Northern Arizona

Northern Arizona will never be mistaken for the Valley of the Sun when it comes to golf, and therein lies the beauty.

At elevations ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level, the northern part of the state presents golfers with a completely different set of challenges, landscapes, and (for the budget minded) price points.

While perhaps not packaged and marketed as efficiently as its southern siblings, golf in this land of stark landscapes and surreal beauty has just as much to offer. From Prescott to Flagstaff, the golf courses are memorable, affordable and priced to please.

If it is roller coaster style drama you crave, the Randy Heckenkemper-designed Stoneridge golf course in Prescott Valley boasts over 350 feet of elevation changes and gorgeous views of Prescott below.

To the north, Sedona Golf Resort anchors the golf scene in this bastion of new age philosophy. The Gary Panks-designed course continually ranks among the state's best and the views of the surrounding red rocks alone are worth the price of admission.

Further to the north, Flagstaff and its environs begin to take on an Alpine feel more reminiscent of the Colorado Rockies than Arizona.

Nestled in the small town of Williams is Elephant Rocks, a golf course unlike any other you'll find in points south.

A recent facelift to the venerable track (circa 1928) has given it a new life, and golfers plenty of new challenges.

Whether it's knocking it around amid the red rocks or testing your mettle against Prescott's best, it is hard to top Northern Arizona golf on variety, scenery and price.

Northern Arizona Frequently Asked Questions

Just how high is Northern Arizona?
Elevations range from 5,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level. As a result, golf balls can travel about 10 percent further. In other words, a 150 yard shot will go about 165 yards.

Does Arizona have ski areas in the winter?
Snow falls in the northern part of the state. The two largest ski spots are Sunrise Ski Area in the White Mountains and Arizona Snowbowl outside Flagstaff.

What are the temperatures like in Northern Arizona?
In the deserts in Central Arizona, winter temperatures average in the 50s and summer temperatures average in the 80s and 90s. In the high country like Flagstaff, winter temps are in the 20s and 30s on average, and summer temps average in the 70s.

What is the weather like at the Grand Canyon?
It varies. At the South Rim (elev. 6,950 feet), temperatures reach the mid-80s in the summer and highs are in the upper 30s and lower 40s in the winter. In the inner gorge of the canyon, summer highs average over 100 degrees and winter highs are a pleasant 50s or low 60s with rare freezes. On the North Rim (elev. 8,400 feet), summers are cool with highs in the 60s and 70s. Snows pile up to 6 to 10 feet in the winter on the North Rim, and the National Park Service doesn't keep roads there open from early November to mid-May.

What's the nearest city to the canyon?
Flagstaff is the nearest city to the South Rim; Page, Ariz., is the North Rim's closest city. Flagstaff, a town of about 60,000, has just one public golf course.