Mesa sits just east of Scottsdale, but green fees here run 30-50% lower for comparable quality. With more than 40 courses within a half-hour drive of downtown, a Pete Dye signature layout, and Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s top-rated public design all calling Mesa home, this East Valley city delivers serious golf without the Scottsdale markup.
Add Cactus League spring training (the Cubs and Athletics both play at Sloan Park), the Usery Mountain Regional Park trails, and easy access to the Superstition Mountains, and you've got a golf trip base that keeps everyone in your group happy -- even the ones who don't play.
Quick Reference: Top Mesa Golf Courses
| Course | Type | Green Fees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public 9-hole | $25 - $40 | Budget rounds, beginners, walking golf | |
| Las Sendas Golf Club | Public 18-hole | $69 - $249 | Championship desert golf, mountain views |
| Longbow Golf Club | Public 18-hole | $169 - $225 | Resort-quality golf, mid-handicappers |
| Red Mountain Ranch CC | Semi-private 18-hole | $69 - $137 | Pete Dye design, challenging layout |
| Superstition Springs GC | Public 18-hole | $79 - $149 | Well-conditioned daily fee, water holes |
| Dobson Ranch Golf Course | Public 18-hole | $39 - $69 | Value seekers, walkable suburban layout |
| Augusta Ranch Golf Club | Public 18-hole (par 61) | $18 - $52 | Executive course, quick rounds, budget play |
Why Mesa for Golf?
Scottsdale Quality at East Valley Prices
Mesa's golf courses fly under the radar because visitors fixate on the Scottsdale corridor. That works in your favor. Las Sendas has been rated the number one public course in Arizona by the Phoenix Business Journal every year since it opened in 1995, yet peak-season rates top out around $249 -- roughly what you'd pay at a mid-tier Scottsdale resort course. Dobson Ranch and Augusta Ranch routinely offer rounds under $50 year-round.
Spring Training + Golf = The Perfect Trip
Mesa hosts two MLB spring training teams at the expanded Sloan Park complex, putting you minutes from both baseball and golf. Catch a Cubs game at 1 PM, then book a twilight round at Longbow or Superstition Springs for half the morning rate. The spring training window (late February through March) overlaps with golf season perfectly -- mid-70s to mid-80s every day.
Variety Across Every Budget
From Royal Palms' $25 walking rounds to Las Sendas' mountaintop championship experience at $200+, Mesa covers the full spectrum. You can play a different course every day for a week without repeating a layout or blowing past $100 per round if you stick to the municipal and value courses.
Featured Course: Royal Palms Golf Course
occupies a niche that barely exists in the Scottsdale area: a family-run, walkable 9-hole course where you can squeeze in a round before work or between spring training games.
The Details:
- Holes: 9 | Par: 30 | Yardage: 1,453 yards (white), 1,247 yards (red)
- Designer: David Gill (1976)
- Green Fees: $25 - $40 per 9 holes
- Walking: Permitted and encouraged
- Address: 1415 E McKellips Rd, Mesa, AZ 85203
- Phone: (480) 964-1709
Don't let the compact yardage fool you. Water and bunkers guard six of the nine holes, and the three par-4s mixed among six par-3s create legitimate scoring challenges. Owner Albert Petty has maintained this place for nearly 50 years with a philosophy that golf should be accessible, not intimidating.
Insider tip: Spring season (January through April) is Royal Palms' busiest stretch. If you want to play as a twosome without getting paired up, call ahead and book early-morning weekday times. The driving range, chipping area, and putting green make it a solid warm-up facility even if you're playing a bigger course later that day.
Other Top Mesa Courses Worth Playing
Las Sendas Golf Club
Robert Trent Jones Jr. carved this 7,004-yard championship layout into the slopes of the Usery Mountains in 1995, and it's held the number one public course ranking in Arizona nearly every year since. The front nine works through desert washes and saguaro-studded terrain, but it's the back nine -- climbing 500 feet in elevation -- that earns the reputation. Hole 15 is a par-3 with nothing but air between the tee and green, dropping 100 feet to a target framed by the entire Phoenix metro skyline.
