Ocotillo Golf Club opened in 1986 in the lake community of the same name in south Chandler, about half an hour south-east of central Phoenix. It is the opposite of the target-desert golf of North Scottsdale. Ted Robinson filled its 27 holes with lakes, cascading waterfalls and green fairways, so water rather than cactus decides most rounds. It is public and run by Arcis Golf, and three nines mean the club can usually find room for a group or a late nine.
Ocotillo Golf Club green fees and tee times.
Ocotillo runs two public tee sheets online: the standard sheet, and Nine & Dine, which pairs nine holes with breakfast at Tillo’s Kitchen and Patio. The golf shop is on 480-917-6660. No rate card is published; prices show when you pick a date and time. Arcis Players’ Card holders book on their own sheet up to eight days ahead and take 20 per cent off the daily rate. Arrive 30 minutes early, drop clubs at the bag drop by the clubhouse entrance and check in at the shop even if you prepaid. Unpaid green and cart fees are settled there by card or cash. Groups that want a set pairing, such as Oasis–Sky, should ask when booking.
The round, in perspective.
Robinson, whose resort courses are known for their water features, built three nines here: Oasis, Sky and Valley. Any two nines make a round, and the three pairings measure between 6,782 and 7,016 yards from the back tees and 5,128 to 5,134 yards from the forward tees. Oasis–Sky is the toughest pairing, rated 72.2 with a slope of 133. Landing areas are generous, so the challenge is the approach: greens sit beside or behind ponds, and waterfalls frame several of them. Golf Digest gives the club four and a half stars, and Golf World once named it a Top 50 Resort.
Know before you go.
Golf shop
480-917-6660
Range
US$12 with a round; US$25 range-only day pass
Range hours
Closes 1 hour before sunset; 4pm on Mondays
Dress
Collared golf shirts for men; no denim, cut-offs or tank tops
Make the trip work.
The double-ended range has 24 bays with both grass and artificial-turf tees, plus separate putting and chipping greens. Range access costs US$12 with a round, so build it into your time. On Mondays the range shuts at 4pm for maintenance, and from Tuesday it opens at 9am. Nine-hole times make Ocotillo a useful arrival-day or departure-day stop, given how close it is to both Phoenix airports. Tillo’s Kitchen and Patio, in the clubhouse, handles breakfast and post-round food.
Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) is about 20 miles north-west; allow around 30 minutes via the I-10 and Loop 202. Phoenix–Mesa Gateway (AZA), served mainly by Allegiant, is a similar drive to the east. The club is at 3751 South Clubhouse Drive, Chandler.
Chandler and Gilbert have plenty of mid-range hotels within 15 minutes. For a resort base, the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, on Gila River Indian Community land south-west of Chandler, has its own golf next door. Downtown Chandler, around 20 minutes north, has restaurants and bars around its central square, and Tempe is a little further for a livelier evening.
Make a trip of it.
Whirlwind’s two Gary Panks courses at Wild Horse Pass are about 20 minutes west, and Raven, below South Mountain, is around 25 minutes away; the three make a south-side week with little driving. Arcis also runs Kokopelli in nearby Gilbert. Away from golf, the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert is a wetland with birdwatching trails, and the Phoenix Zoo is half an hour north.
Find your season.
November to April is the high season, which is when three pairings help most: the shop has more ways to fit a group in on a busy morning. The low desert south of Phoenix runs hot from May, so summer rounds start at first light. Expect overseeding in the autumn; ask the shop for the dates before booking an October trip.
Twenty-seven, in three nines called Oasis, Sky and Valley that can be paired in any combination. The three pairings measure 6,782 to 7,016 yards from the back tees, and Oasis–Sky is the hardest, with a 72.2 rating and 133 slope.
Can I play just nine holes at Ocotillo?
Yes. The Nine & Dine tee sheet sells nine holes with breakfast at Tillo’s; call the shop if you want nine without the meal. That makes it practical for a flight day, as the club is about half an hour from Sky Harbor.
Is Ocotillo a desert course?
Not in the usual Scottsdale sense. Ted Robinson built it around lakes, waterfalls and turf rather than native desert carries, and water is the main hazard on most holes. Players who dislike losing balls in cactus often prefer it.
Last checked 11 November 2026. This is an independent planning guide, not a first-hand review or a booking service. Check live availability, access, fees and travel details with the operator before booking. Airport suggestions are starting points for route planning.
