Tee-rific Off-Course Golf Experiences and More

There's more than just playing one good golf course after another in Arizona. What if your clubs are not exactly cooperating, and you want to get some new ones? Or you still like your clubs, but you realize they need new grips? Maybe you forgot to pack a second pair of shorts, or interested in a good deal on a colorful skort? How about finetuning your putting, but in a fun, social atmosphere rather than on a lonely practice green? You can do and find all of those things and more at various locations throughout Arizona, enabling your off-course experiences to elevate your on-course activities.

THE RIGHT CLUB(S)

PXG and PING both call Arizona home, with their company headquarters in Scottsdale and Phoenix, respectively. Each offers custom club fitting sessions (PING does so at Kierland Golf Club in Scottsdale), and you may even run into a PGA or LPGA Tour pro who uses their clubs. You can also get fit for clubs at places like Cool Clubs and GolfTec, all full of high-tech bells and whistles geared toward helping you find the right equipment that will, or should, help you play better. Looking for a bargain? Check out 2nd Swing in Scottsdale, where new and used clubs of all brands are often sold at discounted prices.

TOPGOLF

If you have never hit a golf ball from the third story of a driving out on to a field covered colorful targets with music providing a soundtrack, this is the place to do it. Ever-popular Topgolf locations in Gilbert, Glendale, Scottsdale and Tucson can fill up pretty quickly, especially on weekends. It’s a great place for beginners and avid golfers alike, with a variety of games that can be played among friends from your own hitting bay, which are rented by the hour. While you’re waiting for your turn, a full restaurant and bar is nearby, or you can order drinks and food that are brought right to you.

PUTTING PRACTICE

It’s been a while since an 18-hole, regulation-size course has opened in Arizona, but this year has seen new courses open up at Putting World, Puttshack and PopStroke, all in Scottsdale. They are miniature golf courses, but they are each much more than that in their own ways. Putting World is for both casual and avid golfers looking to get in some practice in or compete on 18 artificial turf, indoor greens that run as smoothly as the real thing. There are also plenty of TVs, a bar/restaurant, golf shop and a high-tech putter fitting area. Puttshack’s Scottsdale Quarter location is a two-story indoor operation with four separate 9-hole layouts. Holes aim to replicate various games, including Tetris, Skee-Ball and Pop-A-Shot, among others, and your ball has a computer chip so you don’t even have to keep score! PopStroke has 36 outdoor holes spread over two courses, along with a beer garden, restaurant and even an ice cream counter. A Glendale location opened in March 2023, and an even bigger location in Scottsdale (right off the 101 in The Pavilions at Talking Stick shopping center) will open this fall.