Troon North Golf Club — Monument Course

The Monument Course at Troon North is Tom Weiskopf's 1990 design, refined by his own redesign in 2007, that borrows from British links principles and transplants them to the boulder-strewn Sonoran Desert at the base of Pinnacle Peak. Firm greens that reject anything hit too high, fairways that encourage the bump-and-run, and an emphasis on positioning over power give the Monument a playing character that distinguishes it from every other desert course in the corridor.

The slope of 148, among the highest in the Scottsdale area, reflects shot-selection demands rather than raw distance. At 7,039 yards, the Monument is not exceptionally long. What it is, consistently, is precise. The desert terrain narrows the effective playing corridors, and the firm green surfaces reject approaches that arrive at the wrong trajectory or from the wrong side of the fairway. If you shape the ball both directions and control trajectory, you'll find the course engaging. If you rely on a single shot shape and high ball flight, you'll find it punishing.

Four par 5s exceed 500 yards, a structural choice that creates scoring opportunities for long hitters while demanding accuracy from those playing them as three-shot holes. The risk-reward maths is genuine: carry a desert wash on the second shot and you save a stroke; misjudge the carry and you'll often lose a ball.

The boulder formations that give the course its name provide the visual identity. Massive granite outcrops frame several tee boxes and greens, creating a landscape that is simultaneously ancient and sculpted. The boulders don't come into play as direct hazards, but they define sight lines and provide the dramatic backdrop that makes the Monument one of the most photographed courses in the state.