Pin itScottsdale
The Sonoran Desert corridor that set the standard for American winter golf, with 18 courses across four tiers and resort infrastructure to match.
Photo courtesy of Experience Scottsdale · Experience Scottsdale
- State
- Arizona
- Courses
- 18
- Green fees
- $40–$550
- Best months
- Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
- Airport
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) (15-25 minutes)
- Rental car
- Essential
There is a particular quality to early morning light in the Sonoran Desert. It arrives low and warm, turning the saguaros and boulder formations the color of sandstone, and it makes a 6:30 AM tee time feel less like an obligation and more like a privilege. From October through April, Scottsdale has this light in abundance, along with afternoon temperatures between 66 and 85 degrees. Those conditions, more than any single course or resort, explain why this corridor running northeast from Phoenix has become the most popular winter golf destination in the United States.
Phoenix Sky Harbor receives direct flights from most major American cities. Old Town Scottsdale is a 20-minute drive northeast. More than 200 courses operate within a 45-minute radius, spanning every tier from municipal tracks to PGA Tour facilities. The dining and nightlife scene along Scottsdale Road and in Old Town rivals the golf as a reason to visit.
Courses Worth the Trip
18 courses across Scottsdale
The inventory operates across four tiers, and the best trips sample from at least two. Architects have responded to the desert in two fundamentally different ways. The desert target school, pioneered locally by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish in the late 1980s, routes fairways through native terrain with forced carries over scrub and arroyos. Miss the fairway and the ball is gone. The alternative imports a different environment entirely: Raven Golf Club lines its fairways with more than 6,000 Georgia pines, creating a Carolina-style experience five miles from Sky Harbor.
Bucket List
TPC Scottsdale — Stadium Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
Home of the loudest tournament in professional golf and a par-3 16th that seats 20,000. The rest of the course rewards strategy over power.
USD 150–550PublicTom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish (1986)
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Bucket List
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club — Cholla Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
Named one of the ten best new public courses in the world upon opening. Scott Miller's bolder, longer counterpart to the Saguaro.
USD 69–309PublicScott Miller (2001)
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Bucket List
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club — Saguaro Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
Ranked number one in Arizona by Golfweek for 15 of the past 16 years. Coore-Crenshaw minimalism on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land.
USD 69–309PublicBill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2006)
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Premium
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
Scottsdale, Arizona
Links-style golf on 320 acres of Ak-Chin Indian Reservation in Maricopa. An annual U.S. Open qualifying site that plays nothing like the desert courses nearby.
USD 75–275PublicBrian Curley, Lee Schmidt & Fred Couples (2002)
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Premium
Grayhawk Golf Club — Raptor Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
Tom Fazio's Arizona contribution and former NCAA Division I Championship host. Consistently ranked among the top daily-fee courses in the state.
USD 100–475PublicTom Fazio (1995)
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Premium
Grayhawk Golf Club — Talon Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
Golf Magazine ranked it among the Top 10 You Can Play in the U.S. Bent grass greens and a slope of 149 provide a test that does not suffer by comparison with the Raptor.
USD 100–250PublicDavid Graham & Gary Panks (1994)
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Premium
Quintero Golf Club
Scottsdale, Arizona
Dramatic elevation changes on 7,249 yards of Rees Jones desert design, 45 minutes northwest of Scottsdale in Peoria.
USD 105–385PublicRees Jones with Steve Weisser (2000)
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Premium
Troon North Golf Club — Monument Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
British links principles transplanted to the Sonoran Desert. Firm greens, bump-and-run approaches, and four par 5s exceeding 500 yards.
USD 100–500PublicTom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish (1990); Weiskopf redesign 2007
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Premium
Troon North Golf Club — Pinnacle Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
Desert target golf through steep arroyos and saguaro forests. The signature par-5 16th measures 609 yards through a natural wash.
USD 100–325PublicTom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish (1995)
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Mid-Range
Boulders Golf Club — South Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
Jay Morrish's desert design among iconic granite boulder formations. No other course in the area looks anything like it.
USD 75–250ResortJay Morrish (1983)
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Mid-Range
Lookout Mountain Golf Club
Scottsdale, Arizona
Golf Digest Four Star Award for nine consecutive years. A hillside design at Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs with elevation changes that earn the name.
USD 50–168ResortBill Johnston & Forrest Richardson (1989)
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Mid-Range
Papago Golf Club
Scottsdale, Arizona
A City of Phoenix municipal course that plays 7,380 yards with Papago Buttes as a backdrop. Renovated in 2008 at a cost of $5.8 million.
USD 50–140PublicWilliam F. Bell (1963; renovated 2008)
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Mid-Range
Raven Golf Club — Phoenix
Scottsdale, Arizona
A Carolina-style layout with 6,000+ imported Georgia pines, five miles from Sky Harbor Airport. Scottsdale desert golf, this is not.
