It might be a cliche to describe the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa as an oasis in the desert, but that's exactly what it is. That's evident in everything from the food to the hospitality to the rooms themselves. I've stayed in many of the Valley's top resorts, and the JW Marriott is as good as it gets. Here are 10 reasons why.

Though it's certainly not a links course, the Links Course at Arizona Biltmore Golf Club in Phoenix isn't a desert course either. Opened in 1978, this Bill Johnston design offers plenty of green grass, elevation changes and a few great views.

The Sonoran desert delivers some of the most dramatic par 3s in destination golf. Here's are some photos of some of our favorite par 3s in Phoenix-Scottsdale.

Now with modern greens, a 21st-century irrigation system and a little more length, Papago Golf Course in Phoenix has become a lot more than a shell of its former self; it's been reinvented. Come spring, when Papago has a chance to fill in a little, demand for tee times will probably be high.

The proximity of the Cactus League parks (roughly a 60-mile radius) and the Valley of the Sun's legendary status as a golf vacation destination team up to create an ideal spring break golf/baseball getaway.

If there was ever a year worth venturing out of the epicenter of Phoenix-Scottsdale for golf, this is it. And if you do, play these courses.