Papago Golf Club is a championship municipal course in Phoenix offering 7,333 yards of Billy Bell-designed desert golf at rates around $100-$140, with significant discounts available for Maricopa County residents through the Phoenix City Card program.
Located less than two miles from Sky Harbor Airport, this historic track combines challenging championship golf with a full-service restaurant, event facilities, and practice areas—keep reading for complete details on booking, course layout, and everything you need for your visit.
Why Papago Golf Club Stands Out Among Phoenix Courses
You'll find Papago Golf Club nestled at the base of the distinctive Papago Buttes, right where Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale converge.
The location alone makes it remarkable—less than two miles from Sky Harbor Airport and just 15 minutes from downtown Phoenix.
Most courses force you to choose between convenience and quality, but Papago delivers both.
The championship pedigree runs deep here.
William “Billy” Bell designed the original layout in 1963, the same architect behind California's legendary Torrey Pines.
That heritage got a major boost in 2008 when Billy Fuller, a former Augusta National superintendent, led a $5.8 million restoration that modernized the course while respecting Bell's original vision.
Tournament credentials that matter:
- Hosted the 1971 U.S. Amateur Public Links National Championship
- Serves as a regular qualifying site for the Phoenix Open
- Named Top Public Course in Arizona multiple times
- Consistently ranked among the nation's Top 100 Public Courses for decades
The recognition isn't just about past glory.
Since November 2018, Papago has served as the official home course for Arizona State University's men's and women's golf teams through a 30-year partnership with the City of Phoenix.
When a Division I powerhouse like ASU chooses your course, it says something about the caliber of golf you offer.
What really sets Papago apart is how it functions beyond the 18 holes.
This isn't just a place to play a round and leave.
The property has evolved into a genuine neighborhood gathering spot, anchored by Lou's Bar & Grill—a full-service restaurant that draws locals for dinner, happy hour, and live music even when they're not playing golf.
Add in event facilities that host everything from weddings to corporate tournaments, and you've got a facility that serves the community seven days a week in ways most municipal courses never attempt.
Course Layout, Yardages, and What to Expect on the Links
Papago plays as a par 72 championship course with a massive yardage spread—5,404 yards from the forward tees up to 7,333 from the tips.
This range means you can play the course that matches your game rather than feeling overwhelmed or underwhelmed.
Tee box options and ratings:
- Black Tees: 7,333 yards | 75.0 rating / 130 slope
- Blue Tees: 6,771 yards | 72.0 rating / 125 slope
- White Tees: 6,382 yards | 70.0 rating / 122 slope
- Gold/Green Tees (Women): 5,777 yards (Green: 72.7/124) and 5,404 yards (Gold: 70.5/121)
The turf conditions change with the seasons.
You'll play on Bermuda grass fairways during the warm months, but the course overseeds with perennial rye in winter to maintain lush playing surfaces.
The greens use MiniVerde Bermuda, overseeded with poa trivialis when temperatures drop.
These greens run fast and feature plenty of undulation, so plan on spending some time on the practice putting surface before your round.
Desert golf demands accuracy, and Papago reinforces this lesson throughout the layout.
Landing areas get narrow on several holes, forcing you to weigh risk versus reward on your shot selection.
Miss the fairway, and you're likely dealing with rocky desert terrain that offers no sympathy for wayward shots.
Strategic bunker placement and subtle mounding add another layer of challenge without feeling gimmicky or unfair.
Water comes into play on select holes, though it won't dominate your round the way it might at a Florida track.
The real star here is the scenery—you get sweeping views of the Papago Buttes, Camelback Mountain, South Mountain, and the downtown Phoenix skyline as you navigate the course.
Hole 17 deserves special mention as one of the toughest closing par 3s you'll face. From the black tees, it stretches to 243 yards, though it plays a more manageable 140 yards from the forward tees.
Length is the primary difficulty factor across the course—if you pick the right tees for your distance, you'll find Papago challenging but fair for your skill level.
Practical considerations: Peak times and weekends typically mean 4.5 to 5+ hour rounds, so factor that into your planning.
The course aerates greens in October, and you can expect cart path restrictions for roughly three weeks following aeration.
Call ahead during this period if playing conditions matter for your visit.
Green Fees, City Cards, and Booking Your Tee Time
Standard green fees at Papago run between $100 and $140 daily, depending on the season and day of the week.
Add 8.6% sales tax plus a 4% site improvement fee to whatever rate you see quoted.
Your green fee includes complimentary warm-up range balls, and you can rent PING or Callaway clubs if you're traveling without your sticks.
The Phoenix Golf Premium Card changes the math entirely if you live in Maricopa County.
For $60 in the first year and just $40 for annual renewals, you get year-round discounted rates at all Phoenix Golf courses, including Papago.
Seniors 62 and older pay the same rates.
The card stays valid for one year from your purchase date and lets you book tee times up to 9 days in advance at the discounted rate.
You'll need to buy the card in person at any City of Phoenix golf course with proof of Maricopa County residency—an Arizona driver's license or property tax statement works.
The savings add up fast if you play even a handful of rounds per year, making this one of the better deals in Phoenix golf.
Booking windows and reservation timeline:
- Public players: Up to 60 days in advance
- Phoenix City Cardholders: Up to 9 days in advance (discounted rates)
- Cancellation policy: 24 hours notice required or pay $20 no-show charge
You've got plenty of options for actually booking your tee time.
The course website (papagogolfclub.com) works well, as does Troon.com if you're a Troon Rewards member looking to rack up points.
GolfNow, GolfPass, Tee Times USA, and Quick18 all have access to Papago's inventory.
Phone bookings go through the golf shop at (602) 275-8428.
