Kokopelli Golf Course

Kokopelli Golf Course opened in 1992 in Gilbert, Arizona, designed by Bill Phillips. The course occupies land in the southeast Phoenix metropolitan area, a region that experienced significant residential and commercial growth during the 1990s and 2000s. The layout reflects the desert golf aesthetic common to Arizona courses of this era, incorporating native Sonoran Desert vegetation, arroyos, and elevation changes that characterize the local terrain. The routing takes advantage of the natural topography, with fairways framed by saguaro cacti, palo verde, and mesquite. Water features appear on several holes, providing strategic elements and visual contrast to the desert landscape. The course plays to a length suitable for recreational golfers while offering enough challenge from the back tees to test more accomplished players. Bunkering and green complexes follow design principles typical of Arizona daily-fee courses from this period. Kokopelli serves primarily as a public facility, accommodating both local residents and visitors to the Phoenix area. The course has maintained its place in Gilbert's golf offerings as the town has grown substantially around it. The name references Kokopelli, a fertility deity figure common in ancient Southwestern and Puebloan rock art and pottery, reflecting the regional cultural heritage. The facility includes practice areas and a clubhouse with dining services standard for municipal-style operations in the Phoenix market.