Raven Golf Club is cut into the lower slope of South Mountain on Baseline Road, about 15 minutes from Sky Harbor. Its trick is surprise: more than 6,000 mature pine trees line the fairways, so it plays more like a parkland course than a desert one. Gary Panks and David Graham designed it, and Arcis Golf, which owns it, completed a full bunker and tee renovation in January 2024. Golfweek has listed it 20th among Arizona’s public courses.
Raven Golf Club green fees and tee times.
Book public tee times through the ezLinks tee sheet linked from the Raven page on the Arcis site, or call 602-243-3636. Raven does not publish a rate card; the price for each slot appears on the tee sheet. Arcis Players’ Card holders use a separate member sheet with an eight-day window and at least 20 per cent off. Pay online or at check-in by card or cash. Arcis asks golfers to arrive 30 minutes early and to check in at the shop even after paying online. Dress rules follow the Arcis standard: collared or golf shirts for men, soft spikes or athletic shoes, and no denim, cut-offs or non-golf athletic wear.
The round, in perspective.
Raven is a par 72 of 7,078 yards from the back, with several sets of tees for shorter games. The 2024 project rebuilt all 60 sand bunkers with lined bases and a white sand blend shipped from Simi Valley in California, levelled and regrassed tees, upgraded drainage across the course, framed tee boxes in red decomposed granite and cleared non-native trees that blocked sightlines. On the 11th, one large bunker became three. The 7th, a par 3 that reaches beyond 200 yards from the back, again shows its lake on the left and a bunker that runs the length of the hole, both hidden before the clearing. With pines rather than desert along the edges, trouble off the tee comes from trees rather than cactus, and the Phoenix skyline fills the views north.
Know before you go.
Golf shop
602-243-3636
Range
40 balls US$13; 80 balls US$18
Range quirks
Closes 3 hours early on Tuesdays; wedges only for the first 90 minutes on Wednesdays
Dress
Collared golf shirts for men; soft spikes; no denim
Make the trip work.
The double-sided grass range closes at different times through the year: 4.30pm from late October to January, 5.30pm in February and March, and 6.30pm in summer. Grill 36 in the clubhouse serves American food with a Southwest edge at breakfast and lunch, and its happy hour is a local draw; the bar opens at 6am. The Nest, the rebuilt halfway house, has a patio, a full bar and grab-and-go food, and The Perch adds lawn games and cold drinks after the round. The short-game area has a putting green and a chipping zone with sand bunkers and contoured grass, and the last bucket is sold 30 minutes before the range closes.
Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) is about seven miles north; allow 15 minutes via the I-10 and Baseline Road. The club is at 3636 East Baseline Road, Phoenix. Old Town Scottsdale is around 30 minutes north, so Raven fits best into a south-side or airport-based trip.
The Arizona Grand Resort and Spa, at the foot of South Mountain off the I-10, is a few minutes away and has its own water park for families. Hotels around Tempe and the airport are within 15 minutes. For a resort week with more golf on the doorstep, the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass sits next to Whirlwind, about 15 minutes south.
Make a trip of it.
Whirlwind at Wild Horse Pass and Ocotillo in Chandler are both about 20 to 25 minutes south-east, and Papago is around 20 minutes north. Together they make a compact south-Phoenix rotation close to the airport. Away from golf, South Mountain Park and Preserve, one of the largest city parks in the country, has hiking trails and the Dobbins Lookout viewpoint over the Valley.
Find your season.
Winter and spring are the busy months, with the Phoenix Open week in February especially full. Hot summer days bring lower prices and early tee times. Expect an autumn overseed closure, as at most Valley courses, and ask the shop for the dates before booking October.
Yes. It is a daily-fee course owned by Arcis Golf, and anyone can book through the public tee sheet or by phone. Membership and the Arcis Players’ Card are optional extras for regular players.
What changed at Raven in the 2024 renovation?
All 60 bunkers were rebuilt with Better Billy Bunker liners and new white sand, tees were levelled and regrassed, and trees that blocked sightlines were removed. One big bunker on the 11th became three. The halfway house, The Nest, was reimagined with a new patio.
How far is Raven Golf Club from Phoenix airport?
About seven miles, roughly 15 minutes by car. Combined with Papago, also near Sky Harbor, it makes an easy arrival and departure pair.
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.