USD 55–229PublicDavid Graham & Gary Panks (1995)
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Mid-Range
Talking Stick Golf Club — O'odham Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
Flat, links-style Coore-Crenshaw design with views of the McDowell Mountains and Pinnacle Peak. Consistently top-5 in Arizona by Golfweek.
USD 75–150PublicBill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (1997)
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Mid-Range
Talking Stick Golf Club — Piipaash Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
The more traditional counterpart to the O'odham. Tree-lined fairways, raised greens, and a Coore-Crenshaw design that rewards accuracy.
USD 75–250PublicBill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (1997)
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Mid-Range
TPC Scottsdale — Champions Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
The quieter sibling at TPC Scottsdale. Same facility standards, less than half the green fee, and a par-71 layout that measures 7,235 yards.
USD 100–234PublicRandy Heckenkemper (2007)
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Hidden Value
Arizona Grand Golf Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
A short, scenic par-71 at Arizona Grand Resort with lush semitropical landscaping and South Mountain Park as a backdrop.
USD 75–225ResortForrest Richardson (1987)
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Hidden Value
Ocotillo Golf Club
Scottsdale, Arizona
Twenty-seven holes of Ted Robinson design in Chandler with water features on most holes, a Golf Digest 4.5-star rating, and complimentary replay and range balls.
USD 40–120PublicTed Robinson (1986)
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Where to Stay
14 options near the courses
Hotel
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Scottsdale, Arizona
Adjacent to TPC Scottsdale with a 44,000-square-foot spa and Five Diamond service. The most practical luxury base for tournament-course golf.
From $350/nightTPC Scottsdale Stadium (~0.5 mi, adjacent)
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Inn
JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa
Scottsdale, Arizona
Pueblo-style casitas in Paradise Valley since 1936, positioned between the restaurant scene and the north Scottsdale golf corridor.
From $300/nightBoulders South ~10 mi; Troon North ~12 mi
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Hotel
The Phoenician
Scottsdale, Arizona
Five Diamond resort on 250 acres at the base of Camelback Mountain, with on-site golf and a spa that draws its own following.
From $400/nightOn-site golf
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Resort
We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort
Scottsdale, Arizona
On-site access to Arizona's top-ranked public courses on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land. The most direct path from room to first tee.
From $250/nightOn-site golf
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Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale Old Town
Scottsdale, Arizona
Central Old Town location with walkable dining and galleries, five miles from Papago and within 30 minutes of every featured course.
From $130/nightPapago ~5 mi; Old Town location central to many
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Inn
Residence Inn by Marriott Scottsdale North
Scottsdale, Arizona
All-suite hotel with kitchens three miles from Grayhawk and five from Troon North. The budget base for north Scottsdale golf.
From $120/nightTroon North ~5 mi; Grayhawk ~3 mi
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Hotel
The McCormick Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona
Resort amenities at mid-range pricing, with spa, three restaurants, and multiple courses within a 10-mile radius.
From $150/nightTalking Stick ~5 mi; multiple within 10 mi
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Resort
Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona
Desert resort set among ancient granite formations with on-site golf at Boulders South and a 33,000-square-foot spa.
From $250/nightOn-site golf
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Resort
Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort
Scottsdale, Arizona
Reopened after a $115 million renovation with 10 pools, a 19-room spa, and proximity to the Talking Stick courses.
From $250/nightTalking Stick O'odham/Piipaash ~5 mi
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Hotel
Hotel Valley Ho
Scottsdale, Arizona
Mid-century modern landmark in Old Town with walkable access to Scottsdale's strongest restaurant and gallery district.
From $200/nightPapago ~5 mi; multiple within 15 mi
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Resort
Talking Stick Resort
Scottsdale, Arizona
Casino, two Coore-Crenshaw courses, and seven restaurants on one property. The all-in-one base for golf and evening entertainment.
From $180/nightOn-site golf
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Hotel
Best Western Plus Sundial
Scottsdale, Arizona
A 54-room property on Camelback Road where the nightly savings translate directly into additional rounds at better courses.
From $80/nightPapago ~5 mi; multiple within 10 mi
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Hotel
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Scottsdale - Old Town
Scottsdale, Arizona
Old Town walkability and free breakfast at budget pricing. The savings fund an extra round at a course that matters.
From $100/nightPapago ~5 mi; central Old Town location
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Hotel
Motel 6 Old Town Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona
The lowest-cost base in the Scottsdale corridor, positioned to redirect accommodation savings into green fees at courses that justify the trip.
From $60/nightPapago ~5 mi; central Scottsdale
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Off the Fairway
Non-golf activities and companion experiences
Cultural
2 hours
Desert E-Bike Tour
Scottsdale, Arizona
Guided two-hour ride through the Sonoran Desert on electric-assist bikes, accessible to all fitness levels.
$69-$85 (est.)
ViatorBook activity
Cultural
2-3 hours
Desert Stargazing Tour
Scottsdale, Arizona
Evening astronomy tour in dark-sky desert terrain with telescopes and night-vision equipment. A quiet counterpoint to the resort environment.
$50-$100 (est.)
