee time on the famed Stadium Course, or you can save some money and try to play the cheaper Champions Course. The latter is a municipal course, which helps to keep the rates in relative check.

When it comes to naming the best golf courses in Phoenix, there are tons of good ones to consider. Just south of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, for example, the Arizona Grand Resort offers a fine course that winds its way through a desert preserve, and excellent golf vacation packages are available for those who are interested in booking a room. One of the other courses that deserves inclusion on a list of best golf courses in Phoenix is the Papago Golf Course. This course at beautiful Papago Park is arguably one of the best municipal golf courses in the entire country, and that hasn't been lost on locals and golf tournament planners. For some time, the Papago Golf Course hosted local amateur tournaments, and it continues to host the LPGA's Phoenix Invitational.

Phoenix golf is relatively expensive on the whole, especially during the peak winter and spring seasons. As such, the area municipal courses are worth keeping in mind, as they offer some of the lowest rates around. Good municipal courses that can help golfers save money on a Phoenix golf vacation are the Encanto Golf Course and the Cave Creek Golf Course. The former is one of the oldest golf courses in the state, and thanks to its location near Downtown Phoenix, the city views from the course are splendid. As for the Cave Creek Golf Course, it is the most popular of the Phoenix municipal courses, partly because of its friendly fairways and its reasonable rates.

When planning a Phoenix golf vacation, it is a good idea to arrange everything as far in advance as possible. The area courses, especially those that figure among the best, can be hard to get tee times at regardless of when you choose to book a round, and it only gets harder the longer you wait. Even if you are planning on staying at one of the area golf resorts, it is a good idea to book tee times as soon as possible to make sure you don't get hung out to dry once you arrive. As a side note, tee times are much easier to come by in the summer, thanks to the high heat, and they are also cheaper during this local golfing off season.