Public

Bear Course

Bear Creek Golf Complex

Chandler, AZ, USA
drewkpelletier9
GavPell
JZ Sr.
rypell67
tbenzinger4
+20
18 holesPar 716,825 yds73/122

About this course

Bear Creek Golf Complex in Chandler, Arizona, operates as a municipal facility offering two distinct eighteen-hole layouts. The Bear Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, opened in the late 1990s as part of the city's effort to provide championship-caliber public golf in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The course reflects Nicklaus's design principles adapted to the Sonoran Desert environment, with strategic bunkering and water features that come into play on multiple holes. The routing takes advantage of the relatively flat desert terrain typical of the East Valley, incorporating native vegetation and desert washes into the playing corridors. Elevation changes are modest, but the design uses contouring and hazard placement to create visual interest and strategic variety. The course plays longer than its companion layout and demands accuracy off the tee, particularly on holes where water hazards narrow landing areas or guard greens. As a municipal complex, Bear Creek serves a broad range of golfers, from daily-fee players to local league and tournament participants. The facility's location in Chandler, one of the Phoenix area's growing southeastern suburbs, makes it accessible to both residents and visitors staying in the region. The desert setting provides the characteristic open skies and mountain backdrops common to Arizona golf, while the maintenance standards and conditioning reflect the priorities of a well-managed public course serving high year-round demand.

Rankings

Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.

3987

Best in World

3745

Best in USA

109

Best in AZ

Quick facts

Location
Chandler, AZ, USA
Access
Public
Year built
2000
Holes
18
Par
71
Length
6,825 yards
Difficulty
73/122
Course Vaults score
5.6

Getting there

Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) serves as the primary gateway, positioned just twenty miles northwest of Bear Creek Golf Complex in the heart of Chandler's southeastern sprawl. The drive south along the Loop 202 traces the outer edge of the Valley of the Sun, where suburban development gives way to glimpses of the Sonoran Desert's signature saguaros standing sentinel against wide Arizona skies. Within thirty minutes of touchdown, the transition from terminal to first tee is remarkably efficient, making Bear Creek an accessible escape for those seeking high-desert golf without the remoteness - a public facility that feels worlds apart from the city yet remains firmly within its reach.

FAQ

Common questions about Bear

Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.

Bear has a Course Vaults score of 5.6 out of 10 based on 25 logged golfers.

Bear was designed by Bill O'Leary and Jack Nicklaus.

Yes. Bear is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.

Par at Bear is 71.

Bear plays 6,825 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.

The slope rating at Bear is 122.

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Course Reviews
+ 4.8
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