Arizona, USA

Scottsdale, Arizona

The undisputed golf capital of the desert Southwest with 200+ courses set against dramatic Sonoran Desert scenery. World-class resorts, a buzzing restaurant scene, and warm winters make it one of the most complete golf trip destinations in the country.

The Honest Take

✓ I've played here

Full honesty here — I've only played We-Ko-Pa myself, so I'm not going to act like the Scottsdale expert. But We-Ko-Pa was awesome: proper desert golf with no houses crowding the fairways, just you and the cactus, and the Saguaro course is a blast. Scottsdale as a whole is probably the easiest buddies trip in the country to pull off — a ton of well-known desert tracks packed close together (TPC's Stadium course and that famous 16th, Troon North), plus a nightlife scene basically built for golf groups. Spring is the time to go; summer is brutal but cheap. If you've played the others, drop a review and tell everyone where to spend their money.

Best time to visit: October – April

Featured Courses

Luxury $$$

TPC Scottsdale — Stadium Course

TPC Scottsdale — Stadium Course

$$$

Home of the WM Phoenix Open and the famous par-3 16th hole — the loudest in golf.

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We-Ko-Pa — Cholla Course

We-Ko-Pa — Cholla Course

$$$

Stunning layout through pristine Sonoran desert with sweeping McDowell Mountain views.

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We-Ko-Pa — Saguaro Course

We-Ko-Pa — Saguaro Course

$$$

Companion course to Cholla — equally dramatic desert terrain with a different feel and character.

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Grayhawk — Raptor Course

Grayhawk — Raptor Course

$$$

Tom Fazio design rated among the best public courses in Arizona — dramatic desert and excellent conditioning.

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Grayhawk — Talon Course

Grayhawk — Talon Course

$$$

David Graham & Gary Panks design, equally polished as Raptor with a slightly more accessible layout.

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Troon North — Monument Course

Troon North — Monument Course

$$$

Dramatic boulder-strewn desert layout winding around massive granite outcroppings.

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Troon North — Pinnacle Course

Troon North — Pinnacle Course

$$$

Tom Weiskopf design with sweeping views of the McDowell Mountains and more open desert terrain.

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Raven Golf Club at South Mountain

Raven Golf Club at South Mountain

$$$

Towering pines and rolling terrain make this South Phoenix layout feel completely different from desert-style courses.

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Mid-range $$

TPC Scottsdale — Champions Course

TPC Scottsdale — Champions Course

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Sister layout to the Stadium Course, equally well-conditioned and more forgiving off the tee.

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Whirlwind Golf Club — Cattail Course

Whirlwind Golf Club — Cattail Course

$$

Gary Panks design on the Gila River Indian Community — exceptional desert golf at mid-range prices.

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Whirlwind Golf Club — Devil's Claw Course

Whirlwind Golf Club — Devil's Claw Course

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Companion to Cattail, offering a slightly more links-influenced feel through the same Sonoran landscape.

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Talking Stick — O'odham Course (Formerly the North Course)

Talking Stick — O'odham Course (Formerly the North Course)

$$

Lush, tree-lined Scottsdale municipal gem on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community — outstanding value.

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Talking Stick — Piipaash Course (Formerly the South Course)

Talking Stick — Piipaash Course (Formerly the South Course)

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Open, Scottish-influenced sister to the North, with wider fairways and more links-style bunkering.

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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club

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High-desert links design near Maricopa with generous fairways and excellent conditioning — one of the better value rounds in the region.

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Las Sendas Golf Club

Las Sendas Golf Club

$$

Robert Trent Jones Jr. design in Mesa with stunning red-rock mountain backdrops and challenging desert carries.

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Dove Valley Ranch Golf Club

Dove Valley Ranch Golf Club

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Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout in Cave Creek — outstanding desert setting with views of the Tonto National Forest.

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Papago Golf Course

Papago Golf Course

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Phoenix's premier public municipal course, with a challenging layout and iconic red-rock butte backdrop — a longtime local favorite.

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Budget $

Wigwam Golf Club — Gold Course

Wigwam Golf Club — Gold Course

$

Robert Trent Jones Sr. design at a classic Arizona resort — one of the oldest and most storied public courses in the state.

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Wigwam Golf Club — Red Course

Wigwam Golf Club — Red Course

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Red Lawrence design — the most player-friendly of the three Wigwam courses with wide fairways and a classic resort feel.

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Wigwam Golf Club — Blue Course

Wigwam Golf Club — Blue Course

$

The shortest of the three Wigwam layouts — a fun, strategic course with tight doglegs and well-guarded greens.

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Plan Your Days

Pick any two locations to see drive time, route, and traffic. Includes the nearest airport so you can plan fly-in / fly-out rounds.

Trip Ideas

Ready-made itineraries covering this destination.

Things to Do

Off the Course

Where golfers actually eat, drink, and hang after the round — the dive bar, the post-round brewery, the coffee spot before an early tee time. Submitted by people who've been, not the food-critic picks.

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Videos

We-Ko-Pa (Cholla & Saguaro)
Grayhawk (Talon & Raptor)
Wigwam Golf Club (all 3 courses)
Troon North (Pinnacle & Monument)

Where to Stay & Get Around

What's Happening While You're There?

Concerts, games, festivals — see what's on during your trip.

Community Reviews

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