
Rancho Manana Course
Rancho Manana Golf Club


About this course
Rancho Manana Golf Club sits in the high Sonoran Desert foothills of Cave Creek, roughly thirty miles north of Phoenix. Designed by Bill Johnston and opened in the 1980s, the course occupies rolling desert terrain characterized by elevation changes, natural washes, and the distinctive saguaro cactus and boulder formations typical of this part of Arizona. The layout takes advantage of the property's natural contours, with holes routed through arroyos and over ridgelines that provide views of the surrounding mountains. The course plays as a traditional desert design where native vegetation and rock outcroppings frame fairways and define playing corridors. Johnston's routing incorporates the site's topography to create variety in hole length and shot requirements, with several holes playing uphill or downhill and others traversing relatively level ground through the desert floor. Water features appear sparingly, keeping the focus on desert golf's characteristic risk-reward decisions around carry distances and recovery options from native areas. Rancho Manana operates as a semi-private facility, offering both member and public play. The club serves the Cave Creek community, an area known for its Western heritage character and proximity to outdoor recreation in the Tonto National Forest. The course provides a desert golf experience that reflects the region's landscape without the resort-scale development found closer to Scottsdale, appealing to golfers seeking a more natural desert setting within the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
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.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in AZ
Quick facts
- Location
- Cave Creek, AZ, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1989
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Bill Johnston
- Par
- 70
- Length
- 6,004 yards
- Difficulty
- 65.2/114
- Course Vaults score
- 7.3
Getting there
Most visitors to Rancho Manana Golf Club arrive through Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), roughly forty minutes south of Cave Creek when traffic cooperates. The drive north traces the arc of Scottsdale's gradual surrender to the Sonoran high desert, trading manicured resort corridors for saguaro-studded hillsides and the rugged silhouette of Black Mountain. As you climb into Cave Creek proper, the road narrows and the landscape opens, delivering you to a club that feels less like a destination and more like a discovery - perched quietly in the foothills where the city's reach finally ends.

FAQ
Common questions about Rancho Manana
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Rancho Manana has a Course Vaults score of 7.3 out of 10 based on 54 logged golfers.
Rancho Manana was designed by Bill Johnston.
Yes. Rancho Manana is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Rancho Manana is 70.
Rancho Manana plays 6,004 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Rancho Manana is 114.




