Rancho de los Caballeros. The Ultimate Tee to Trot Experience in Arizona.

Los Caballeros Golf Club

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When most people picture a dude ranch, they imagine horseback rides, dusty corrals, and the wide-open range. They see wranglers in wide-brimmed hats, desert sunsets bleeding pink and orange across the horizon, and perhaps a chuckwagon dinner shared under the stars. But at Rancho de los Caballeros in Wicken­burg, Arizona, the Sonoran Desert is the backdrop for something much richer—an experience that expands far beyond the saddle. Here, golf is just as central to the story as cattle drives, cookouts, and cow­boy culture.

The resort’s Los Caballeros Golf Club has become a destination in its own right, offering players a championship-caliber course that captures both the beauty and grit of the Wild West.

Rancho de los Caballeros

A COURSE THAT TELLS A STORY

Opened in 1980, Los Caballeros Golf Club was designed to reflect the traditional feel of golden-age courses while embrac­ing the rugged desert landscape. Stretch­ing across rolling terrain framed by the Bradshaw Mountains and Vulture Peak, its 18 holes provide a blend of challenge and beauty. The fairways weave through desert washes and cactus-studded ridges, creating a course that feels natural to its environ­ment.

Unlike many desert courses that de­mand laser accuracy just to stay in play, Los Caballeros strikes a balance. It’s playable for golfers of all skill levels, yet it demands focus, rewarding precision over raw power.

One of its most memorable moments comes at the 16th hole, a stretch of golf

 that perfectly encapsulates the Rancho experience. From the elevated tee, players take in sweeping views of Vulture Mountain and the surrounding desert. As they approach the green, the setting becomes even more unforgetable; the ranch’s herd of horses often passes by, heading out to pasture. It’s a scene that fuses golf with the spirit of the ranch in a way no other course can replicate, leaving players with the feeling that they’ve stepped into a storybook version of the West.

Before tackling the fairways, players can warm up at the club’s practice facility, which includes a driving range, chipping area, and putting green. It’s the kind of space that encourages lingering, working through irons on the range as the desert sun climbs higher, or fine-tuning the short game while quail dart across the edges of the practice area. For those seeking im­provement, PGA professionals are available for lessons, tailoring instruction to each individual’s skill set. The result is a course and practice experience that feels both refined and refreshingly connected to its rugged setting.

THE HEARTBEAT OF THE RANCH

While golf is a highlight, Rancho de los Caballeros is far more than a golf destina­tion. Sprawling across 20,000 acres of high desert, the ranch has been welcom­ing guests for more than 75 years with its blend of cowboy traditions and modern comforts. Horses remain the heartbeat of the property, and the equestrian program is both expansive and inclusive.

Wranglers pair each guest with the perfect mount, taking into account skill level and personality, ensuring that a first-time rider feels just as comfortable as an experienced horseman. Morning and afternoon rides are a staple of the experi­ence, with trails that wind through the Sonoran Desert.

 For those who crave a little competition, team penning puts horsemanship and quick thinking to the test as small groups attempt to maneuver cattle through obstacles and into a pen. Nature rides offer a slower pace, led by naturalists who interpret the desert’s flora, fauna, and history along the way. Twice daily, the ranch also hosts its famous horse run, a spectacle that draws guests out of their casitas at sunrise and again in the late afternoon. Watching 85 horses thunder across the desert against a backdrop of golden light is nothing short of breathtak­ing—a moment that lingers long after the dust has settled.

ADVENTURE BEYOND THE CORRAL

Adventure at Rancho de los Cabal­leros extends well beyond horseback riding. Guests can test their aim with trap and skeet shooting or try archery for a hands-on lesson in focus and patience. For those craving more traditional recreation, the ranch’s tennis and pickleball courts are a popular draw, while yoga sessions held under the desert sky offer a calming coun­terbalance to days filled with activity.

Families with children find comfort in the fully supervised Kids’ Club, which introduces younger guests to ranch life through horseback riding, roping lessons, crafts, and movie nights. It’s a place where even the smallest cowboys and cowgirls make memories of their own, freeing parents to relax knowing their children are happily immersed in the spirit of the ranch.

After activity-packed days, many guests find themselves drawn to the Spa at Los Caballeros, a serene desert oasis. The spa is intentionally designed to feel like a retreat, offering massages, facials, body scrubs, and restor­ative soaks. Treatments often incorporate desert botanicals—sage, prickly pear, and jojoba— grounding guests in their surroundings even during moments of stillness. An infrared sauna adds another layer of renewal, making the spa an ideal place to reset after hours spent under the Arizona sun.

 DINING UNDER DESERT SKIES

Dining at Rancho de los Caballeros is just as central to the experience as the golf and horseback rides. Meals are treated as opportunities to gather, celebrate, and indulge. The Main Dining Room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering a menu that transitions seamlessly between ranch-style comfort food and more refined options such as scallops or mushroom tarts. For those craving something more elevated, 19 at Rancho de los Caballeros delivers farm-fresh cuisine under the direction of Executive Chef Robert Cornett, complemented by a 2,000-bottle wine cellar that has become a point of pride for the property. The wine program balances classic regions with discoveries from boutique producers, offering guests the chance to sip something unexpected alongside their meal.

The Club Grill, located at the golf course, is a favorite among players. With sweeping views of the course and the Bradshaw Mountains, it’s the perfect place to fuel up before a round or relax after one. Its signature Prickly Pear Margarita— crafted from tequila and prickly pear purée sourced from the surrounding desert—has become an unofficial symbol of the property, offering a refreshing toast to a day well spent.

As the sun sets, guests often migrate to the Los Cab Saloon, where live music, casual cocktails, and easy camaraderie de­fine the evening. And for those who prefer the most authentic ranch dining experi­ence of all, the seasonal outdoor cook­outs bring guests together under a starlit desert sky with barbecue, music, and boot branding—a memorable way to end a day on the ranch.

A SEAMLESS BLEND

What makes Rancho de los Caballeros truly special is the way golf flows seamlessly into the greater ranch experience. A day here might begin with a crisp desert morning round, continue with a horseback ride along cactus-lined trails, and end with a massage, a margarita, or a cook out beneath a canopy of stars. Unlike resorts where golf is simply one option among many, at Rancho it’s woven into the ranch’s rhythm, reminding players that they’re not just golfing in Arizona, but in the heart of the West. To book a stay, please visit ranchodeloscaballeros.com.