Maricopa’s Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club is opening its #miniDunes golf course for night play on April 26. 

Located in the club's practice range, the #miniDune course originally opened in 2014. It is a six-hole short course with holes ranging from 60 to 115 yards and now has 15 poles and 88 LED light fixtures illuminating the course while still meeting all the Arizona Dark Sky ordinances. 

“We are excited to take this next step in amenity offerings at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club,” says Ak-Chin Southern Dunes General Manager Brady Wilson. “We feel we are expanding both our grow the game efforts along with our fun factor, by creating something awesome to do when the sun sets in Arizona, which makes it a year-round form of entertainment.  It’s going to be ‘LIT’…literally and figuratively, without UV rays.”

#miniDunes is a beginner-friendly course that allows advanced golfers to sharpen their short-game abilities. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes has built new greens and bunker complexes for the course, expanding on the existing practice range from 2014. Golfers can still use the traditional practice range in the mornings until the afternoon when #miniDunes opens.  

Each round of golf is unlimited with the option of playing 6, 12, 18 or more holes for $35 on weekdays and $39 from Friday to Sunday. Times will start in the afternoon, before sunset and into the night. Tee times will become available on April 26, but walk-ins are welcome and replay rounds are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis. #miniDune can also be booked for private parties and events, and its new Musco LED lighting that can be synced to music makes it the perfect spot for a get-together or celebration. 

#miniDunes will be the newest evening amenity, making night golf at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes an opportunity for families and friends with busy daytime schedules to come together in the evening. Arroyo Grille, the club’s restaurant, will also be open as the “Arroyo Grille – On the Go” food truck featuring many of the same menu items with the addition of unique grab-and-go options. Each hole has drink holders on the tee box and near the garden—a perfect arrangement for beer and birdies. 

“We are proud to offer the lighted #miniDunes as just the latest example of the commitment the Ak-Chin Indian Community has to creating memorable golf experiences for not only our local communities of Ak-Chin and Maricopa but also for all of the region and its visitors who can now experience a taste of what Ak-Chin Southern Dunes has to offer at night,” says Ak-Chin Indian Community Chairman Robert Miguel. “I can’t wait to play golf under the lights with my friends and family.”

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, owned by Ak-Chin Indian Community and managed by Troon Golf, showcases the 18-hole course designed by Brian Curley and Fred Couples, which is currently ranked No.6 on Golfweek’s “Best Courses You Can Play in Arizona,” “Top 100 Resort Courses” and “Best Courses You Can Play.” 

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, owned by the Ak-Chin Indian Community and managed by Troon Golf, showcases an acclaimed 18-hole course designed by Brian Curley and Fred Couples. In 2026, it will host the Men’s Golf NCAA Regionals, a prestigious collegiate event.

For more information about Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club and #miniDunes, visit www.akchinsoutherndunes.com. 

Photos courtesy Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club