It’s early morning, and I’m enjoying a cup of coffee in my room at The Wigwam in Phoenix, Arizona, when I hear the unmistakable sound of a golfer teeing off — fwoosh-thwack!
I look out the window and, sure enough, a foursome is teeing off on the resort’s Blue Course, a mere 100 feet away. I surreptitiously watch them hit as they admire (or grimace at) their shots. As they head down the fairway, I suddenly can’t wait for my own tee time later in the day.
In my three years as a golfer, I’ve found that there are two ways to approach a golf trip. The first is to choose a central accommodation and book golf rounds at nearby courses. This is often a more budget-friendly method that offers a client multiple options for playing, but it also means driving, coordinating tee times and hunting for good eats.
The second method is to book a stay at a golf resort, where everything a client needs is likely onsite. Additionally, the staff can often handle golf equipment and arrange access to the golf club, which is often a short walk from the room. This way, a client can truly settle in for a leisurely vacation.
The 14th hole of the Faldo Course at the Wildfire Golf Club
Credit: 2026 JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
With more than 200 golf courses, there are plenty of both types of options in Greater Phoenix, but there was a reason I chose to stay at a golf resort for this trip.
“What truly sets our region apart is our resort golf, where championship-caliber courses are seamlessly paired with hotels and resorts that welcome everyone from seasoned pros to first-time players,” said Sarah Doyle, director of communications for Visit Phoenix.
Here are three golf resorts worth booking for clients headed to Greater Phoenix.
The Wigwam
This property was founded as a small lodge during the cotton boom in the early 1900s; since then, it has grown to 440 acres and is now home to three golf courses that can accommodate players of all skill levels.
The Gold Course, nicknamed “Arizona’s Monster,” is considered the most challenging of the three and has hosted several U.S. Open Qualifiers. The Blue Course is the shortest, but it makes up for that with small greens and other technical challenges that require strategy and precision. The Red Course, which I played, is straightforward and fun.
When I was done, I felt rejuvenated and relaxed, which, in my opinion, is the epitome of resort golf. (It’s worth noting that these courses are tree-lined parkland courses and not surrounded by low-lying shrubs and sandy out-of-bounds, which are more typical of desert courses.)
The nearly 100-year-old grounds of The Wigwam
Credit: 2026 The WigwamFor accommodations, The Wigwam features several options spaciously spread out on its property. From queen rooms and suites to a 5,000-square-foot Sunset Presidential Suite with three bedrooms, there are picks for small and big groups alike.
Dining is exceptional at The Wigwam. The main attraction is Litchfield’s, a steakhouse with an attention-grabbing open kitchen in the middle of the dining room. I ordered the New York steak; it arrived with a perfect char on the outside and was juicy on the inside. I also got the crab cake, which was tender and delicious, and the Copper Cosmo cocktail, which nods to the fact that Arizona has long been America’s leading copper producer. Litchfield’s also serves a Sunday brunch. Reservations are recommended for all seatings.
Other dining options include the Wigwam Bar for breakfast and dinner. A breakfast standout here were the blue corn pancakes (a regional spin on the traditional pancake). The golf club features Red Allen’s Bar & Grill for bar food such as burgers, chicken wings and sandwiches.
Beyond golf, The Wigwam offers Lemonds Aveda Salon-Spa, tennis courts and three pools, including one with dueling waterslides. For those who want to venture off property for golf, Verrado Golf Club is about 20 minutes away by car and offers 36 holes.
Mountain Shadows
This resort, set near the base of Camelback Mountain (or, rather, in its shadow), offers one of the most unique courses I’ve ever played. The Short Course is an 18-hole par 54, but don’t let that dissuade clients. The course was thoughtfully designed with fun in mind, with difficult bunker placements and water hazards. The challenging greens make up for the lack of distance, including one green that resembles a skateboarding half-pipe and another that has a bunker right in the middle of it.
Hole 7 of The Short Course
Credit: 2026 Mountain Shadows
Mountain Shadows has a variety of accommodations to fit golf groups of any size. Standard rooms come with either king or queen beds and offer stunning views of the golf course, Camelback Mountain or the pool. Clients in larger parties can upgrade to one-, two- or three-bedroom suites. The Penthouse South suite is a whopping 3500 square feet and has three bedrooms, a kitchen and its own private theater with seating for seven.
As for dining, before my round at The Short Course, I grabbed a club sandwich at Rusty’s, a casual clubhouse-style eatery that faces the course’s practice green. It also offers breakfast and a full bar.
Hearth ’61 is an upscale dining option that features American fare. I didn’t get a chance to try it, but I did take a moment to admire the exhibition kitchen, where the chefs flew about the hearth oven preparing meals. Dinner specialties include Niman Ranch prime beef tenderloin and an Iberian pork chop.
Mountain Shadows resort at dawn
Credit: 2026 Mountain Shadows
For those wanting to tag on a full course during their stay, the popular We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, which has two courses, is about a 40–minute drive.
JW Marriott Desert Ridge
The associated golf club of JW Marriott Desert Ridge is Wildfire Golf Club, and it is situated walking distance from the hotel. Wildfire offers two fantastic courses: the Nick Faldo championship course and the Arnold Palmer signature course.
I played the Palmer course at twilight, and it was a great experience as the sun set in the distance. A true desert course with low shrubs and sandy out-of-bounds, it felt challenging; with big bunkers and undulating greens, it was also immaculately maintained. The Faldo course, which is slightly shorter than the Palmer, features wide fairways and 108 bunkers that will keep golfers on their toes. Players can’t go wrong with either, but in true resort style, I’d recommend booking both.
Kembara, which serves Asian-inspired cuisine, is one of many dining options at JW Marriott Desert Ridge.
Credit: 2026 JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
Where the JW Marriott Desert Ridge really spoils guests is with its dining options. Clients will never have to leave the property, given its eight onsite venues (including a Starbucks). Kembara, featuring Asian-inspired cuisine, and Tia Carmen, which focuses on Southwestern flavors, have menus crafted by chef Angelo Sosa. At Kembara, I had sushi, dumplings and fried rice. At Tia Carmen, I had the baja striped sea bass and the “taco night” tostada, a traditional-feeling ground beef tostada which Sosa elevated with bone marrow.
There’s also Twenty6, a lounge and bourbon bar, and Copper Alley Games + Bar + Bites, an arcade with fare such as pizza and wings.
Non-golf activities include the AquaRidge WaterPark, where clients will find a lazy river and three water slides. The resort’s spa, Revive Spa, offers treatments, salon services, a sauna and a whirlpool, among other amenities. Clients who want to stay active off the golf course can play tennis, take fitness or yoga classes, or rent a bike and explore the nearby desert.
For those who want to play golf off site, Grayhawk Golf Club is beloved and only a 15-minute drive away.
