Florida vs Arizona for Golf
The two great winter golf states of the American Sun Belt, and a genuine choice for a buddies trip. Florida offers the most courses in the country, marquee championship venues and the beach. Arizona answers with dramatic desert target golf and a compact, high quality Scottsdale base. Here is the honest head to head, verdict first.
Photograph: Streamsong Resort, Florida, via Google
The verdict
There is no wrong answer, only a question of what your group wants. Florida is the volume champion, with more golf courses than any other state and an embarrassment of choice, from the island green theater of TPC Sawgrass, home of the Players Championship, to the links style dunes of Streamsong, a three course resort by Coore and Crenshaw, Tom Doak and Gil Hanse that proves Florida can do rugged, walkable golf. The state pairs its golf with warm beaches, an easy entry from the whole eastern half of the country, and a long winter season, though the courses are mostly flat and the summers are hot, humid and stormy.
Arizona, and specifically the Scottsdale and Phoenix corridor, offers something Florida cannot: drama. Desert target golf threads emerald fairways between saguaro, arroyo and mountain, with TPC Scottsdale and its famous stadium 16th, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa and a deep field of resort courses all within a tight, walkable base. The heat is dry rather than sticky, the scenery is spectacular every round, and a Scottsdale trip is among the most efficient golf getaways in the country, with courses, resorts and nightlife close together. Pick Florida for sheer volume, championship variety and the beach; pick Arizona for desert scenery, a concentrated high quality base and the cleaner winter climate. For a first big group trip, Scottsdale is the easier week to organize; for variety and a longer stay, Florida has the deeper bench.
Head to head
| Florida | Arizona (Scottsdale and Phoenix) | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline courses | TPC Sawgrass, Streamsong Red, Blue and Black, Naples and World Golf Village layouts | TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa, Grayhawk and the resort courses |
| Style of golf | Mostly flat, water and wildlife framed; links style dunes at Streamsong | Dramatic desert target golf with mountain backdrops |
| Course count | The most of any U.S. state, choice almost everywhere | Around 200 around Phoenix and Scottsdale, tightly grouped |
| Climate | Warm and humid; summer hot, stormy and wet | Dry heat; cool winter evenings, brutal summer |
| Off course | Beaches, theme parks, big resort variety statewide | Scottsdale dining and nightlife, spas, Sonoran desert scenery |
| Green fees, 2026 | Marquee rounds high in winter; deep value options too (indicative; confirm) | Top Scottsdale resorts roughly $200 to $300 plus in peak (indicative; confirm) |
| Best for | Volume, championship variety and a golf plus beach week | Desert scenery and a compact, high energy Scottsdale base |
Course and destination facts verified June 2026 from course and ranking listings; green fees vary hard with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Florida if
You want the deepest choice of courses in the country, marquee championship venues and a beach at the end of the round. Florida pairs the island green drama of TPC Sawgrass with the links style dunes of Streamsong and a near endless supply of resort golf statewide, all an easy flight from the eastern United States. It suits longer stays, groups that want variety and a golf plus beach mix, and travelers who like the option to move base and play somewhere new every day.
Pick Arizona if
You want spectacular desert scenery and the most efficient golf trip going. The Scottsdale and Phoenix corridor packs some 200 courses, top resorts, dining and nightlife into a tight, walkable base, with TPC Scottsdale, Troon North and We-Ko-Pa among the headliners and a saguaro framed mountain backdrop on every round. The heat is dry and the winter climate cleaner than Florida's. It suits a first big buddies trip, a long weekend or any group that wants high quality golf without long drives.
Plan your golf trip
Florida's depth and beaches, Arizona's desert drama and compact Scottsdale base, or a question of which suits your group. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, the base and the schedule, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Florida vs Arizona questions
Is Florida or Arizona better for a golf trip?
Both are among the best golf destinations in the United States, with different characters. Florida offers the most courses of any state, water and wildlife framed layouts, marquee names like TPC Sawgrass and the links style Streamsong, and a long winter season alongside warm beaches. Arizona, centered on Scottsdale and Phoenix, delivers dramatic desert target golf with mountain backdrops across some 200 courses, drier heat and a tight, walkable resort scene. Choose Florida for sheer volume, beaches and championship variety, Arizona for desert scenery and a compact, high quality Scottsdale base. Always confirm current fees directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Florida and Arizona?
Both are winter destinations. Florida's peak season runs roughly October to May, with mild, sunny days and lower humidity, while the summer is hot, humid and stormy. Arizona's prime window is late October to April, with warm days and cool evenings, and a brutal but cheap summer when temperatures top 40 degrees Celsius. For the best conditions, target winter and early spring in either, which is also peak price.
Which has the better golf courses, Florida or Arizona?
Both have world class golf. Florida's headliners include TPC Sawgrass, home of the Players Championship, and Streamsong, a three course links style resort by Coore and Crenshaw, Tom Doak and Gil Hanse. Arizona's best are concentrated around Scottsdale, with TPC Scottsdale, home of the raucous WM Phoenix Open, plus Troon North, We-Ko-Pa and a deep field of desert courses. Florida has more courses overall; Arizona offers more dramatic scenery per round.
Is golf cheaper in Florida or Arizona?
Both swing hard with the season. In winter peak, top Scottsdale resort courses can run from around 200 to over 300 dollars, and Florida's marquee names are similar, while value courses in both states sit far lower. Summer brings steep discounts in Arizona in particular. Rates are indicative and move with season and demand, so always confirm current fees directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course and destination facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.