- Par: 72 | Yardage: 5,063 - 7,004 yards
- Green Fees: $69 - $249 (weekdays lower, peak season highest)
- Address: 7555 E Eagle Crest Dr, Mesa, AZ 85207
Insider tip: Book Monday through Thursday to save $30-50 off weekend rates. The post-round patio at The Patio at Las Sendas restaurant has one of the best sunset views in the East Valley -- worth staying for a drink even if you didn't play.
Longbow Golf Club
An 18-hole championship layout 20 minutes from both downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale, Longbow delivers resort-caliber conditioning at public course access. Mature mesquite trees line generous fairways, and the routing balances risk-reward holes with more forgiving stretches. The practice facility is extensive, with a grass driving range that alone justifies the trip for serious players working on their game.
- Par: 71 | Yardage: up to 7,050 yards
- Green Fees: $169 - $225
- Address: 5601 E Longbow Pkwy, Mesa, AZ 85215
Insider tip: Longbow's "Flight Card" loyalty program drops per-round costs significantly if you play Mesa regularly. Summer rates slash prices by 50% or more -- pair a 6:30 AM tee time with a late breakfast and you'll beat both the heat and the peak pricing.
Red Mountain Ranch Country Club
The only Pete Dye signature design in Arizona, Red Mountain Ranch brings Dye's trademark railroad-tie bunkers, forced carries, and optical illusions to the East Valley. This semi-private club opens tee times to the public up to 13 days in advance, giving visitors access to a course that most assume is members-only.
- Par: 72 | Yardage: up to 6,759 yards
- Green Fees: $69 - $137
- Address: 6425 E Teton Cir, Mesa, AZ 85215
Insider tip: If you've never played a Pete Dye course, Red Mountain Ranch is a bargain introduction. Play the forward tees your first time through -- Dye's visual tricks can add 5 strokes before you figure out what's real and what's illusion.
Superstition Springs Golf Club
Named after the Superstition Mountains looming to the east, this championship daily fee course puts water in play on several holes and demands accurate approach shots into well-guarded greens. The 7,005-yard layout from the tips is a legitimate test, but four sets of tees make it playable for every skill level.
- Par: 72 | Yardage: up to 7,005 yards
- Green Fees: $79 - $149
- Address: 6542 E Baseline Rd, Mesa, AZ 85206
Insider tip: Superstition Springs Mall sits directly across the street. Coordinate with non-golfers in your group -- they shop while you play 18, then meet for lunch. Problem solved.
Dobson Ranch Golf Course
Mesa's most accessible municipal course sits in the heart of the city's residential core. At $39-69 for 18 holes, Dobson Ranch is where East Valley locals play their regular Saturday games. The flat, walkable layout won't punish you for leaving the driver in the bag, and conditions stay respectable year-round thanks to consistent city maintenance.
- Par: 72 | Yardage: up to 6,712 yards
- Green Fees: $39 - $69
- Address: 2155 S Dobson Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202
Insider tip: Dobson Ranch is about 10 minutes south of Sloan Park, making it the easiest golf-to-baseball pairing in Mesa. Play a morning round, grab lunch at a nearby spot on Dobson Road, then walk into a 1 PM spring training game.
Augusta Ranch Golf Club
This executive-length 18-hole course (par 61) fills a gap that full-length courses can't: a real 18-hole round in under 3 hours at green fees starting below $20. At 2,401 S Lansing in southeast Mesa, Augusta Ranch draws retirees, beginners, and scratch players working on their short game in equal measure.
- Par: 61 | Yardage: varies
- Green Fees: $18 - $52
- Cart Fee: $15 per person for 18 holes
- Address: 2401 S Lansing, Mesa, AZ 85209
Insider tip: The $18 summer twilight rate is the cheapest 18-hole round you'll find in the East Valley. Add a $15 cart fee and you're playing 18 holes of well-kept golf for $33 total.
Getting to Mesa from Scottsdale and Phoenix
Mesa sits directly east of Scottsdale and tempe along the US-60 (Superstition Freeway) and Loop 101/Loop 202 corridors.
| From | To Mesa (Downtown) | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Central Scottsdale | 25 minutes | Loop 101 South to US-60 East |
| North Scottsdale | 35 minutes | Loop 101 South to US-60 East |
| Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport | 20 minutes | Loop 202 East |
| Tempe | 15 minutes | US-60 East |
| 15 minutes | Loop 202 North |
Most Mesa courses have free parking -- another small savings over Scottsdale resort courses that charge $10-20 for valet or self-park.
