Raven Golf Club

The Raven opened in 1995 as a collaboration between Australian major champion David Graham and American architect Gary Panks. Located in the South Mountain foothills of Phoenix, the course occupies desert terrain characteristic of the Sonoran landscape, with elevation changes that provide views across the valley. The design reflects the target-style approach common to upscale daily-fee courses built during Arizona's golf boom of the 1990s, when developers sought to create championship-caliber layouts accessible to resort and public play. The routing moves through natural desert washes and around rock outcroppings, with fairways defined by native vegetation including saguaro cacti, palo verde, and ocotillo. Water features appear on several holes, a design element that contrasts with the arid surroundings but adds strategic variety to the shot-making demands. The course plays from multiple tee sets to accommodate different skill levels, typical of daily-fee facilities designed for broad appeal. The Raven has served Phoenix's east valley as a tournament-ready venue for local and regional competitions. Its conditioning standards and amenities position it within the competitive Phoenix public-access market, where numerous desert courses vie for both resident and visiting golfers. The layout emphasizes accuracy over distance on many holes, rewarding players who navigate the desert hazards and manage the occasional forced carries that define modern Arizona desert golf architecture.