GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.0
4006 Reviews (4006)
5 Stars
1240
4 Stars
1812
3 Stars
622
2 Stars
182
1 Stars
150
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.9
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.9
86.6%
Recommend this course
3461 out of 4006 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
113 Reviews (113)
5 Stars
45
4 Stars
45
3 Stars
13
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.1
Value
3.9
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.3
85.0%
Recommend this course
96 out of 113 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
172 Reviews (172)
5 Stars
60
4 Stars
68
3 Stars
25
2 Stars
11
1 Stars
8
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.8
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.3
83.7%
Recommend this course
144 out of 172 reviews
Read Reviews
frame.svg
AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
circle-star.svg
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.

Book a Tee Time at
San Tan Highlands
Powered by GolfNow.com

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
The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
golf ball.svg
$120 in monthly tee time promo codes
waivedfees
12 rounds of waived fees
redeemtrophy
GolfPass Member Pricing
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection

Reviews

4.0
4006 Reviews (4006)

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 34
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 126
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

No course management

Pull up to tee boxes and your 3rd in line to tee off.

No course management

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

7/23/2025 play

Course is a great challenge and fun to play. Fairways had some patches of dirt rather than grass but were playable. Great price!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 126
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Not worth the money

I was the first tee time #1 hole the fairway was flooded so bad you could retrieve your ball. Balled spots and mud all over course finished 9 wen to 10th to tees off there was a six 3carts in front of us and four some in front of them played 10th and left will not return 😑

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fairways are in rough shape. They appear to have struggles growing grass. Greens are in great shape, albeit pretty soft.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Summer Conditions

The front 9 was in as bad of shape as I have seen this summer. Obviously it is tough during the Arizona summer, but I was shocked at what I saw. The gateways were about a 40/60 split on grass/mud.

The back 9 is a really fun layout and was in much better shape.

I played alone on the front and finished 9 in about 70 minutes. The back 9 took almost 2 1/2 hours.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Fairways look like battlefields

The front 9 Fairways are a mess. They had more dead grass and bare spots than green grass. The Cart path concrete is un-even and broken up on many spots. By far the worst fairways I have ever seen. The back nine seems like a different course. Fairways were much better but still lots of bare spots and dead grass. The greens were well watered and played as expected. I expected much better conditions for $90 considering the top courses in Scottsdale are not much more than that this time of year.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Previously Played

Overpriced for condition

I’m not sure how management can justify charging $78 for the course in the current shape that it is in. The front 9 fairways are 80% dirt, aim for the rough. Not worth paying more than $50 in these summer conditins

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

New name, same course

The fairways had recently been aerated so they're a bit of a mess right now the greens must have been aerated two weeks ago they were fuzzy and slow but that's to be expected. Staff was awesome very friendly. Practice area we were hitting off of Mats which were in good condition but would rather hit off grass of course.

No beverage cart to be seen during the 4-Hour and 20 minute round. Pace of play with slower than expected especially since this is the summer months.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 125
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Beautiful course

My first time playing here now I know why it’s always so busy. Greens in good shape as well as the fairways. Staff very friendly and attentive made check in a breeze. Will definitely be back to play before summer ends.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 126
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Play faster

Need Ranger to push pace of play. Group in front playing two balls. It’s too hot to lag pace of play. Some tee boxes uneven making it difficult to tee off. No ice in coolers no acceptable conditions for summer heat. No cart to refresh cold drinks.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Nearby Courses
San Tan Valley, Arizona
Private
5.0
8
Florence, Arizona
Public
2.75
40
San Tan Valley, Arizona
Public
4.2199592668
982
Queen Creek, Arizona
Public
4.3376547988
1736
Queen Creek, Arizona
Public
3.0
1
Florence, Arizona
Public
4.3110329831
1532
Gilbert, Arizona
Private/Resort
3.5
4
Gilbert, Arizona
Public
4.2840753326
1814
Mesa, Arizona
Public
3.5380855156
1691
Florence, Arizona
Public
1.0
1
Chandler, Arizona
Semi-Private
4.281626578
1879
Golf Packages

Whirlwind Golf Getaway Package

CLICK BELOW
CHANDLER | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Gila River Resorts & Casino - Wild Horse Pass and golf at Whirlwind Golf Club - Cattail & Devil's Claw courses.

Mesa Golf Around Package

CLICK BELOW
MESA | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Home2 Suites by Hilton - Mesa Longbow and golf at Las Sendas Golf Club, Longbow Golf Club & Ocotillo Golf Club.
Sunridge Canyon Golf Club

The Fairways of Fountain Hills Package

CLICK BELOW
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

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

The Triple Down Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Gila River Resorts & Casino - Wild Horse Pass or Harrah's Ak-Chin Hotel & Casino and golf at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes and Whirlwind Golf Club - Cattail & Devil's Claw courses.
Now Reading
  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account