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Rating Index Rating
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3.7
618 Reviews (618)
5 Stars
164
4 Stars
264
3 Stars
99
2 Stars
60
1 Stars
31
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.3
Layout
4.0
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.3
Amenities
4.0
69.6%
Recommend this course
469 out of 618 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
4 Reviews (4)
5 Stars
2
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
3.7
Layout
4.3
Pace
2.8
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.3
75.0%
Recommend this course
3 out of 4 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
23 Reviews (23)
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.5
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.3
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.4
69.6%
Recommend this course
16 out of 23 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Municipal
Style Traditional
Par 72
Length 7380 yards
Slope 130
Rating 75.0

Papago Golf Course is conveniently situated just a few minutes from downtown Phoenix though you would never be able to tell with the peace and seclusion provided by the course's location in Papago Park. The golf course sits at the base of Papago Buttes, past the rugged red rocks you can see Phoenix skyline. The course was designed by William Francis Bell, whom you may know for Torrey Pines in San Diego. The challenging layout features undulating greens framed with strategically placed bunkers and subtle but tricky mounding. Water hazards appear on a few holes as well. It's a tough but straightforward layout that is still playable for a range of skill levels. Since opening in 1963, Papago has hosted numerous events including the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship and Phoenix Open Qualifying.

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Papago Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1963
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
GPS No
Pull-carts Yes
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Bar

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 College Courses in the U.S. (2020 #23)
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Reviews

3.7
618 Reviews (618)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Frustration

Everything was perfect except we had a late cancelation of one of our players and we're not refunded when the course was willing too. As a first time user it made me reluctant to use your service again.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

great time

Will make it a point to play here again the next time I'm in Phoenix

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Worth Playing as a Local or Visitor

I was a bit apprehensive when I approached the double wide that serves as the clubhouse and 19th hole. Even at the 1st hole when I hit the scrub on the right side and happened to find my ball in a player coming up 9's hand I was thinking "What am I getting into". Note to players. If it's not your ball, it's someone else's so leave it there.

Anyway the rest of the course was an excellent and interesting experience. I played the whites and I think the 114 rating is a tad low. It was a good challenge for my mid handicap game. The other players I was with played the blues but really only 1 of them should have been. To play the blue tees here I think you should be a 12 or better with good distance. Unless you're a single digit or better, you should not play the tips at this course.

I did have some cart issues that were professionally handled by the staff who really do care about the experience that you have at Papago. Will I go back there again? Absolutely. You should as well.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great golf course

Really good layout. Played from the tips, others in the group played from blue/white tees and red tees. The course was recently reopened after over-seeding and was a little furry, however everyone in our group enjoyed playing the course and will be returning in the next few weeks. Limited food & beverage service, but I didn't go there for the food...

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Worth the trip

Was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the course for the price.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Walked

Greens

The greens were true but slow. Bermuda grass with rye. The course is sneaky difficult. Most holes are wide open but the layout does call for long accurate drives. Use every club in bag! Par threes are challenging length. We played in 4 1/2 hours which is good in many courses but slow for our foursome. Although it played cart path only due to winter rye. Sand in traps good!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 49
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Some blind shots for first-timers.

Really enjoyed the course. Scenic, quiet and a very enjoyable experience. Greens were very slow after overseed, but I am sure that will improve.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not overly impressed.

i played this course in a last minute decision to golf the next morning and because we were staying very close to the course. The tee boxes and greens were ok. I didn't mind the layout of the course. The majority of the fairways were fair except the last 4 holes. I'm assuming because of the recent overseeding the fairways were allowed to grow really long. But they decided to cut the grass short again when it was wet. This made for REALLY lumpy fairway that we actually lost a ball in the middle of the fair way!
I also was really choked they charged me sixty bucks for extremely beat up rental clubs! I won't be returning to this course again no matter how convenient it is

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Got a great Hot deal of 23.00!!

Thanks Golf Now. It was great course. It was in very good shape. Fun to play.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice course

Papago is my favorite golf course for the money. I have played here 4 times now. Fair golf course & fast greens. You better be a long hitter if you play it from the back tees !!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Enjoyable Papago experience!

Booked as a single and put in with a threesome...great guys! The course was in excellent shape, pace of play was OK (group in front of us was a bit slow...), but overall, a really enjoyable round on a perfect day at a really good, old-fashioned course! Looking forward to playing Papago again soon!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Regulars only

We were a twosome stuck behind a slow group of four. We couldn't play through because the course was so backed up. The group behind us kept hitting into us. They had five in their group. The cart girl and I talked for a while. The group in front and behind us were regulars according to her. The course was in decent shape. Not for $42 though.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice

Have not played this course in 8 years. It has been totally remodeled. The course is in great condition . Loved everything about Papago!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Must Play!

Great public course! Very good course layout with varying terrain and very well conditioned even though it is late summer. Good variety of holes, doglegs left and right and long par 3's.... three of them over 190 yards! Highly recommend that you play this course when in Phoenix.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Pleasantly suprised.....

Had not played Papago in years and was pleasantly surprised with the new routing and conditions. The renovations cleaned up the course, still more to do when ASU moves in. Course was in good shape. Greens rolled true. If you have a GPS unit, make sure its updated otherwise you'll have some challenges with yardages.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 134
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Arizona Advisor
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Good mint

Excellent tee boxes and fairways but greens were punched on Monday (8/18) and were clearly not up to normal Papago standards. Easy course to walk with excellent views. Great layout with long par 3's. Highly recommend but Golf Now needs to do a better job in reporting aeration situations at the courses. PHX munys have all recently done aeration with no mention of said fact on Golf Now.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good condition

Was amazed how green fairways were! Sand was soft overall great course, would defiantly golf there again

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

great public couse

always like to play here. course is well maintained.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Great

Frist time back in 15-20 yrs. thoroughly enjoyed it course is nice shape.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

A great value all around

The green fees are reasonable and the beverage cart rates are some of the best in town. We got off to a slow start but after the 5th hole, the pace picked up nicely. Conditions were as good as to be expected given it is summertime.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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Golf Packages

The Phoenician Golf Around Package

CLICK BELOW
PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE | Enjoy lodging accommodations at the Phoenician Resort and golf at The Phoenician Golf Club, Westin Kierland Golf Club & Papago Golf Course.
the-phoenician-9.jpg

The Phoenician Golf Around Package

CLICK BELOW
PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE | Enjoy lodging accommodations at the Phoenician Resort and golf at The Phoenician Golf Club, Westin Kierland Golf Club & Papago Golf Course.

Arizona Golf Grind Package

CLICK BELOW
PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE | Enjoy lodging accommodations at the Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale Old Town and golf at the Phoenician Golf Club, Longbow Golf Club, Papago Golf Club, and Eagle Mountain Golf Club.
20-3208_0256.jpg

Arizona Golf Grind Package

CLICK BELOW
PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE | Enjoy lodging accommodations at the Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale Old Town and golf at the Phoenician Golf Club, Longbow Golf Club, Papago Golf Club, and Eagle Mountain Golf Club.

True Spec Fitting Experience Package

FROM $277 (USD)
PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE | Enjoy 4 nights’ accommodations at Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, 2 rounds of golf at Westin Kierland Golf Club & Troon North - Monument Course, and a custom fitting session at the True Spec world headquarters.
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