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Rating Index Rating
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3.9
631 Reviews (631)
5 Stars
169
4 Stars
270
3 Stars
99
2 Stars
61
1 Stars
32
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.7
Layout
4.1
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.5
Amenities
4.0
78.7%
Recommend this course
480 out of 631 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
15 Reviews (15)
5 Stars
6
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.9
Layout
4.3
Pace
3.4
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.6
80.0%
Recommend this course
12 out of 15 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
22 Reviews (22)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
9
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.0
Layout
4.3
Pace
3.6
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.5
86.4%
Recommend this course
19 out of 22 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Papago's deceptively challenging layout rewards accurate play, with well-maintained fairways, greens, and tee boxes consistently impressing returning golfers. Friendly staff and strong value make this a course worth adding to your regular rotation.

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

3.9
631 Reviews (631)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 19
19th Hole Scenic Views 8
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 73
Undulating Greens 51
Plays Long 50
This course/club is great for:
Locals 67
Advanced Golfers 57
Walkers 56
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 85
Near the Airport 76
Near Local Attractions 37

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fun!

Really pretty course. We got behind a really slow group. But overall, glad we played it. :)

Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Disappointing

Since I’m new to the area, figured this historic course would be worthwhile playing. Unfortunately not…paid almost $200/man via GolfNow. Went to bag drop, unloaded my own clubs, nobody welcomed us. Sat there looking like a dummy. Nobody very friendly. Course layout was good, not great. Historic or not, I felt ripped off, as did my guests.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 55
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Disorganized and over booked

I came to play Popago for the first time yesterday, and was completely disappointed. It took 15 minutes to find a place to hit golf balls on the driving range due to the excessive amount of play. When I did finally get to hit golf balls, I could not find a tuft of grass left to hit off of. The driving range is completely destroyed and is in need of extensive maintenance. There are driving range mats, but they are not being used and the grass is almost nonexistent. Due to a tournament that was on the golf course earlier in the day there were no carts available when I was ready for my tee time and it wasn’t until then that I was told that it would be at least another hour before I could go out. If I would’ve played at 2 o’clock I may have had a chance to finish 18 holes but not if I start out at three or 330. The Cart staff was super friendly, but they are clearly overworked and overwhelmed. The course itself from what I could see Was not very green which is surprising due to all the rain we’ve had in the area. Let’s hope that you don’t make the mistake that I did and book your tee time at this golf course. At least not for this year. Try Silverado golf course just down the road which is completely different by comparison.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 6
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Windy weather
Walked

Redesign was perfect!

The course always keeps their greens in good shape. The bunkers were a little fluffy at first but now playing them after the rain they are just right. The redesign really changed the holes for the better. Really a shame that people would put bad reviews about temporary changes or construction about the course. They don't get removed when the course repairs you're complaining about are completed... the course has it's own reputation and paired with the PHX card it's one of the best deals out there and a great walk.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing

No where near worth the money

Played this course today. Paid $178 through Golf now app. We were shocked at the price having played such courses as The Raven, Lookout Mountain and Quintero on this same trip. The quality of the layout, quality of the course were below our expectations. It was embarrassing for that price. The staff, amenities were excellent but this course is lacking the same type of course layout and conditions of the affore mentioned courses. I for one and those who played with us will not return to play Papago when there are so many ultra quality courses lower or marginally more than this club in the Phoenix area.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Glad to have them back

As most of you will notice by looking at reviews, Papago has recently undergone a major renovation and their rating took a significant hit because they remained open and continued to charge full freight for what had essentially become an executive course with all the temporary greens. However, they're back open now and the results are pretty stellar.

The course had gotten a bit shaggy around the edges prior to the renovation but they redid every bunker on the property and changed up the routing a bit to make it a more modern test (while freeing up some room near the clubhouse for new properties). These bunkers are deep and extremely penal, which is what William Bell originally had in mind for the course, and they force you to map your way around the course strategically.

The greens were in very good shape and they should only get better in the coming months. Tee boxes were also in good condition despite some continuing landscaping work around the tee areas.

Ultimately, to me this was a really successful renovation that has taken a golf course that was meant to be a challenge and restored it to its former glory. And the pricing for locals has been made much more affordable. Pace of play, like with most city courses, is still a serious issue but there's incredible value to be had here now.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Rustic

Cart paths are poorly marked, if at all. Most are dirt paths, hard to tell which way to go. Carts are set to lock up if you go off the wrong way, but since you don't know which way is the right way...it becomes distracting and takes away from the game.

Until this is solved, I wouldn't play here again.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice when finished with renovations

Course will be lovely when they are done. You have to stay on the cart paths and most are dirt. With wide greens we walked a tremendous amount. It slowed down play. They also allow walkers which slowed down play more. Everything was filthy when we were done. Took 4.45 for 18 holes and we were right behind the group in front.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Worst Ever

The worst experience I have ever had on a golf course. No cart paths, just dirt everywhere- in your mouth, bags, clothes. Cannot drive on course -Cart Path Only lol, 5 hour round. Torture.

5 hours of filth. Cannot breath on course. Makes u sick

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Construction

The course did not explain the extreme construction in progress, We understand overseeing this time of year, but there were only 10 holes open and not contiguous.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
1.0
Previously Played

Terrible coarse conditions. Didn’t inform us even at checkin if it being under construction. Pretty expensive for not even an 18 hole course

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Don't play until construction is complete

They have no business selling tee times to people while they're undergoing course renovations. This wasn't a minor inconvenience with regards to a few areas, every single hole had some form of construction activity. They have you play only certain holes, and you play them twice.

Staff were friendly. Course was not.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Papago is just looking for handouts to fund their construction!

This course may be beautiful someday but between Papago and Golf Now it is not clearly stated that you will not even play a full 18 holes of golf. You get to play 10 and they throw in there that you can go around twice. There are no cart paths and the GPS will shut down your cart for trying to menouver around the multiple tractors actively digging in the bunkers while you tee off. You are instructed to yell fore so you don't hit one of the 10 yellow shirt employees bravely raking sand around the landing zone. Between the tractors digging and the constant mowing this course is just unsafe and the course manager should be fired for thinking this is okay to do this to not only the workers out there getting nailed by golf balls but the CUSTOMERS that have to deal with EVERY hole under construction. They need to close down and fix the course and stop taking peoples money for a half-assed course. Garbage 🗑

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Papago Golf Course has beautiful views

I highly recommend Papago Golf Course because the views of Camelback Mountain as well as the Buttes near the course are spectacular. The golf shop as well as Lou’s Grill are top notch. The course is fun and has many par 4 and 5 holes. You will enjoy it and I highly recommend it.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Lack of disclosure

We made a tee time and looked forward to playing one of the Valley's most underrated courses. However, when we got there we were informed the range was closed and there were a 'few' temporary greens (there were four). Because of on-going construction the course played as a par 65, the bunkers were concrete (which resulted in multiple lost balls when we couldn't find where the bounces of the concrete ended up) and the course was basically torn up. A little advance disclosure would have been helpful--I had out of town guests that weren't very happy with my choice of courses Very disappointed

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 25
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
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