Gold Canyon Golf Resort & Spa

I have played Dinosaur Mountain several times and seem to enjoy it more each time. The only drawback on my most recent round was the slow play of the group in front of us who seemed to think that there were only four players on the course and were trying their best to consume all the beer in the valley.

Who knew you could get valet parking and a 5 min massage both complimentary at a golf course.
GolfNow really came through with a great cost for my 4 some.
Can't beleive the bounce and roll, only 2 holes with houses to close for comfort.
Definetly come back for another round.

Lush fairways,true rolling greens and great mountain views make for a fun round of golf on the Sidewinder course.We had a good rate at 1:57pm and still managed to finish all 18 holes even on a very full course.I would definitely play this course again and look forward very much to playing the Dinasour Mountain course as well.

This is my favorite course in the valley and don't get tired of playing it multiple times. Variety of holes, elevation changes, great shape, friendly staff and a challenge. Can't bring the big stick out on all the holes which make you think and play smart golf. Difficult but not stupid from tips. Did not see a yardage book which would be benefial as there only about 3 holes on course that are flat and a couple that are somewhat blind or a choice of tee shots. Will go back again and again to The Dinosaur!

This course is full value for it's #1 rating. Pricey but a must see.

Great visual. Beautiful desert golf with friendly staff.

As a Tucson golfer this course is comparable to mid-tier courses like Starr Pass, Tucson National or Vistoso; although these courses are in much better condition than this course. Gold Canyon greens were in desperate need of divot repair, putts were affected around the hole by divots. Fairways were in great conditon with very large fairways. There is OB everywhere. For the price I would have like a tougher layout, better greens and a greater challenge.

The pace of play on the front nine was good but the back nine was much slower. The was no staff at the bag drop when we finished play which surprised me.

I was hesitant to play here because of the price, but knew it was the right decision the second I got there. The course was in immaculate condition and the views are unrivaled. Thoroughly enjoyed the round and will be going back.

I have played Gold Canyon's Sidewinder course, but this was the first time on Dinosaur. It is a very pretty course and was in perfect condition. This is a course for talented golfers, certainly not beginners. It is also a course for the more fit golfer as there are many ups and downs and grass traps. It was not busy and we were able to get our round in on the twilight before dark.

Truly a great value and excellent experience. Would play every day if I lived in the area.

This coure was a great value on Golfnow. The staff couldn't have been friendlier. The views were incredible. The course was challenging but fair. We couldn't find a blade of grass out of place. The best golf experience I've had.

Played this course twice while staying at Gold Canyon Ranch. The surrounding views of the Superstition Mountains was breathtaking. Overall, the course conditions were very nice. Some of the greens had wear but did not affect our play. GPS cart was a bonus. If you get a chance, stop by the restaurant for lunch or dinner. Food is very good.

This course is in excellent condition. Wide fairways,large greens and very managable. Staff are very friendly and courteous.Recommend must play.Will definately come back.

Really enjoyed playing this scenic course. It is well worth the trip from Phoenix to play it.

Gold Canyon has two courses. Dinosaur, which is longer and more challenging, and Sidewinder, which is a relatively short course.

Sidewinder tends to play very fast. There have been rounds where we've finished in under three hours but didn't feel rushed.

The tees are excellent, and placement is from spectacular (on the 1st hole), to average. The fairways are routinely excellent and thick, but your shots roll normal distances, and the greens are very well maintained, maybe a little slow.

Finding the first tee can be daunting for a first timer player, as it is a fair distance from the clubhouse. And because of the way the course is arranged, you make the turn at 8 instead of 9, which is not that much of an issue, just unique.

The opening hole has an elevated tee, and there is a lake along the left side of the fairway. Since you can drive farther than usual from the elevated tee, it is not hard to end up in the water. If you stay dry, this is an easy par.

The 3rd hole is short, and you can get into trouble with a driver, as there is a somewhat hidden valley about 12 feet deep just 240 yards out from the senior tees. It's easy to lose a ball there, or have an impossible lie.

A driver is often not the best choice off the tee at sidewinder. You need to plan your shots to avoid driving into trouble.

The front nine greens are pretty easy to stick on, but the back nine greens are domed, and very easy to roll over, The 18th fairway is a lot of fun. It's tempting to go for the elevated green, but since it's 35 feet higher than the fairway, use a lot of club. If you miss it, you can end up in a nasty ravine about 10-12 feet deep with a really bad lie.

The only downside to Sidewinder is that it is 30 minutes from Phoenix. You can play fast, the course is great, the staff very friendly, and the views are excellent.

We were playing Sidewinder course at Gold Canyon Golf Resort and were behind two groups which were extremely slow and it got too dark to finish holes 16-18. We spent more time waiting for them to hit the ball than we did hitting. Our round was 5 hours and we still didn't get to do 3 holes. It was a great dissappointment to my teenage grandkids because they have been waiting years to play this course and couldn't finish due to the slow play. I think the marshall should have moved the groups along a little quicker. Have played this course many times and not had this problem. It's unfortunate to spend that much money to not be able to finish.

Alright.. First the good. Greens and fairways in very good condition. Pace of play started very slow as they let a 5 in front of us, and no Marshall in sight.. But the players let us play through and pace was then very good.

Layout is very nice, some very pretty surroundings.

The not-so-good? Price is very high for quality of service. No open snack bar , cart girl said there was no food on course except a ham wrap or a turkey wrap. 7-11 makes hot dogs but not Gold Canyon. There is much better value for your golf dollar in SE Phoenix (try Ocotillo) -

If you don't care about having a hotdog or burger at the turn, and if money is no object and you aren't interested in going to Grayhawk (better by far btw), by all means, go to Gold Canyon - the layout and setting will not dissappoint.

Played with three guys and all of which had about the same index as I have which made for some good golf. We had a great time on the course and the pace of play was outstanding for a middle of the day round. The golf course was in very good shape and the greens were very fast. The front nine was not tough at all, but the back nine had you thinking of where to place your shots off the box. I play golf in Arizona a couple of times a year and this is a course i will be going back to again and again.

Treated my Wife to a round of golf the day after Christmas. The Dinosaur Crouse offered gorgeous scenic views and we were pleasantly surprised at the amount of wildlife on the course, which included deer. The weather cooperated and we had a great time as a twosome just enjoying the golf, the surroundings and the day in general. Also had a great meal at the resort grille.