Arizona Golf in Spring
Spring is Arizona golf at its peak. March and April bring warm, dry days, blue skies and desert fairways in tournament condition after the winter overseed, before the heat of May sends the rates tumbling. These are the eight courses and areas we would book for a spring trip to the Grand Canyon State, ranked with the weather window, the design and indicative 2026 fees.
Photograph: Troon North Golf Club, Scottsdale, via Google
Why spring is the season
Arizona is the gold standard for warm weather golf in North America, and spring is when it is at its absolute best. From March into early May the Phoenix and Scottsdale valley delivers daytime highs in the mid 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit, dry air, firm target fairways and greens rolling fast after the winter overseed has matured. It is the tail of the long peak season that runs from January, and it threads a fine needle: the conditions of high winter without the chill of a January morning. March still carries peak pricing and the busiest tee sheets, but by April and May rates ease and availability opens up, just as the desert begins to warm.
We ranked these eight on the quality of the golf, the reliability of the spring weather and the ease of building a trip around them. The heart of the list is the Scottsdale and north Phoenix corridor, where the marquee resort courses sit within a short drive of one another, with Tucson, the high country around Sedona and Flagstaff, and the standalone destination courses adding range. For a fuller view of the region, see our guide to the best golf courses in Arizona and Scottsdale.
The 8 best Arizona courses to play in spring
Troon North, Scottsdale
The signature Scottsdale desert experience and our top spring pick. Two Tom Weiskopf courses, the Monument and the Pinnacle, thread through boulder fields and saguaro forest with no houses and no noise, just pure Sonoran golf. The slightly higher elevation in north Scottsdale keeps it a few degrees cooler, and in spring the conditions are immaculate. It is also one of the first to sell out, so book early.
TPC Scottsdale, Stadium Course
Home of the raucous WM Phoenix Open and its famous stadium par 3 sixteenth, the Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish Stadium Course is the bucket list round of any Scottsdale trip. Play it in March and you walk the same firm fairways the tour played weeks earlier, with the grandstands barely down. It is the busiest and dearest tee time in the valley in spring, and worth the planning.
We-Ko-Pa, Saguaro and Cholla
On tribal land at Fort McDowell, We-Ko-Pa offers two of the purest desert courses anywhere, with no homes on either. The Saguaro, a Coore and Crenshaw design, is a wide, walkable, strategic gem, while the Scott Miller Cholla is the longer, more dramatic test. In spring it feels like a private escape, pristine fairways under big mountain backdrops, and it pairs beautifully with the Scottsdale courses nearby.
Grayhawk, Raptor and Talon
A polished, central north Scottsdale resort with two strong eighteens, the Tom Fazio Raptor and the David Graham and Gary Panks Talon, the longtime home of a major college championship. Slightly higher and a touch cooler than the valley floor, Grayhawk is a reliable, well conditioned spring round with a first class clubhouse, and an easy base from which to play the wider Scottsdale circuit.
The Boulders, North and South
Up in Carefree, the two Jay Morrish courses at The Boulders wind among the giant weathered rock formations that give the resort its name, some of the most photogenic desert golf in the state. The setting is sublime in the clear spring light, the conditioning excellent, and the adobe resort one of the most relaxing bases in the area, a fine choice for a couple as much as a golf group.
Quintero, Peoria
Out beyond the northwest valley near Peoria, Quintero is the connoisseur's day trip, a remote Tom Weiskopf course routed through rugged high desert with sweeping mountain vistas and almost no development in sight. It plays firmer and quieter than the Scottsdale resorts and ranks among the best in the state, a memorable spring round for the golfer willing to drive a little for solitude and scale.
Tucson, La Paloma and Ventana Canyon
Two hours south, Tucson is the quieter, often cheaper spring alternative, set against the Santa Catalina Mountains. The Jack Nicklaus courses at La Paloma and the Tom Fazio Mountain and Canyon courses at Ventana Canyon deliver dramatic desert golf with a different backdrop, and the city stays a touch milder. A good base for the golfer who wants the Sonoran experience away from the Scottsdale crowds.
Sedona and Flagstaff high country
For late spring, when the desert floor is heating up, head north to the high country. Sedona's red rock setting and the pine framed courses around Flagstaff sit well above the valley and stay comfortable into May and beyond. The scenery is a complete change from the Sonoran desert, and the cool air a relief, making this the smart pick to extend an Arizona golf trip as the season turns.
Designers, hosting history and seasonal weather verified June 2026 from course and Arizona golf sources. Conditions and green fees vary year to year and are highest in the winter and early spring peak, so always confirm current rates and tee times directly before booking. Check Arizona spring tee time availability.
Plan your Arizona spring golf trip
Tell us which courses appeal and roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge matches the route to your group, holds the marquee Scottsdale tee times and the resort rooms, and costs it to the head. Spring dates go early, so the sooner we start the better, with no obligation.
Arizona spring golf questions
Is spring a good time to play golf in Arizona?
Spring is one of the best times of the year to play golf in Arizona. March and April bring warm, dry days in the mid 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit, courses in tournament condition after the winter overseed, and blue desert skies. March still carries peak season pricing, but by April and May rates begin to ease and tee times open up before the summer heat arrives. Always confirm current fees and tee times directly before booking.
What are the best Arizona golf courses to play in spring?
For a spring trip we would build around Troon North, TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course, We-Ko-Pa and Grayhawk in the Scottsdale and Phoenix area, all at their firm, fast best in March and April. The Boulders, Quintero, the Tucson resort courses at La Paloma and Ventana Canyon, and the cooler high country around Sedona and Flagstaff round out a strong cast. Book the marquee Scottsdale tee times early. Always confirm current rates directly before booking.
How hot does Arizona get for golf in late spring?
The desert warms quickly through spring. March and April are comfortable in the mid 70s to low 80s, but by May the Phoenix and Scottsdale valley pushes into the 90s and rates fall as the season winds down. For May golf, play early in the day or head north to the cooler high country around Sedona and Flagstaff, which stays pleasant as the desert heats up. Always confirm current conditions before booking.
Do you need to book Scottsdale spring tee times in advance?
Yes. Premium tee times at TPC Scottsdale, Troon North and We-Ko-Pa often sell out weeks and sometimes months ahead in the spring peak, especially for Friday and Saturday rounds. March is the busiest and dearest stretch, so book the marquee courses as early as you can and keep midweek flexibility. Always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Seasonal weather windows and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.