With six Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and spread over 8,000 acres Desert Mountain is a resort that stands out. Geronimo, one of the six courses, has been ranked as top ten in Arizona.

Escape the retirees and weekend travelers of Scottsdale and make your way north to Mogollon Rim Country. At nearly a mile of elevation you’re sure to experience more mild weather than in the cities, with average daily high temperature of 20 degrees lower than Phoenix. Additionally, The Rim Golf Club was careful to design the course within the confines of the nature around, maintaining a decent habitat for the local wildlife.

Speaking of keeping land intact, Desert Forest Golf Club architect Robert Lawrence left as much landscape in place as possible. The name of this city alone should calm your nerves on the course and remind you that it’s just a game, here you are Carefree.

This truly is a secluded golfing experience where you’ll struggle to find a building outside of the clubhouse. No housing district bordering the fairways, no shopping center a few blocks away. At We-Ko-Pa you’ll be able to shank a few drives without fear of breaking a window, or onlookers snickering.

Just north of Tucson and in the shadow of Mount Lemmon (just kidding, there are no shadows in Arizona) is Stone Canyon. One of the youngest courses on this list, it was a millennium baby built in 2000. It’s considered among the best residential golf courses in the nation so if you like it, well, move there.

The striking views of rocky landscape surround this exclusive resort. Unfortunately, those views are largely unattainable unless you’re a member. In fact, you can’t even log into their website unless you’re a member or prospective member. While it’s morally difficult to give accolades to such an exclusive golf club, we have to acknowledge the reviews and the fact that while pros can get free rounds of golf pretty much anywhere, they still have to dish out the cash (and a lot of it) for the privilege to play at this course. Well, at least it’s consistent in its prices.

Sure, it’s just one 18-hole course but it is a Jack Nicklaus designed course and to get this kind of acclaim with just the one course offering is impressive in itself. If it’s too difficult to grab a tee time, putt around on the nation’s first 18-Hole Putting course.

Pine Canyon is a gorgeous course with mountains flanking it creating sweeping views. Regardless of how great the scenery is, our favorite piece of this course is its 19th hole. And no, we’re not talking about the bar. They actually have a 19th hole that is reminiscent of Tin Cup’s downfall scene.

This private golf club has been around since 1995 and is situated on 640-acres along Pinnacle Peak. There’s not a heck of a lot of water here, so the terrain can be more challenging to make up for it. Good luck!

Arizona is full of golf courses, and magnificent ones as shown in this article, so you’re never far from a world-class golf club. The altitude of Flagstaff makes Forest Highlands a comfortable golfing experience most of the year. And Forest Highlands with its wooded sanctuary of courses that will blow you away.