| Papago Golf Club |
Arizona is the home of an incredible Golf – Scottsdale, Tucson, Sedona and Desert – Edelstones everywhere – but like everywhere, not every course is a winner. Based on reviews of golfers, course conditioning, layout quality and general value, here are three of the worst rated traditional golf courses in Arizona:
1. Papago Golf Club (Phoenix) – Historical Inconsistent
-A local favorite, Papago has struggled over the years with conditioning and tempo-play problems.
– Despite organizing large events in the past, many golfers report thin fairways, fragmentary greens and overpopulation.
– The set-up in the city means that maintenance varies solid some days, others downright frustrating.
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| Ahwatukee Golf Club |
2. Ahwatukee Country Club (Phoenix Area) – Tired and outdated
– A once charming layout that has fallen into disrepair.
– Players complain about infertile fairways, slow greens and neglected bunkers.
– The design itself is flat and repetitive and offers little of the desert golf experience that Arizona is known for.
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| Cave Creek Golfbaan |
3. Cave Creek Golfbaan (Phoenix – City Muni) – Value, but at costs
– Popular because it is cheap and accessible, but often beaten with T -shirt.
– The conditions are usually rough: bare spots, muddy spots and extremely slow rounds.
– For many locals it is seen as a “mucus course” – good for practice, but not for a pleasant round.
Note: These are not unplayable-they are still a goal for budget-friendly wave or beginners. But compared to the Elite tracks from Arizona (such as Throne North, We-Ko-Pa or Grayhawk), they land at the bottom of the ranking for conditioning, playability and value.
Here is a look at what recent reviews (2024–2025) say about those three courses you asked about. Some confirm the symptoms, others show improvements. You decide whether they still earn the status of the “worst in Arizona”.
1. Papago Golf Club (Phoenix)
What people say lately:
-On GolfPass, various recent reviews are views, layout and “excellent layout and landscape.” Some say that Greens and Fairways are well maintained.
But there are also plenty of complaints:
– Pace of playing is a common complaint (slow rounds).
Golf pass
– Some say that the value does not match the price- especially for non-rooms. They feel that you pay a premium for the location and name instead of excellence.
– The conditions are not uniform good – Some reports of thin grass, rough spots, T -shirt boxes that require repair.
Golf pass
Conclusion:
Papago seems to have mixed reviews. It is not unanimously “bad” – much fun and likes it, especially for what it offers. But the weaknesses (pace, price, inconsistent state) harm his reputation. It may no longer be in the bottom layer, but it can slide if expectations remain high.
2. Ahwatukee Country Club (Ahwatukee Golf Club)
What people say lately:
GolfPass shows an average rating around 3.1 / 5 based on ~ 2,000+ reviews. The most important negatives are in ‘circumstances’, ‘tempo’ and ‘facilities’.
Various reviews complain about muddy or dirty fairways, problems with wetness, poor bunker disease, slow play and general decline.
Golf pass
On the other hand, a report has been made of new property (since ~ 2023) and efforts to improve. Some reviews note improvements in fitness and service.
Swarm
Conclusion:
Ahwatukee still suffers from many of the problems you would expect in a “bad” course (bad conditions, pace, value). There are signs of recovery, so whether it is one of the “worst” depends on how much weight you have made on those improvements versus bad recent rounds. At the moment it is certainly on a lower layer.
3. Cave Creek Golf Course (Phoenix, City Muni)
What people say lately:
Some recent reviews are surprisingly positive. Golfers say that the course has done repairs, the circumstances have improved, especially with greens and sandfalls. The layout is still loved.
That said, there are constant complaints:
– The pace of playing is often bad – rounds take longer than expected.
Golf pass
– Some places of the course are rough, especially outside of fairways. Facilities/service problems appear.
Golf pass
– But the prices/value is praise from many. People tend to say: “For what you pay, you get a considerable experience.”
Golf pass
Conclusion:
Cave Creek is somewhere in the middle. It is not unspoilt or perfect, but for a public Muni course many think it is acceptable, especially considering the costs. It probably doesn’t deserve to be in the absolute worst list, but some rounds certainly disappoint.
Bottom Line
Based on recent reviews:
– Ahwatukee Country Club still seems to be a strong candidate for “one of the worst” due to consistent negative feedback on circumstances, pace and value.
– Papago has mixed reviews: many positives, but recurring complaints prevent it from becoming a “top” course for many.
– Cave Creek, although imperfect, has sufficiently positive feedback and value that it can be above the worst tier in many people’s books.
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