Happy Trails: Golf and Horseback riding in the Arizona desert.

If you’re interested in combining spikes and spurs, Rancho de Los Caballeros is the best dude ranch experience you can have on an Arizona golf vacation.

Located in Wickenburg, about an hour northwest of Phoenix, the nearly 60 year-old Rancho de Los Caballeros caters to guests who wish to combine an enchanting western experience with eminently comfortable, modern amenities, gourmet food and excellent golf.

In fact, the golf course is probably one of the best hidden gems in the state. It was designed by Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin, prolific designers in the southwest, in the shadow of Vulture Peak and the Bradshaw Mountains, complete with elevation changes and all the Sonoran desert scenery you could ask for.

Another compelling reason to visit Rancho de Los Caballeros is the food. Based on an American Plan setup (which includes three meals per day), the experienced chefs prepare elaborate breakfast and lunch buffets and offer a new dinner menu each night. Sometimes, food quality decreases when it’s prepared en masse, but not here.

During dinner, the ranch’s head cowboy circles the dining room to round up a posse of riders for the next day. Guided horseback rides on the 20,000-acre property cater to all skill levels. In lieu of riding, there’s also trap and skeet shooting, desert Jeep tours, hot air balloon rides and guided nature hikes.

After a long day out on the south 40, you can choose to retire to either an original ranch room or the newer rooms and suites with fireplaces, though all are comfortable and warm and richly decorated in a traditional western style.

The resort is only open from October to May, so much of the seasonal staff is new each year. So, if you happen to experience the occasional service faux pas, keep in mind that this is a ranch, not the Ritz.

Did you know?Golf Vacation Insider and Golf Odyssey are the world's only golf publications that travel anonymously and do not accept advertising, discounts, or "freebies" from the golf courses, resorts or restaurants they review.

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