The mobile app offers a bonus incentive through the GolfCash rewards program.
Load $50 and get $55 in credit, load $100 and receive $110, or go big with $300 for $330 in credit.
These credits work faster than fumbling with payment at the counter.
Special booking situations to know: Nine-hole rounds must be arranged by phone rather than online.
Groups of 12 or more players might face additional tournament fees, so call ahead to sort out the details.
During the first two weeks of February when the Waste Management Phoenix Open takes over nearby TPC Scottsdale, rates and tee times at Papago can shift, so don't assume availability is guaranteed during this window.
Practice Facilities, Pro Shop, and Getting Game-Ready
The driving range operates with grass tees Thursday through Sunday and switches to mats Monday through Wednesday.
Range balls cost $7 for a small bucket, $14 for medium, and $20 for a large bucket.
You'll find a large putting green positioned near both the 1st and 10th tees, giving you options depending on which nine you're starting with.
A chipping green sits adjacent to the driving range, and there's a practice bunker available if you need to dial in your sand game.
PGA Professionals work on staff and offer lessons ranging from $50 to $300 depending on the length of the session and package you choose.
Both individual and group instruction are available—call the golf shop to schedule your time slot.
About the ASU Thunderbirds Golf Complex: You'll notice an impressive 7,000-square-foot training facility on the property with a Phil Mickelson-designed 12-acre practice area.
This complex is exclusively reserved for Arizona State University Sun Devil team members and is not accessible to public golfers.
The facility includes indoor hitting bays with TrackMan technology, a golf lab, putting analysis systems, and balance labs.
Outside, there's a four-acre short game area, five practice greens with different slopes, an innovative wedge control system, and a 22,000-square-foot driving range with 21 target greens.
While you won't get access to the ASU facility, the public practice areas give you everything needed to prepare for your round.
The grass tees on the range during peak weekend days are a nice touch that many municipal courses skip, and having putting surfaces near both nines means you can warm up efficiently regardless of your tee time.
Lou Grubb Clubhouse and Lou's Bar & Grill Experience
The 9,000-square-foot Lou Grubb Clubhouse opened in September 2018 and immediately earned recognition from Golf Inc. magazine as one of the year's top nine new public clubhouses nationwide.
Douglas Fredrikson Architects handled the design, creating a mid-century modern stone and steel structure that fits perfectly with the desert landscape.
Lou's Bar & Grill operates as a legitimate full-service restaurant, not just a typical golf course snack bar serving reheated sandwiches.
The venue welcomes both golfers and the general public seven days a week—Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 8:30 PM, and Sunday from 8 AM to 7 PM.
Breakfast runs until 10:30 AM. You can make reservations by calling (602) 358-7004 ext. 1 or booking through OpenTable.
The ratings back up the quality: 4.7 stars on OpenTable across 99 reviews and 4.4 stars on Yelp.
That's impressive for any restaurant, let alone one attached to a golf course.
What makes the space work: Massive garage-style sliding doors open completely to blur the line between indoor and outdoor dining.
The rectangular bar features outdoor seating on two sides, and the positioning gives you sunset views over the Papago Buttes that are hard to beat.
The family and dog-friendly patio sits just 100 feet from the 1st tee, with a large fenced lawn area where kids can play games while adults finish their meals.
Multiple outdoor fire pits create ambiance once the sun goes down.
Live music runs Thursday through Saturday from November through May, turning the venue into a neighborhood gathering spot that draws locals who never pick up a club.
The full bar serves craft cocktails, and the American cuisine menu covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Popular items include the Aloha pizza, berry salad, and quesadillas, though the menu rotates with seasonal offerings.
The clubhouse takes its name from Lou Grubb, with the adjacent event space called Evie's Pavilion after his wife, Evelyn.
It's more than branding—the naming recognizes their connection to the course and the local golf community.
Special Events, Tournaments, and Getting to Papago
Evie's Pavilion serves as the enclosed event hall adjacent to Lou's Bar & Grill, hosting everything from weddings and corporate meetings to baby showers and fantasy football draft parties.
The venue handles fundraisers, charity events, birthday celebrations, and golf tournaments ranging from small group outings to full-field competitions.
For event inquiries and bookings, reach out to aramirez@golfpapago.com.
Getting there from anywhere in Phoenix:
The course sits at 5595 E Karsten Way, Phoenix, AZ 85008.
If you're flying in, you're looking at just 8 miles and roughly 12 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport—one of the shortest airport-to-course drives you'll find at any quality facility.
From I-10, take Exit 4 for 52nd Street, head south toward Van Buren, and follow the signs into Papago Park.
On-site parking handles golfers, restaurant visitors, and event attendees, though arriving early during tournaments or special events saves you from circling the lot.
The main golf shop number is (602) 275-8428 for any questions about tee times, lessons, or course conditions.
Troon Golf manages the facility and runs a “Featured Golfer of the Day” program that emphasizes customer service throughout your visit.
If you're a Troon Rewards member, booking through Troon.com lets you earn points that work across their portfolio of courses nationwide.
One final practical note: remember that October aeration period mentioned earlier.
If you're planning a trip during that month, call ahead to check current course conditions before finalizing your booking.
Cart path restrictions can last roughly three weeks following aeration, and while the course remains playable, it's worth knowing what to expect so there are no surprises when you arrive.
Conclusion
Papago Golf Club delivers championship-caliber golf at municipal rates, combining Billy Bell's classic design with modern amenities that extend well beyond the 18 holes.
Whether you're a Maricopa County resident taking advantage of the City Card discounts or a visitor looking for a quality round near the airport, the course offers genuine value and a complete experience.
Book your tee time through the website or call (602) 275-8428 to get started.