Best Time to Play Golf in Mesa
Peak Season (January - April)
The sweet spot. Daytime highs in the 70s and 80s, combined with spring training crowds, make this the busiest (and most expensive) window. Book tee times at least a week in advance for popular courses like Las Sendas and Longbow.
Shoulder Season (October - December, May)
Temperatures drop from triple digits back into the 80s and 90s in fall, making October through December increasingly comfortable. May is the reverse -- still playable with early morning starts, and courses begin dropping to summer pricing. Shoulder seasons offer the best value-to-weather ratio.
Summer (June - September)
Temperatures regularly hit 105-115 degrees Fahrenheit, and courses respond by slashing rates 40-60%. If you can handle a 6:00 AM tee time and finish by 10:30, summer Mesa golf is absurdly cheap. Augusta Ranch at $18, Dobson Ranch under $40, and even Las Sendas drops below $100.
Pairing Golf with Spring Training
Mesa's unique selling point for golf travelers is its Cactus League infrastructure. Here's how to build a day:
- 6:30 AM -- Tee off at Dobson Ranch or Augusta Ranch (close to stadiums, affordable)
- 10:30 AM -- Finish round, grab breakfast at one of Mesa's Main Street restaurants
- 1:05 PM -- Cubs or Athletics spring training game at Sloan Park
- 5:00 PM -- Post-game drinks at the Downtown Mesa craft brewery district
For a premium version, replace the morning round with Las Sendas (the views pair well with the excitement of opening day) and add dinner at The Patio at Las Sendas overlooking the city lights.
Internal Links: More Scottsdale-Area Golf
- Looking for ? Several Mesa courses make our budget list.
- Planning a full trip? Our covers logistics, timing, and packing.
- Want to compare Mesa with ? See how the two areas stack up on value.
- Considering a resort stay? Check our for packages that include East Valley courses.
- Nearby offer LPGA-venue Whirlwind and value courses like Kokopelli.
- For championship desert golf north of Mesa, explore including and .
- See our for dramatic Superstition Mountain courses east of Mesa.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many golf courses are in Mesa, AZ?
Mesa has more than a dozen golf courses within city limits and over 40 within a 30-minute drive. Options range from 9-hole executive courses like Royal Palms ($25-40) to championship layouts like Las Sendas ($69-249). The diversity of course types and price points is Mesa's biggest strength compared to neighboring Scottsdale.
Is Mesa golf cheaper than Scottsdale golf?
Yes, substantially. Comparable quality courses in Mesa run 30-50% less than their Scottsdale equivalents. A round that costs $200+ at a Scottsdale resort course might cost $100-150 at a Mesa championship course like Longbow or Superstition Springs. Municipal and budget courses in Mesa start as low as $18 for 18 holes.
What is the best golf course in Mesa?
Las Sendas Golf Club holds the top spot, rated the number one public course in Arizona by the Phoenix Business Journal annually since 1995. The Robert Trent Jones Jr. design climbs through the Usery Mountain foothills with dramatic elevation changes and panoramic valley views. For value, Dobson Ranch and Augusta Ranch deliver solid golf under $70 and $52 respectively.
Can I play golf and see a spring training game on the same day in Mesa?
Absolutely -- it's one of Mesa's best features. Courses like Dobson Ranch and Augusta Ranch sit within 10-15 minutes of Sloan Park, where the Cubs play. Book an early tee time (6:30-7:00 AM), finish by 10:30, and you'll be at the ballpark with time to spare before the 1:05 PM first pitch.
When is the best time to golf in Mesa?
January through April offers perfect weather (70s-80s) but the highest rates. For the best value, play in October-November or May when temperatures are still comfortable but prices drop 20-30%. Summer rounds (June-September) are the cheapest but require 6:00 AM starts to beat the 105-degree heat.
Is Mesa close enough to Scottsdale for a golf trip?
Mesa is 25 minutes from central Scottsdale via the Loop 101. Many golfers base their Arizona trip in Scottsdale and drive to Mesa for specific courses, or vice versa. Staying in Mesa gives you lower hotel rates plus quick access to both Mesa courses and Scottsdale's golf corridor -- the best of both worlds for budget-conscious travelers.
