Frommer's active pursuits

updated 1:27 p.m. ET July 10, 2006

With nearly 200 courses in the Valley of the Sun, golf is just about the most popular sport in Phoenix and one of the main reasons people flock here in winter. Sunshine, spectacular views, and the company of coyotes, quails, and doves make playing a round of golf here a truly memorable experience.

Despite the number of courses, it can still be difficult to get a tee time on any of the more popular courses (especially during the months of Feb, Mar, and Apr). If you're staying at a resort with a course, be sure to make your tee-time reservations at the same time you make your room reservations. If you aren't staying at a resort, you might still be able to play a round on a resort course if you can get a last-minute tee time. Try one of the tee-time reservations services below.

The only thing harder than getting a winter or spring tee time in the Valley is facing the bill at the end of your 18 holes. Greens fees at most public and resort courses range from $90 to $170, with the top courses often charging $200 to $250 or more. Municipal courses, on the other hand, charge under $40. You can save money on many courses by opting for twilight play, which usually begins between 1 and 3 p.m.

You can get more information on Valley of the Sun golf courses from the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, 50 N. Second St. (tel. 877/225-5749 or 602/452-6282; www.visitphoenix.com).

It's a good idea to make reservations well in advance. You can avoid the hassle of booking tee times yourself by contacting Golf Xpress (tel. 888/679-8246 or 602/404-GOLF; www.azgolfxpress.com), which can make reservations farther in advance than you could if you called the golf course directly, and can sometimes get you lower greens fees as well. This company also makes hotel reservations, rents golf clubs, and provides other assistance to golfers visiting the Valley. For last-minute reservations, call Stand-by Golf (tel. 800/655-5345; www.discountteetimes.com).

The many resort courses are the favored fairways of Valley visitors. For spectacular scenery, the two Jay Morrish-designed 18-hole courses at The Boulders, North Scottsdale Road and Carefree Highway, Carefree (tel. 800/553-1717 or 480/488-9009; www.thebouldersclub.com), just can't be beat. Given the option, play the South Course, and watch out as you approach the tee box on the 7th hole -- it's a real heart-stopper. Tee times for nonresort guests are very limited in winter and spring (try making reservations a month in advance if you aren't staying at the resort). You'll pay $245 to $290 for a round in winter, $195 to $220 in spring.

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Jumping over to Litchfield Park, on the far west side of the Valley, there's The Wigwam Golf Club & Spa, 300 Wigwam Blvd. (tel. 800/909-4224 or 623/935-3811), which has, count 'em, three championship 18-hole courses. The Gold Course is legendary, but even the Blue and Red courses are worth playing. These are traditional courses for purists who want vast expanses of green rather than cactus and boulders, and in the past couple of years, all three courses have been renovated. In high season, greens fees are $135 for any of the three courses and $45 in summer. Reservations for nonguests can be made no more than 7 days in advance.

Way over on the east side of the Valley at the foot of the Superstition Mountains is the Gold Canyon Golf Resort, 6100 S. Kings Ranch Rd., Gold Canyon (tel. 800/827-5281 or 480/982-9449; www.gcgr.com), which has been rated the best public course in the state and has three of the state's best holes -- the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th on the visually breathtaking, desert-style Dinosaur Mountain course. Greens fees on this course range from $157 to $187 in winter and from $57 to $67 in summer. The Sidewinder course is more traditional and less dramatic, but much more economical. Greens fees are $87 to $102 in winter and $42 to $47 in summer. Reserve a week in advance. It's well worth the drive.

If you want a traditional course that has been played by presidents and celebrities alike, try to get a tee time at one of the two 18-hole courses at the Arizona Biltmore Country Club, 24th Street and Missouri Avenue (tel. 602/955-9655). The courses here are more relaxing than challenging, good to play if you're not yet up to par. Greens fees are $175 to $195 in winter and spring. Reservations can be made up to 2 months in advance. There's also a championship 18-hole putting course.

Of the two courses at the Camelback Golf Club, 7847 N. Mockingbird Lane (tel. 800/24-CAMEL or 480/596-7050), the Resort Course underwent a $16-million redesign a few years ago and has new water features and bunkers. The Club Course is a links-style course with great mountain views and lots of water hazards. Resort Course greens fees are $96 to $170 in winter; Club Course fees are $80 to $125 in winter. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance.

Set at the base of Camelback Mountain, the Phoenician Golf Club, 6000 E. Camelback Rd. (tel. 800/888-8234 or 480/423-2449; www.thephoenician.com), at the Valley's most glamorous resort, has 27 holes that mix traditional and desert styles. Greens fees for nonresort guests are $110 to $180 in winter and spring, $60 to $90 in summer, and can be made up to 60 days in advance.

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