Golfing in Arizona’s White Mountains: Every Course Within 50 Miles of Pinetop
Golfing in Arizona’s White Mountains: Every Course Within 50 Miles of Pinetop
When people think about Arizona golf, they usually picture desert fairways, cactus-lined greens and triple-digit temperatures. Golf in Arizona’s White Mountains is an entirely different experience.
Around Pinetop, Lakeside and Show Low, golfers trade the desert heat for cool mountain air, towering ponderosa pines, rolling meadows and plenty of wildlife. Within approximately 50 miles of Pinetop, you can find everything from nationally recognized private courses to affordable public layouts and relaxed nine-hole courses.
Whether you are planning a golf getaway, considering a home in one of our golf communities or simply looking for somewhere new to play, here is your guide to golfing in the White Mountains of Arizona.
Course availability, rates, operating seasons and guest policies can change, so always contact the course before planning your round.
Pinetop Lakes Golf and Country Club
Location: 4643 Buck Springs Road, Pinetop, Arizona
Access: Open to the public, with memberships available
Course: 18-hole executive course, par 62
Distance from central Pinetop: Approximately 4 miles
Pinetop Lakes Golf and Country Club is perfect for golfers who want a legitimate round without spending the better part of the day on the course. Although it is considered an executive course, it is not simply a collection of short par-3 holes.
The 4,558-yard layout includes five par 4s and two par 5s, along with plenty of challenging par 3s. Tall pines and nearby homes line the course, so accuracy and control matter just as much as distance.
The club also offers a driving range, putting and chipping greens, private instruction, clinics and junior golf programs. After your round, you can stop at Barclay’s for a meal or drink.
Pinetop Lakes does not currently hold a major national or Arizona golf ranking, but it remains one of the area’s most approachable and enjoyable public courses.
Pinetop Country Club
Location: 6734 Country Club Drive, Pinetop, Arizona
Access: Private, member-owned club
Course: 18 holes, par 71, approximately 6,574 yards
Distance from central Pinetop: Approximately 6 miles
Pinetop Country Club delivers the classic mountain-golf experience many people picture when they visit the White Mountains. Designed by Milt Coggins Sr., the course winds through mature ponderosa pines and passes three beautiful lakes.
Well-placed bunkers, narrow tree-lined views and carefully maintained greens reward strategic play. Five sets of tees make the course enjoyable for golfers at different skill levels.
Members also have access to a practice tee, putting greens, a short-game area, practice bunker and wedge range. The club offers tournaments, men’s and women’s golf groups and summer junior programs.
Beyond golf, Pinetop Country Club includes dining, tennis, pickleball and an active social calendar. It does not currently appear on a major national ranking list, but it is one of the area’s most established and recognizable private golf communities.
White Mountain Country Club
Location: 3644 Country Club Circle, Pinetop, Arizona
Access: Private club
Course: 18 holes, par 72, approximately 6,523 yards
Distance from central Pinetop: Approximately 5 miles
White Mountain Country Club has been part of the Pinetop summer lifestyle since the 1950s. The private course stretches more than 6,500 yards through the pines and offers enough challenge for experienced golfers while still being enjoyable for regular member play.
The club is known for having a welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere. Golf is the centerpiece, but members can also enjoy dining, racquet sports, a family recreation center and a variety of activities throughout the season.
White Mountain Country Club does not currently hold a major national ranking, but its history, location and strong community atmosphere make it an important option for buyers interested in private-club living in Pinetop.
Torreon Golf Club: Tower Course
Location: 651 South Torreon Loop, Show Low, Arizona
Access: Private club
Course: 18 holes, par 72, 7,134 yards
Distance from central Pinetop: Approximately 14 miles
The Tower Course is one of two championship courses inside Torreon and one of the most highly recognized golf experiences in the White Mountains.
Designed by Robert von Hagge, Mike Smelek and Richard Baril, the course moves through tall pines, rolling terrain and natural rock formations. It offers enough variety to remain interesting for members who play it regularly, while the mountain scenery makes it memorable for guests.
Golf Digest’s course-ranking panelists currently rate the Tower Course 4.2 out of 5, with particularly strong marks for its scenery, challenge and overall enjoyment.
Torreon also provides practice facilities, professional instruction, dining, fitness facilities, family recreation and a full private-club social calendar.
Torreon Golf Club: Cabin Course
Location: 651 South Torreon Loop, Show Low, Arizona
Access: Private club
Course: 18 holes, par 72, 7,148 yards
Distance from central Pinetop: Approximately 15 miles
Although the Cabin Course shares Torreon’s beautiful pine-covered setting, it offers a different experience from the Tower Course. Cabin features more elevation change, water hazards, forced carries and strategic risk-versus-reward decisions.
Its angled greens and thoughtfully placed hazards give golfers multiple ways to approach many of the holes. Golf Digest’s ranking panelists currently rate the Cabin Course 4 out of 5.
The Cabin Course was also included among Golfweek’s 20 best private golf courses in Arizona for 2025. Together, Torreon’s Cabin and Tower courses create the strongest nationally recognized golf pairing in the White Mountains.
Bison Golf Club
Location: 1 North Bison Preserve Drive, Show Low, Arizona
Access: Semi-private and open for public tee times
Course: 18-hole championship course
Distance from central Pinetop: Approximately 13 miles
Bison Golf Club offers two different styles of mountain golf during the same round. Several holes wind through tall pine trees, while others open into a large meadow.
