- The Cactus Club
- Posts
- 10 Most Underrated Golf Holes in The Valley
10 Most Underrated Golf Holes in The Valley
💎Where Arizona golfers skip the crowds
Terence Daniels
May 14, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
This week: Discover 10 underrated golf holes in the valley. Twilight gems, muni standouts, and desert stunners that locals love but tourists always miss.
Thank you, Hubble, for supporting 651 subscribers.
I’ve known Cory, the founder of Hubble, since our mini-tour days over a decade ago. The guy’s been obsessed with this vision ever since.
Hubble makes junior golf tournaments easy to find, plan, and afford — all in one sleek, intuitive platform.
But this isn’t just about golf. It’s a launchpad into the $ 500 B+ global sports travel market.
Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, Hubble saves you time, money, and migraines.
Skip the stress. Plan smarter. Start using Hubble today
It was 7:11 PM in Tempe, Arizona. 92°. Empty tee.
My water bottle had gone full swamp temp. But the 14th at Grass Clippings? Unreal.
Downhill. Framed by rolling hills. Slick with sunset.
Nobody talks about this hole. So I made a list.
These are the 10 most underrated golf holes in the Phoenix area.
And none of them show up in influencer reels.
🔟Grass Clippings – Hole 13 (Par 3)
📍 Tempe
Tiny. Elevated. Wind-exposed. This downhill par 3 is 145 yards but feels like threading a needle in a gust.
“Grass Clippings Rolling Hills is the purest golf hang in town. Walkable, vibes, and built for twilight.”
9️⃣Arizona Biltmore (Links) – Hole 15 (Par 3)
📍 Central Phoenix
80 feet downhill. Camelback. City skyline. And just enough wind to make you question everything.
“Tied my personal low with a 62 at the Links Course. One of those rare rounds where everything clicks and the game feels simple. Might never see another day like it, but I’ll chase it forever.”
8️⃣Aguila – Hole 6 (Par 4)
📍 South Phoenix
Links-style carry with South Mountain in the background, a public golf hidden gem.
7️⃣Papago – Hole 18 (Par 4)
📍 Phoenix
Billy Bell’s OG finisher. Rugged, strategic, and a postcard view of the buttes.
6️⃣We-Ko-Pa (Cholla) – Hole 3 (Par 3)
📍 Fort McDowell
Just desert and sky. No homes. No noise. A pure Sonoran escape.
5️⃣Ak-Chin Southern Dunes – Hole 13 (Par 5)
📍 Maricopa
606 yards of perfectly plotted punishment. If you’re not bomber, it's a 3-shot pop.
4️⃣Lookout Mountain – Hole 10 (Par 4)
📍 North Phoenix
Starts blind off the tee, then winds uphill past desert rocks. Scorable, but never dull.
3️⃣Mountain Shadows – Hole 8 (Par 3)
📍 Paradise Valley
Links-style green. Deep swale. Old-school design nerds, this one’s for you.
“You’ll catch me posted up on the Mountain Shadows website. Eating, drinking, and accidentally becoming the face of the best short course in Arizona.”
2️⃣Raven PHX – Hole 16 (Par 4)
📍 South Phoenix
Tree-lined like Augusta, this par 4 tempts a cut driver but punishes the greedy. Pure twilight tunnel vision.
“Raven Phoenix is my go-to because it doesn’t feel like Phoenix. Tree-lined fairways, pure greens, and just enough bite. It’s golf, not desert drama.”
1️⃣SunRidge Canyon – Hole 14 (Par 3)
📍 Fountain Hills
A golden-hour downhill stunner with water right and canyon walls looming. Just try not to leave it short.
“Back in high school, I worked at SunRidge Canyon. Chasing sunsets, dodging javelina while picking range balls, and winning cart barn races. It was chaos, magic, and golf all wrapped into one.”
Twilight Tips:
🕓 Best played between 3:30–5:00 PM for magic light and quick pace.
💧 Grab water early; some clubhouses are shut by 6.
🌐 Want reviews? What I Really Think About Grass Clippings.
“Not every course needs a $200 green fee to deliver a $1,000 sunset.”
Want the full Hidden Gems archive before the crowds find out?
Vegas is asleep on these players. I’m not.
My 3 bold picks to win the 2025 PGA Championship:— Terence Daniels (@terencedaniels)
10:05 PM • May 13, 2025
Need To Know (National)
🗞️ News
Club Pro Guy’s shocking retirement on September 4, 2024, ended a legendary run of golf satire, leaving Golf Twitter much less funny and way too serious. (more)
🧰Equipment
Bushnell’s new A1 Slope rangefinder brings tour-level accuracy to the mid-tier market at $299, featuring Slope tech, JOLT vibration, 6x magnification, and USB-C charging. (more)
👕Fashion
Stephen Malbon joins Course Café to unpack the rise of Malbon Golf, its global impact, and the deeper story of legacy, family, and lasting influence. (more)
Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.
Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.
Tracking every shot with Big Game
In The Know (Local)
🗓️Events
After a dramatic playoff finish, Kirsty Hodgkins wins her third straight Arizona Women’s Mid-Amateur title, rallying from three back with clutch birdies down the stretch. (more)
U.S. Open dreams ran through Estancia, Arizona’s crown jewel. Brendon Jelley torched the course with a 65. Chip Getz, Jim Knous, and Frederick Egnatios also punched tickets to final qualifying. (more)
📰News
Bank of America’s new “Golf with Us” program gives kids a free year of Youth on Course, making golf more fun, affordable, and accessible for families. (more)
ASU Women’s Golf is headed to its record 39th NCAA Championship after a clutch runner-up finish at Gold Canyon. Next stop: La Costa, May 16–21. (more)
How did you like today's newsletter? |