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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

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Phoenix must play course

Course is in great shape! Your driver better be on point, otherwise it’ll be a long day. Definitely a challenging course. Water stations are a plus, and for those who need other items the beverage carts are there.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 102
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great spot!

Played Papago for the first time since they renovated and it was a treat! The clubhouse and facilities are now top notch! All the staff was amazing as well! The greens were very lush and rolled great which is tough for this time of year in Phoenix. Great spot to play!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Anonymous
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Horrid Shape

The conditions are awful here. Would not advise playing until they get it figured out.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good summer condition!

Greens were quick for what I expected in the middle of summer. Also more play on a Monday AM than I expected. It was a little pricey, but oh well. Course was a good challenge from the blacks.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Not as great as usual but still good

Probably the worst Papago conditions I've played in but they still weren't bad, I'm just used to this place being perfect conditions even during the summer. A little expensive if you don't have the city card, but would still recommend.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
First Time Playing

The course is in terrible shape. There are so many courses to play in the area that are in better shape and are a better value.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Great Course! Poor Conditions

First time playing here. Loved everything about this course except for the condition. Some areas were burnt, some areas were flooded, literally no happy medium here. Also, the greens were bumpy and atrocious.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 63
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Good value with city card

Don't listen to the super negative comments: it's summer conditions in Phoenix. Every course has areas where the grass isn't great. Papago is doing their best, clearly watering, and there's plenty of sand in the deep bunkers which is a huge plus as there are a lot of bunkers. With the City of Phoenix card, it's a good value for the summer.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful course. Had a 25 minute delay because of a mechanical problem., they had to water the course so grass and bunkers were soggy. I know… you’re not to hit in the bunkers but hey it happens to the best. But otherwise enjoyable place.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 79
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Really?

I heard so much about this course. It was a nice course-but for the money, there are better values. Nice practice facility and club house-but a lot of brown patches on fairways and work around the greens. I hope ASU has a great golf season.

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

Disapointing

I played this course same time last year, it was in absolute pristine conditions. Today was horrific. Greens aren't really playable, with how much ground under repair they currently have this course shouldn't even be open for public tee times. This was a course I have spoken highly in the passed bu there are no excuse for the conditions of this place. Very disappointing expierience.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played
Used cart

Worse shape I've ever seen

We have been playing Papago in the summer for decades. There were 6 of us that played on June 25 and we all were very disappointed. Every green was blighted with large areas of some sort of malady that created pock like areas. We had to lift and place balls so we could actually put, but some greens were so bad you couldn't find a clear spot to put. A number of greens had large areas where the turf adjacent to the greens had been scalped down a couple of inches. Other areas had been sodded, but done poorly and not watered. On top of that, they had aerated the course. When we called to make the tee time no one mentioned there was an issue. The head pro or director of golf is always visible and greeting golfers, but not this day. I'm sure he did not want to face the music.

Over the past 10 years or so the course was always in pristine condition this time of year and we asked what the change was. The gentleman in the golf shop told us the A.S.U. golf coach wanted his own guy in as course superintendent, so they let the other guy go.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing

STAY FAR AWAY

This may be the worse course I have played in over 31 years in Arizona. First of all, the fairways and greens were plugged with no warnings from GolfNow. At least 33% of the fairways were dirt. The collars around the greens were all dirt. The greens were not puttable. We quit after 9 holes. It is very disappointing that Golf Now gave no warnings about the plugging or condition. There are courses in Phoenix for half the rate in better shape than this place. It is an embarrassment to both Papago and GolfNow to collect $280 for this. Never again. I think I will start making my own times from here on in and talk to the course directly. Shameful.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
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