ViatorBook activity
Cultural
11-14 hours
Grand Canyon & Sedona Full-Day Tour
Scottsdale, Arizona
Grand Canyon and Sedona in a single guided day from Scottsdale. The rest-day excursion that justifies the companion's trip.
$150-$200
ViatorBook activity
Cultural
3-4.5 hours total (45-75 min flight)
Hot Air Balloon Sunrise Flight
Scottsdale, Arizona
Sunrise float over the Sonoran Desert with champagne toast on landing. Pre-dawn departure leaves the afternoon open for golf.
$199-$350
ViatorBook activity
Cultural
2-4 hours
McDowell Sonoran Preserve Hiking
Scottsdale, Arizona
Free access to 30,000 acres of protected Sonoran Desert with 225 miles of trails, from flat interpretive paths to summit scrambles.
Free (guided hikes $40-$60)
Direct websiteVisit website
Cultural
2-3 hours
Old Town Scottsdale & Art Galleries
Scottsdale, Arizona
Gallery district, Thursday ArtWalk, and walkable dining along Marshall Way. The default evening for golf visitors in central Scottsdale.
Free (dining/shopping extra)
Direct websiteVisit website
Dining
3 hours
Old Town Scottsdale Food Tour
Scottsdale, Arizona
A three-hour walking tour through five to six Old Town restaurants, from Southwestern cuisine to contemporary American.
$89-$110
ViatorBook activity
Cultural
Half day
Scottsdale Spa Experience
Scottsdale, Arizona
Full-service resort spas with desert botanicals, outdoor relaxation areas, and decades of competition-driven quality.
$100-$300+
Direct websiteVisit website
Cultural
3-4 hours
Sonoran Desert Sunset Jeep Tour
Scottsdale, Arizona
Off-road through Tonto National Forest at sunset, with 5.0-star ratings across 2,600 reviews. The afternoon activity that pairs with a morning round.
$179-$199
ViatorBook activity
Cultural
1.5-2 hours
Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright)
Scottsdale, Arizona
Frank Lloyd Wright's desert laboratory, built from local stone in the 1930s and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
$39 adult / $19 youth
Direct websiteVisit website
When to Go
Oct · Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr
October through April is the season. January and February are peak, with the highest green fees and the best weather: highs in the upper 60s and low 70s, clear skies, negligible rain. November and April are shoulder months where prices ease. May through September is a different proposition. June through August highs average 104 to 106. Afternoon rounds become physically inadvisable. The courses respond with discounts of 50 to 70 percent, and dawn tee times become the only practical option.
Getting There
Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) · 15-25 minutes
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is the gateway, with direct flights from most major American cities. PHX sits 14 miles southwest of Old Town Scottsdale, a 20-to-30-minute drive. A rental car is essential. The corridor stretches roughly 30 miles from South Mountain to Pinnacle Peak, with outliers in Peoria and Maricopa.
Three days is enough to experience the best of it. Four is better. Two is a mistake. Scottsdale scales from a $1,500 budget weekend to a $5,000 luxury trip without losing its character at either end.
Plan Your Trip
Pre-planned itineraries for Scottsdale
Best Value Trip
Best Value: Three Nights on the Desert Floor
Four rounds across the corridor's strongest value-to-quality ratio, from a 7,380-yard municipal course to granite boulder formations.
4 daysUSD 1200–1800/person
Bucket List Trip
The Bucket List: Four Nights in the Sonoran Desert
Four nights, four courses, and the complete spectrum of Sonoran Desert golf architecture from Coore-Crenshaw minimalism to PGA Tour spectacle.
5 daysUSD 3500–5500/person
Long Weekend
The Long Weekend: Three Nights in North Scottsdale
Three days, three courses that define Scottsdale's upper tier, with a sunrise balloon flight and Old Town food tour between rounds.
4 daysUSD 2200–3500/person
Planning Your Trip
Airports, rental cars, seasonal pricing, and local knowledge for Scottsdale.
From the Editorial
Articles covering Scottsdale
Opinion
TPC Scottsdale vs Grayhawk: Scottsdale's Tournament Courses
Comparing Scottsdale's two premier tournament-venue courses: TPC Scottsdale's WM Phoenix Open stadium and Grayhawk's NCAA Championship Raptor.
Opinion
We-Ko-Pa vs Troon North: Scottsdale's Desert Course Debate
Comparing Scottsdale's two premier desert golf facilities: We-Ko-Pa's tribal-land purity against Troon North's boulder-strewn dramatic routing.
Opinion
Scottsdale vs Las Vegas: Which Desert Trip?
Comparing Scottsdale's premier desert golf with Las Vegas' entertainment-driven golf experience for desert buddies trips.
Opinion
Myrtle Beach vs Scottsdale: Which Mega-Destination Wins?
Comparing America's two largest golf destinations: Myrtle Beach's volume and value against Scottsdale's desert course quality and upscale experience.
Course Guide
Course Guide
Destination Guide
Course Guide
Destination Guide
Destination Guide
