Cocopah Bend Golf Course: The Walkable 18 by the Colorado River

Cocopah Bend Golf Course is a short, flat 18-hole par 73 at Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resort on S Strand Avenue in west Yuma, on farmland near the Colorado River. It is open to the public all year except October, plays 5,737 yards from the back tees, and takes tee times and quotes rates by phone only (928-343-1663).

It is run by the Cocopah Indian Tribe, and it is the only Yuma RV resort with its own full 18-hole course. It suits walkers, seniors and resort residents more than golfers chasing a long, demanding layout.

Quick facts

• Where: 6800 S Strand Avenue, about 12 minutes (5.5 miles) from downtown. On the map: Cocopah Bend.
• Course: 18 holes, par 73, 5,257 to 5,737 yards. Opened 1988, per GolfPass.
• Access: public; tee times by phone only, 928-343-1663.
• Rates: not published ("call for winter and summer rates").
• Overseed: closed in October.
• Winter clubs: November to March, men's and ladies' 18- and 9-hole clubs.
• Pro shop: tax-free (tribal land), with an ATM.

The Cocopah Bend course

The course is short and narrow, with straight tree-lined fairways, a few doglegs, lakes on three holes, and washes and fields along the edges. It is flat and easy to walk. The USGA lists it as "Cocopah Golf Resort", par 73.

We rate it 2 of 5. The length is modest, but narrow fairways, water, washes and out of bounds catch loose shots. The back nine is longer and harder. Holes the course itself points out:

• #6: a 270-yard par 4, drivable if you clear the tree guarding the right side.
• #9: a 239-yard par 4, uphill with a bunker in front, and a real birdie chance.
• #17: a 353-yard par 4 with a small fairway. Bail out right and the approach is blind over bushes.
• #18: a 502-yard par 5 with water right and out of bounds left.

Cocopah Bend tees and slopes

These are USGA figures, par 73. The resort site quotes "par 73, 5,731 yards" and some older ratings.

Rates and booking at Cocopah Bend Golf Course

There is no online tee sheet; the course's booking listing has online booking switched off. Call the golf shop at 928-343-1663 for times and prices. On October 23, 2026 the course page still said "Call for Winter and Summer rates", and the resort's 2025-26 activities guide (November to March) listed no green fees. Directory sites show figures, but they are undated estimates, so we do not quote them. The only dated price we found is a TripAdvisor review from March 2023 that reported $32, which tells you little about 2026-27.

Walking is allowed, and cart rental is paid at the pro shop. There is no published rate for RV resort guests or locals, and no stay-and-play discount was found.

If you are staying at the RV resort

Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resort puts the first tee a short walk or golf-cart ride from your rig. The published rates (effective Nov 1, 2025, seen October 2026):

Rates are for two people; each extra guest aged 12 and over adds $5 a night. The card is dated Nov 1, 2025, so a 2026-27 update may follow. Sites are 35 feet wide by 55 feet long with concrete patios, pets have their own section at no extra charge (two per space), and park models are sold on site, not rented.

The resort runs a full winter social calendar from November to April: a heated pool and spa, pickleball, a ballroom for dances, a woodshop and a full-time activity director. A reservation is not confirmed until the resort emails or calls you back, and how far ahead winter fills is not published, so call early for January to March. Our guide to Yuma RV resorts with golf compares it with the other parks.

The catch is location. The resort is on the far west side of Yuma, about 34 minutes from Mesa del Sol and 39 minutes from Las Barrancas, so a winter of Foothills golf means a lot of driving.

If you are not staying there

The course is public, so non-residents just call for a tee time. From the hotels in town it is a short drive west, and it pairs well with the city courses: Arroyo Dunes is 18 minutes away and Desert Hills 20 minutes. See the Desert Hills course guide and the Arroyo Dunes course guide for those two.

Winter club play takes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from November to March, so afternoons and later in the week are easier to get. The pro shop is large and tax-free because the course is on tribal land, stocked with Titleist, Cobra, Cleveland, Ping and FootJoy, and it has an ATM.

Winter golf clubs

The men's 18-hole club provides tee times, handicaps, a club championship and a season-end banquet. Dues cover club membership only, not green fees. The clubs are open to residents and non-residents. For how clubs and leagues work across town, read Yuma golf leagues.

Overseed and conditions

The course says it is open all year except October, for overseed. The Arizona Golf Association's 2026 list shows it overseeding with dates to be confirmed with the course. In 2024 it closed Sep 30 and reopened around Oct 27 (Yuma Sun). Early-season arrivals at the resort should expect no golf on site for the first weeks.

Reviews of conditions are mixed. A 2023 TripAdvisor reviewer found burnt fairways and thin greens, so ask about conditions after the October overseed before booking early November. Our Yuma golf overseed guide covers the rest of town.

Practice and food

There is a driving range with grass stations, a chipping area and two practice putting greens. The 19th Hole Restaurant serves breakfast and lunch overlooking the 1st hole; the website gives Monday to Friday 7 AM to 2 PM and the 2025-26 guide gives Tuesday to Saturday 7 AM to 2 PM, so check before you go. The resort's poolside Cantina opens in winter.

Cocopah Bend vs Cocopah Rio Colorado

The tribe had a second course, the nine-hole Cocopah Rio Colorado in Somerton. It closed permanently on Aug 1, 2023 because of maintenance costs, and its punch cards were moved to Cocopah Bend. Some pages still list Rio Colorado, but they are out of date. If a listing for "Cocopah golf" shows par 73 and 5,737 yards, it is Cocopah Bend.

Who Cocopah Bend suits

• Snowbirds at the resort who want to walk 18 from the rig several mornings a week.
• Seniors and golfers who like short courses. The men's tees run 5,257 to 5,737 yards with slopes of 101 to 110.
• Golfers who want a club structure for the winter: Monday men's play, Wednesday ladies' play and two 9-hole groups.

It suits you less if you want a long test, if you are based in the Foothills, or if you need online booking and posted prices before you commit.

Getting there and the clock

The resort sits in the rural northwest corner of Yuma on S Strand Avenue, and downtown restaurants are a short drive away. One small trap: near the Colorado River and the border, a phone can pick up a California or Mexican cell tower and show the wrong local time. Yuma stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, so from Nov 1, 2026 to Mar 14, 2027 it is one hour ahead of California. Set your tee time by an Arizona clock. Our Yuma time zone guide explains the details.

Is Cocopah Bend Golf Course worth it?

If you are staying at the resort, yes: an 18-hole course you can walk to from the rig, with clubs that build a winter social life around golf. If you are not, it is a quick, walkable round on the west side, best for golfers who like short courses. For the bigger picture, see our list of Yuma golf courses and where to stay in Yuma for golf. The Cocopah Bend course guide has the data.

Plan it on the map

Cocopah Bend is on the Yuma golf map at the west edge of town, with drive times to every other course. The $30 plan can cover a whole winter stay at the resort with a weekly rotation that adds the city and Foothills courses.