Sedona

Tom Weiskopf routed this through a box canyon where every hole frames a different rock formation, and the views genuinely interfere with your swing. It's branded private but resort guests at Enchantment and a handful of partner hotels get on without drama. Bring more golf balls than you think — the desert eats anything offline and the elevation changes mess with club selection.

A Robert Trent Jones Sr. design from the late '60s that's the most accessible real golf in town. Tree-lined, water on a handful of holes, and red rock views that would headline anywhere else but feel like the supporting act here. Conditioning is decent rather than great, but for the money it's the obvious second round.

About 90 minutes from Sedona near Prescott, and worth the drive if you've got a third day. Jay Morrish design routed through high-desert granite outcrops at 5,000 feet — firmer, faster, and a completely different look than anything down in Sedona. Private club but accessible through stay-and-play arrangements; call ahead.

The most photographed muni-feeling course in the state, with a postcard par-3 10th playing directly at Cathedral Rock. Gary Panks design, walkable in spots, and the rate is reasonable for what you get visually. The golf is honest — not as interesting as Seven Canyons, but nobody comes here disappointed.

Half an hour down in Cornville and a budget-friendly way to get a third or fourth round in without spending resort money. It's a straightforward layout with cottonwoods and the Verde River nearby — not destination golf, but a good walk and an honest test. Locals play it because it's cheap and in decent shape.

The right answer if Seven Canyons is the priority — Enchantment sits inside Boynton Canyon and guests get the cleanest access to the course. Casita-style rooms, the canyon walls feel like they're in your room, and you can walk to the first tee. It's expensive but it's the actual play.

Creekside cottages along Oak Creek in the middle of town — quieter than it sounds because the property is set down below the road. Walking distance to Tlaquepaque and Uptown restaurants, which Enchantment isn't. Better for groups who want to be in town than groups built entirely around the golf.

Boutique hotel right in Uptown Sedona — modern rooms, decent pool, and the easiest place to roll out of bed and grab dinner without driving. Smaller and less of a production than the big resorts, which is the point. Solid mid-tier choice for a foursome that doesn't need a casita.

Renovated motor-lodge style property that won't crack any luxury lists but delivers clean rooms, mountain views, and a price that lets you spend the savings on green fees. Good for the group that's at the hotel for six hours a night and wants the money in the golf budget instead.

For a foursome or eightsome, a 3-4 bedroom rental in West Sedona is the right call — full kitchen, hot tub, driveway for the rental SUV, and a fraction of what four hotel rooms cost. Look for places off Dry Creek Road for the easy shot up to Boynton Canyon.

Lisa Dahl's perch on the west side with the best sunset patio in town — book it for the last night and ask for outdoor seating. Argentine-leaning grill: skirt steak, lamb chops, empanadas. The view does half the work and the food handles the rest.

The fine-dining room at L'Auberge, right on the creek. Tasting menu or à la carte, strong wine list, and the table-by-the-water situation is genuinely special. Where to take the group on the night you don't mind dropping real money.

The best food in Sedona, and locals will tell you the same. Modern Mexican from chef Jeff Smedstad — the elote starter and the smoked brisket enchiladas are non-negotiable. They don't take reservations for small parties, so get there at 5 or expect to wait.

American comfort food with a view of Bell Rock from the patio. Burgers, meatloaf, big salads — the post-round move when you don't want to think too hard about dinner. Strong cocktail program for what is essentially a casual restaurant.

Breakfast sandwiches and coffee on the way up Oak Creek Canyon — the deck is shaded by big sycamores and it's the right warmup for an early tee time or a Slide Rock detour. Order the Sedonan and keep moving.

101 omelets on the menu, none of them fancy, all of them what you want after a late night or before a 7am tee time. Classic American diner, locals and tourists side by side, cash-and-carry pace. The anti-brunch.

Lisa Dahl's casual wood-fired pizza spot — the play when nobody can agree on dinner and you've already done two big meals. Good salads, solid pies, fast in and out. Sit at the bar if the dining room is full.

In Tlaquepaque, which means you can wander the arts village before or after. Their own beers on tap, decent burgers and wood-fired pizza, and a patio that doesn't feel like a tourist trap even though it is, slightly. The post-round-beer answer.