Set at the foot of the spectacular Superstition Mountains in Arizona, Gold Canyon Golf Resort & Spa offers 36 holes of championship desert golf across two contrasting courses: Dinosaur Mountain and Sidewinder. Located east of Phoenix, the resort combines dramatic mountain scenery, native Sonoran Desert landscapes and significant changes in elevation, making it a memorable addition to an Arizona golf holiday.

The headline attraction is the Dinosaur Mountain Course, designed by Ken Kavanaugh and consistently recognised among Arizona’s leading public and resort courses. The layout climbs and falls through rugged desert terrain, with elevated tees producing panoramic views across the Superstition Mountains and surrounding valley. Dinosaur Mountain also features in Golfweek’s Best 2026 ranking of the top resort courses in the United States, highlighting its continued reputation well beyond Arizona.

Rather than relying on a single standout hole, Dinosaur Mountain offers memorable scenery throughout the round. Dramatic elevation changes regularly influence club selection, while native vegetation, desert carries and strategically positioned bunkers require golfers to think carefully about both distance and direction. The result is an exciting form of target golf where the landscape is as much a part of the experience as the challenge itself.

The Sidewinder Course provides a contrasting test. The layout winds through natural desert arroyos and washes, retaining excellent views of the surrounding mountains while generally offering a different style of challenge from its more dramatic neighbour. The original closing holes are considered among the toughest sections of golf across the resort’s 36 holes, with accuracy particularly important when navigating the desert terrain. Sidewinder has also previously received a four-star rating from Golf Digest.

Having two courses in the same location gives travelling golfers plenty of variety during a longer stay. Dinosaur Mountain delivers the more spectacular mountain-golf experience, while Sidewinder offers another full championship round through classic Arizona desert surroundings.

Golfers can also make use of the Golf Academy at Gold Canyon, where PGA and LPGA professionals provide private lessons, clinics and more extensive golf-school programmes. Instruction can be tailored to different abilities, making the facilities suitable both for experienced golfers and those wanting to work on their game during their trip.

With 36 holes, striking Superstition Mountain scenery and two contrasting desert layouts, Gold Canyon Golf Club is an excellent choice for an Arizona golf holiday, particularly for golfers looking to venture beyond central Phoenix and Scottsdale in search of one of the state’s most visually distinctive golf experiences.