
Ken McDonald Course
Ken McDonald Golf Course

About this course
Ken McDonald Golf Course sits in the heart of Tempe, Arizona, occupying a compact parcel of land that has served the local golfing community for decades. Designed by Jack Snyder, the course reflects the practical, accessible approach to municipal golf design common in the mid-20th century American Southwest. The layout makes efficient use of limited acreage in an increasingly urban setting, bordered by residential neighborhoods and the infrastructure of greater Phoenix. The course plays relatively short by contemporary standards, with a straightforward routing that accommodates golfers of varying skill levels. Desert vegetation and mature trees frame many holes, providing definition and some shade in the intense Arizona climate. Water features appear on several holes, adding strategic interest to what is otherwise a forgiving layout designed for steady play and high traffic volume. The terrain is generally flat, typical of the Salt River Valley, though subtle elevation changes and bunkering create enough variety to maintain interest across the round. Ken McDonald serves primarily as a community resource for Tempe residents and Arizona State University students, offering affordable golf in a metropolitan area where land values have long since made such facilities increasingly rare. The course operates as a city-owned facility, emphasizing accessibility and pace of play over championship conditions or exclusivity. Its location near the ASU campus makes it a convenient practice venue for recreational golfers and students learning the game in the Valley of the Sun.
Quick facts
- Location
- Tempe, AZ, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1974
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Jack Snyder
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,743 yards
- Difficulty
- 71.5/118
- Course Vaults score
- 4.6
Getting there
Ken McDonald Golf Course sits within Tempe's urban landscape, most readily accessed from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), roughly 15 miles south and a straightforward 25-minute drive through the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. The route traces the transition from the sprawling valley floor toward the Salt River valley, where the course occupies a striking riparian setting along the Salt River itself - a verdant oasis carved into the Sonoran Desert. From Sky Harbor, travelers head east toward Tempe proper, following local roads that gradually narrow and quiet as they approach the course's entrance, where the urban hum gives way to the sound of water and native desert vegetation. Ken McDonald Golf Course rewards the final miles with a rare desert-river setting that belies its proximity to one of the Southwest's major metropolitan centers.

FAQ
Common questions about Ken McDonald
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Ken McDonald has a Course Vaults score of 4.6 out of 10 based on 20 logged golfers.
Ken McDonald was designed by Jack Snyder.
Yes. Ken McDonald is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Ken McDonald is 72.
Ken McDonald plays 6,743 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Ken McDonald is 118.



