Phoenix municipal golf courses: every city course, the posted rates and the Phoenix Golf Card
Phoenix municipal golf courses compared: Aguila, Encanto, Cave Creek, Palo Verde, Papago and GCU, with posted 2026 rates, the Phoenix Golf Card and overseed.
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Phoenix municipal golf courses are the cheapest full-length golf in the Valley: four city facilities (Aguila, Encanto, Cave Creek and Palo Verde) with posted walking rates of $60 to $74 for 18 this fall, plus two partnership courses, Papago and GCU. The Phoenix Golf Card cuts those rates further for $60 a year for county residents, and all six had reopened from overseed by November 2, 2026.
This guide puts every Phoenix municipal golf course side by side with the city's posted rates, the card, booking rules and overseed dates.
Quick facts
- City courses: Aguila 18 and Aguila 9, Encanto 18 and Encanto 9, Cave Creek 18, Palo Verde 9.
- Partnership courses: Papago and Grand Canyon University (GCU), Phoenix card valid.
- Posted 18-hole walking rates, fall 2026: $60 to $74 public, before 1 PM. Cart $18.
- Phoenix Golf Card: $60 first year, $40 renewal (Maricopa County residents); $120 non-resident; senior card 62+.
- Booking: 9 days out; card holders 10 to 14 days online for a fee.
- Overseed 2026: October 5 to November 1, course by course.
Phoenix municipal golf courses compared
| Course | Holes | Back tees | Public walking rate, fall 2026 | Phoenix card | Drive from Old Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papago | 18 | 7,333 (74.7/129) | from $109 on GolfNow (not on city sheet) | honoured | 9 min |
| Encanto 9 | 9 | not captured | $25 / $27 | $19 / $21 | 21 min |
| Encanto | 18 | not captured | $61 / $66 | $47 / $49 | 22 min |
| Palo Verde | 9 | 3,504 over two loops (57.3/81) | $25 / $27 | $19 / $21 | 24 min |
| GCU | 18 | not captured | not captured | valid | 30 min |
| Aguila 9 | 9 | not captured | $18 all day, incl. tax | $15 | 35 min |
| Cave Creek | 18 | 6,732 (71.8/124) | $60 / $65 | $46 / $48 | 35 min |
| Aguila | 18 | 7,007 (72.4/129) | $69 / $74 | $49 / $51 | 36 min |
Weekday / weekend, before 1 PM, for the Phoenix municipal golf courses from the City of Phoenix rate sheets read November 3, 2026. Encanto's rates run November 2 to December 25; Aguila, Palo Verde and Aguila 9 from October 19; Cave Creek from October 26. Green fees exclude cart and tax except at Aguila 9.
The courses
Aguila (Laveen). The longest city 18, just over 7,000 yards, flat and wide open on the south-west edge of Phoenix. Its posted rate is a walking rate, so add $18 for a cart; riders must be 18 or older with a driver's licence. Twilight after 1 PM is $54 and $59. The $18 Aguila 9 shares the site and suits beginners and quick practice nines. See the Aguila course guide.
Encanto (central Phoenix). A classic flat park course in Encanto Park, the closest city 18 to downtown and Midtown hotels. Twilight after 1 PM is $46 and $51 public, $36 and $38 on the card. The Encanto 9 executive course next door is $25 to $27. See the Encanto course guide.
Cave Creek (north Phoenix). A mature city 18 from 1983 along the Cave Creek wash, in Phoenix rather than the town of Cave Creek. Twilight after 1 PM is $45 and $50. It is handy for a north-central Phoenix base. See the Cave Creek course guide.
Palo Verde. A short nine rated as a par-60 over two loops, 3,504 yards. Best for beginners and seniors, with a $10 replay.
Papago. The best-known course on the list, among the buttes of Papago Park 9 minutes from Old Town. It is a partnership facility, priced off the city sheets. See our Papago golf course guide and the Papago course guide.
GCU. The Grand Canyon University course is a city-owned partnership facility operated with the university. Rates were not captured. It rates 4.2 on Google from 867 reviews.
The Phoenix Golf Card
| Card | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maricopa County resident | $60 first year, $40 renewal | all city courses plus Papago and GCU |
| Non-resident | $120 a year | same courses |
| Senior (62+) | lower rates again | e.g. Encanto $43 / $46 fall 2026 |
The city's rewards program and Junior Golf Pass do not apply at Papago or GCU. At Aguila the card rate is about $20 below the public walking rate, so a snowbird playing city courses weekly recovers the card quickly. Whether a winter visitor qualifies for the resident card depends on the city's rules, which were not checked; ask a pro shop. Compare every Valley discount card in Phoenix golf passes.
Booking a city tee time
- Window: 9 days out at the posted rates.
- Card holders: 10 to 14 days out online, for a convenience fee.
- Where: phoenix.gov/parks/golf/book-now, or the pro shop on 602-534-4653 (extension 1 Aguila, 2 Cave Creek, 3 Encanto, 4 Encanto 9, 5 Palo Verde).
- Groups: Aguila's posted rates are valid for up to 12 players.
- Juniors: 17 and under walk Aguila for $22; Cave Creek's junior walking rate is also $22.
See Scottsdale tee times.
