Ak-Chin Southern Dunes
A bold, big shouldered desert course south of Phoenix, designed by Schmidt-Curley with Fred Couples and built to evoke the great sandbelt links, all imported trees, blowout bunkers and room to swing.
Photo: Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes is one of the most distinctive public courses in the Phoenix area, a sweeping desert links that trades the usual target golf for width, movement and an avalanche of bunkers. Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley designed it with PGA Tour star Fred Couples as consultant, and it opened in 2002 with a clear ambition: to bring the look and feel of the Australian sandbelt to the Sonoran Desert.
The result stretches to a muscular 7,546 yards from the tips, yet it never feels cramped, because the fairways are generous and the trouble is mostly visible and strategic rather than penal. Owned by the Ak-Chin Indian Community and operated to a high standard, it is one of the best value premium rounds in the Valley and a regular on Arizona's best public lists. For the traveling golfer it offers a different flavor from the resort target courses to the north.
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 2002
- Designer
- Schmidt-Curley
- Type
- Desert links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,546 yards
- Green fee
- From about 70 dollars
Designer and details verified June 2026: Ak-Chin Southern Dunes was designed by Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley Design with Fred Couples as lead consultant, opening in 2002. It plays to a par 72 and stretches to about 7,546 yards from the championship tees, with more than 100 bunkers. Indicative green fees from roughly 70 dollars in summer to about 189 dollars in winter peak reflect 2026 rates and change by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The course makes its statement early with width off the tee and bunkering everywhere, from cavernous fairway blowouts to ragged greenside traps that recall the sandbelt courses it was modeled on. The imported eucalyptus and pepper trees, drought hardy and unusual for the desert, complete the illusion and give the property a character all its own.
Length is real here, and the back tees ask for both power and control, but multiple tee boxes keep it playable for every level. The par 5s tempt the long hitter, the par 3s are strong and varied, and the greens are large, firm and full of subtle movement. Smart players plot their way around the bunkers rather than fighting them.
It is a course that rewards a second look, because the strategy is not always obvious from the tee. Conditioning is consistently good, the pace is genuine resort quality, and the value relative to the marquee desert names makes it a staple of a well planned Phoenix golf trip.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public, daily fee; open to visitors, owned by the Ak-Chin Indian Community |
| Green fee | From about 70 dollars in summer to about 189 dollars in winter peak, indicative 2026; rates vary by season and demand |
| Booking | Book online or through the course; winter and spring are the busy, premium season, so reserve ahead |
| On the day | Cart golf standard; multiple tees from forward to 7,546 yards; resort dress |
| Getting there | In Maricopa, about 45 minutes south of Phoenix Sky Harbor airport (PHX) |
| Best months | October to May; winter and spring are prime, summer is hot but well priced |
Access and fees verified June 2026; daily fee pricing changes by season and year, so always confirm current rates and tee time availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Maricopa sits south of the main Phoenix and Scottsdale hotel corridor, so most visitors base themselves in Chandler, Gilbert or Scottsdale and make the easy drive south for a round. Nearby resort and casino lodging serves players who want to stay close to the first tee.
As part of a Valley golf trip, Southern Dunes pairs well with the desert resort courses to the north, from Wildfire Golf Club at Desert Ridge to the granite framed golf at The Boulders North Course in Carefree.
Looking for a base nearby? See our recommended hotels and resorts.
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We arrange tee times at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes and across the best of the Phoenix desert courses, then book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes questions
Who designed Ak-Chin Southern Dunes?
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes was designed by Schmidt-Curley Design, the team of Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley, with PGA Tour star Fred Couples as lead consultant. It opened in 2002 and was built to evoke the Australian sandbelt.
How long is Ak-Chin Southern Dunes?
It is a par 72 that stretches to about 7,546 yards from the championship tees, with more than 100 bunkers. Multiple tee boxes keep it playable for every level despite the length.
Is Ak-Chin Southern Dunes open to the public?
Yes. It is a public daily fee course owned by the Ak-Chin Indian Community, and is considered one of the better value premium rounds in the Phoenix area.
How much does it cost to play Ak-Chin Southern Dunes?
Indicative green fees run from about 70 US dollars in summer to about 189 dollars in the winter peak season. Rates change by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, consultant, opening year and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.