Every couple years, Golf Magazine renews its best public courses list in the US. This is the most recently available online list, for 2016-17. We'll add more recent lists as they become available. Of the top 100 public courses, 6 Arizona courses made the list. 5 of those are courses in the Phoenix area. Here are the Phoenix area courses that made the list of best public courses in the country.
The full list can be accessed here: Top 100 Courses You Can Play, 2016-17
#25. Troon North Golf Club - Pinnacle Course, Scottsdale
#40. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club - Saguaro Course, Fort McDowell
#46. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club - Cholla Course, Fort McDowell
#58. Troon North Golf Club - Monument Course, Scottsdale
#99. Grayhawk Golf Club - Talon Course, Scottsdale
Golf.com - Top 100 Courses You Can play 2016-17