2026 overseed and aeration dates
| Course | Fall overseed 2026 | Summer aeration 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Aguila and Aguila 9 | Oct 5-19 | Jul 6-7, Aug 17-18 |
| Palo Verde | Oct 5-18 | Jun 1-2, Aug 3-4 |
| Cave Creek | Oct 12-25 | Jun 8-9, Aug 3-4 |
| Papago | Oct 13-29 | Jun 8-10, Aug 10-12 |
| GCU | Oct 13-29 | Jul 6-9 |
| Encanto 18 | Oct 19 - Nov 1 | Jun 16-17, Aug 11-12 |
| Encanto 9 | Oct 19 - Nov 1 | Jun 15, Aug 10 |
From the City of Phoenix 2026 schedule, revised October 20, 2026. The staggered dates mean at least one city course was open through most of October. Expect young rye for a few weeks after each reopening. See the Phoenix golf overseed guide.
Rates through the year
| Course | Summer 2026 (Jun 1 - Sep 6) | Fall 2026 | Feb 2 - May 31, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aguila | $33 / $38 before 3 PM | $69 / $74 | $69 / $74 |
| Encanto | $29 / $34 before 3 PM | $61 / $66 | $60 / $65 |
| Cave Creek | $29 / $34 before 3 PM | $60 / $65 | $60 / $65 |
| Encanto 9 and Palo Verde | $17 / $19 | $25 / $27 | $26 / $27 |
| Aguila 9 | $15 | $18 | $18 |
Public walking rates, weekday / weekend. The December 26, 2026 to February 1, 2027 sheet was not yet published. Summer is very hot, with Sky Harbor normal highs of 104.2F in June and 106.5F in July, so book dawn. See Phoenix winter golf for snowbirds.
Which Phoenix municipal golf course for your base
Phoenix municipal golf courses are spread across the city, so the right one depends on where you sleep:
| Base | Nearest city course | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town Scottsdale | Papago | 9 min |
| Arizona Biltmore | Palo Verde / Encanto | 13 / 17 min |
| Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs (north Phoenix) | Cave Creek | 9 min |
| Arizona Grand Resort (Phoenix/Tempe border) | Aguila | 21 min |
| Tempe Mission Palms | Encanto | 19 min |
Drive times are free-flow estimates; Loop 101, Loop 202 and I-10 rush hours can add 15 to 30 minutes. From north or central Scottsdale, Papago is the only Phoenix municipal golf course that is truly close; the others are 21 to 36 minutes from Old Town.
Other cities' munis
Phoenix is not the only city with public golf. Tempe's Ken McDonald, a flat 6,743-yard muni (71.5/125), showed $34.58 to $52.62 on GolfLink for September 8, 2026, and Tempe resident rates there are capped at a $2 yearly rise under its operating deal. In Papago Park, Tempe's Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills is a lit executive 18 for night golf. Neither is on the Phoenix Golf Card's list of courses. See Tempe golf courses.
Using the city courses on a winter stay
For a 1 to 4 month winter, the Phoenix municipal golf courses make a cheap weekly backbone: a card, a 9-day booking habit, and two or three rounds a week between $46 and $51 on the card at Encanto, Cave Creek or Aguila. Mix in Papago and a resort round or two. A sample rotation is in the snowbird golf schedule for Phoenix, and the rest of the city's golf is in Phoenix golf courses.
Wintering in Tucson instead? Compare Tucson city golf courses and Tucson golf passes.
Plan it on the map
Open the Scottsdale golf map to see every Phoenix municipal golf course with its overseed dates and drive time. The $30 plan can cover a whole winter stay, with a weekly rotation built around the city courses and the Phoenix Golf Card.
Courses in this guide
Questions golfers ask
How many Phoenix municipal golf courses are there?
The city runs Aguila (an 18 and a 9), Encanto (an 18 and an executive 9), Cave Creek (18) and Palo Verde (9). Papago and the Grand Canyon University course are city-owned partnership facilities where the Phoenix Golf Card is also valid.
How much is a round at a Phoenix municipal golf course?
On the city's November 2 to December 25, 2026 sheet, Encanto's public walking rate is $61 weekday and $66 weekend before 1 PM. Aguila's October 19 to December 25 rate is $69 and $74, and Cave Creek's is $60 and $65. Carts are $18 extra per 18.
What is the Phoenix Golf Card and how much does it cost?
It is the city's discount card. Maricopa County residents pay $60 the first year and $40 to renew, non-residents pay $120 a year, and a senior card for 62 and over gets lower rates again. It works at every city course plus Papago and GCU, though the city rewards program does not apply at those two.
How far ahead can I book a City of Phoenix tee time?
Tee times open 9 days out at the posted rates. Phoenix card holders can book 10 to 14 days out online for a convenience fee. Book at phoenix.gov/parks/golf/book-now or through the pro shop.
When are the Phoenix city courses closed for overseed?
The City of Phoenix 2026 schedule, revised October 20, 2026, lists Aguila October 5-19, Palo Verde October 5-18, Cave Creek October 12-25, Encanto 18 and Encanto 9 October 19 to November 1, and Papago and GCU October 13-29. All had reopened by November 2, 2026.
What is the cheapest round at a Phoenix city course?
Aguila 9 is $18 all day for the public from October 19 to December 25, 2026, including tax, or $15 with the Phoenix card. Encanto 9 and Palo Verde are $25 weekday and $27 weekend on the same sheet.
Are Phoenix municipal rates higher after Christmas?
The December 26, 2026 to February 1, 2027 rate sheet was not yet published when we checked. For a guide, the February 2 to May 31, 2026 walking rate was $60 and $65 at Encanto and Cave Creek and $69 and $74 at Aguila before 2 PM.
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