The course was designed by PGA Tour winner Billy Mayfair and is an excellent choice for visitors who want a full-size mountain course without needing access to a private club.
Bison offers public tee times, memberships, tournaments, outings, instruction, a practice range, a golf shop and Bison Bar and Grill. Frequent golfers can also purchase a two-course membership that includes Bison and its sister course, Birdie Ranch at Silver Creek.
Although Bison does not currently hold a major national ranking, it is included in Golf Digest’s course directory and remains one of the most accessible full-length courses in the area.
Birdie Ranch at Silver Creek
Location: 2051 Silver Lake Boulevard, Show Low, Arizona
Access: Public course with memberships available
Course: 18-hole championship course
Distance from central Pinetop: Approximately 19 miles
Formerly known as Silver Creek Golf Club, Birdie Ranch offers a completely different atmosphere from its sister course, Bison.
Designed by well-known golf-course architect Gary Panks, Birdie Ranch stretches across open, juniper-covered terrain with views of the surrounding White Mountains. Its ranch-like setting feels spacious and forgiving, although the more exposed landscape allows the wind to become part of the challenge.
When the course was originally developed, The Arizona Republic named it “New Course of the Year,” and Golf Digest nominated it for “Best New Golf Course in the United States.”
Birdie Ranch offers public tee times, memberships, tournaments, a golf shop and a shared membership option with Bison Golf Club. It also advertises itself as the only year-round golf course in the White Mountains, although weather can still affect play.
Juniper Ridge Resort Golf Course
Location: 1911 Juniper Ridge Resort, Show Low, Arizona
Access: Private resort amenity for owners and permitted guests
Course: 18-hole executive or Cayman-style course
Distance from central Pinetop: Approximately 13 miles
Juniper Ridge provides a much more relaxed version of golf. The approximately 2,574-yard executive course is located within the active-adult RV resort and is designed for casual, social play rather than championship-level competition.
Seasonal leagues are an important part of the community, and the shorter course makes it possible to enjoy a round without devoting an entire day to golf.
This is not a traditionally ranked destination course. Its value is the lifestyle it provides to owners and guests who want golf just a few steps from home. Because public access is limited, prospective players should contact the resort before arriving.
Snowflake Municipal Golf Course
Location: 90 North Country Club Drive, Snowflake, Arizona
Access: Public municipal course
Course: Nine-hole and eighteen-hole playing options
Distance from central Pinetop: Approximately 33 miles
Owned and operated by the Town of Snowflake, Snowflake Municipal Golf Course offers an affordable and refreshingly low-key place to play.
Golfers can choose between nine-hole and eighteen-hole options, making the course suitable for everything from a quick afternoon outing to a full round. The Snowflake Arizona Temple overlooks the course, creating one of the most recognizable golf-course backdrops in northeastern Arizona.
Community events, including night golf, add some fun and personality to the course. It does not currently hold a major golf ranking, but it is a great option for families, beginners and anyone looking for an approachable public course.
Alpine Golf and Country Club
Location: 58 County Road N2122, Alpine, Arizona
Access: Semi-private, with public play generally available
Course: Nine holes
Distance from central Pinetop: Approximately 47 to 50 miles
Alpine Golf and Country Club is the road-trip round on this list. Located in one of Arizona’s highest-elevation mountain communities, this scenic nine-hole course offers a quiet and wonderfully removed golf experience.
Do not be surprised if wildlife wanders onto the course or mountain weather changes your plans. The published operating season generally runs from April through October, but conditions at this elevation can change quickly.
The course does not hold a major national ranking. Its appeal is the setting, the simplicity and the opportunity to enjoy golf in a part of Arizona that feels far removed from everyday life.
A round here can easily be paired with lunch in Alpine, a drive toward Luna Lake or a full day exploring the eastern White Mountains.
Important Notes About Other Courses Listed Online
Some older golf directories still list Pine Meadows Country Club in Overgaard and Concho Valley Country Club in Concho. However, multiple current sources identify both courses as closed.
You may also see references to an “Apache County Golf Club” near Springerville. I was unable to verify a currently operating course under that name.
Because old golf directories are not always updated when a course closes or changes ownership, it is always best to contact a facility before making the drive.
Tips for Planning a Golf Trip in the White Mountains
Book summer weekends early. Morning tee times can fill quickly when Arizona’s lower elevations heat up and visitors head to the mountains.
Check seasonal schedules. Most courses operate primarily from spring through fall. Snow, frost, monsoon storms and maintenance can affect availability.
Confirm private-club access. Pinetop Country Club, White Mountain Country Club and Torreon are private. Guest play generally requires a member invitation, reciprocal arrangement or approval from the club.
Remember the elevation. Golf balls may travel farther at higher elevations. Afternoon storms can also develop quickly during monsoon season, so watch the weather and keep plenty of water nearby.
Finding the Right Golf Community in the White Mountains
Choosing a golf community in the White Mountains is about more than comparing scorecards.
Some buyers want championship golf, private dining and an active social calendar. Others prefer living near an affordable public course without paying club dues. A lock-and-leave townhome near Pinetop Lakes offers a very different lifestyle from a custom home in Torreon or a summer retreat near one of Pinetop’s established private clubs.
That variety is part of what makes our area so special.
If you are considering buying or selling a home near one of these courses, I would be happy to help you compare the communities, memberships, seasonal atmosphere and practical details that do not always appear in a listing description.
Shelby Lynne Teel, Realtor
Frank M. Smith & Associates, Inc.
Cell: (928) 242-7628
Instagram: @shelbyteelrealtor
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