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Rating Index Rating
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4.0
3988 Reviews (3988)
5 Stars
1234
4 Stars
1807
3 Stars
617
2 Stars
181
1 Stars
149
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.9
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.9
87.5%
Recommend this course
3448 out of 3988 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
98 Reviews (98)
5 Stars
41
4 Stars
41
3 Stars
8
2 Stars
6
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.2
Value
3.9
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.3
87.8%
Recommend this course
86 out of 98 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
176 Reviews (176)
5 Stars
60
4 Stars
74
3 Stars
25
2 Stars
10
1 Stars
7
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.8
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.3
85.2%
Recommend this course
150 out of 176 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
San Tan Highlands delivers a highly rated layout with fantastic greens and well-kept fairways that consistently reward golfers seeking a strong challenge. Friendly staff and solid value for money make this course a compelling choice for repeat rounds.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Desert
Par 72
Length 7162 yards
Slope 130
Rating 72.7

San Tan Highlands (formerly known as The Golf Club at Johnson Ranch) boasts a championship course with a front nine that winds through the Sonoran desert and a back nine that finishes at the base of the bordering San Tan Mountains. Naturally, the first half of the golf course is relatively flat and the latter half has a hilly terrain. In contrast to its categorization as a desert course, this course has grass from the tees to the greens but the cactus-filled landscape definitely implies desert. The greens are quite large and undulating and the fairways are fairly open with generous landing areas. Strategically placed sand bunkers and water hazards come into play throughout the San Tan Highlands.

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Course Details

Year Built 1997
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda/Annual Rye
Golf Season Year round
Architect Kenny Watkins

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
GPS Yes
Pull-carts No
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

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

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed No
Dress code Appropriate golf attire.

Food & Beverage

Restaurant, Beverage Carts

Available Facilities

Banquet Facilities
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Reviews

4.0
3988 Reviews (3988)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 75
Patio Dining 60
Brunch 26
Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 138
Bunkers 103
Undulating Greens 81
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 99
Locals 86
Advanced Golfers 67
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 97
In the 'Burbs 83
Convenient to the City 12

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 37
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

No sand in this desert

The course is in impeccable condition, except for the sand traps. Awful. Hard as rock, Desert sand, not meant for golf courses.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Course But Not Worth The Price

Friendly staff great layout but not worth the price they’re asking. Pace of play is slow, bunkers lack sand and pitching/chipping needs some work. They need to put as much attention to these areas as they do the practice greens. Great area to work on all types of putting situations.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 37
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 37
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Old Johnson Ranch is in rough shape

I gave this course another chance since it changed to San Tan Highlands. I wasn't impressed. The front 9 cuts tightly through a housing community that leaves little to the imagination. The course conditions were very dry and lots of patches that easily could be manicured with effective results by a regular maintenance crew. Narrow rolling fairways and dry areas made it a long day, especially when you're backed up to a 5 hour round. No Marshall to speed up play. Then you make the turn and you get the mountain views up and down. It would be nice if it was well taken care of but its not well maintained. Some blind tee box shots that give you zero hope of finding fairway unless you have course knowledge. They got you out there in the blind. Good luck! It is a long drive from Phoenix or Scottsdale and definitely not worth it. The price wasn't great for the conditions. Tiny hard greens and fairways. Tee boxes uneven and chewed up. Where is the maintenance crew? This could be a prestigious course but you can tell nobody wants to spend any money for upkeep. I play a ton of golf and this was a disappointment.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Never again

Five hour round. Second time in a row. Didn't see ONE marshall all day. Terrible management.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 37
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Previously Played

I'll never go back

Second time it's taken over five hours to play eighteen holes. Didn't see ONE marshall all day. Worst course time management. There was an entire hole open behind us and, again, didn't see one course employee ask day other than the drink cart. I guess for money they'll put people on the course.

I'll never go back. I complained the first time...told me the same thing today. "That's unacceptable. I'll tell the boys. That shouldn't happen." Yeah, no kidding.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 28
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Don't go for the food!

Course was good ,new carts with GPS. Very pricey compared to 3 years ago. Restaurant is only open past 4 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays! Hard to understand restaurant hours if you have any reasonable level of customer service.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 37
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun course

We really like this course. This is our third time playing. It offers a lot of variety and the staff is always super nice..

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 25
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Spends some money!

This course has great potential. However, the course conditions are average at best, the red tee blocks are pathetic…very patchy and turtle back….and they use rocks as tee blocks…very cheesy at best…..spend some money to spiff a few things up…make golfers want to return.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good Mix

Finished the round in 4 1/4 hours. We enjoyed the diverse mix between the front and back nine. Bunkers could have used more sand. What the heck, it's another challenge! Excellent value!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Great Course

Was cool and very windy so the course was empty. Finished in 2 1/2 hours. Greens were great course was great.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Not worth the drive

They don’t allow walking at all. Front nine and back nine are two very different courses with front amongst houses and basic layout and back nine the one that has all the pictures taken from. (Mountains, desert, better layout) Played front nine in 1:30, back nine in 3:00 due to a couple slow groups slowing everyone. Course is in good shape but can find equivalent and better much closer to PHX metro area. Second time I’ve played this course and went away saying I don’t want to come back here. There are so many more options out there that make this not worth the drive.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
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Golf Packages

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The Fairways of Fountain Hills Package

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PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE | Enjoy accommodations at ADERO Scottsdale Resort, Autograph Collection or The Inn at Eagle Mountain and golf at Eagle Mountain Golf Club and SunRidge Canyon Golf Club

The Fairways of Fountain Hills Package

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The Triple Down Stay & Play Package

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