The Boulders North Course
The original course at one of Arizona's most photographed desert resorts, Jay Morrish's North weaves between the colossal granite boulders of Carefree, a benchmark of minimalist desert design north of Scottsdale.
Photo: Michael Hinz via Google.
The verdict
The Boulders is the desert resort that taught Arizona how to build golf into the landscape rather than on top of it. Opened in 1985 to a Jay Morrish design, the North Course set the template for target golf threaded through ancient granite outcrops, saguaro and natural washes. Decades on it remains a study in how to make a desert course feel inevitable, with holes that bend around the great boulders as if the rock came first and the golf came second.
Paired with the slightly later South Course, the North gives the resort 36 holes of classic high Sonoran golf. It is the more revered of the two among architecture enthusiasts, a tight, strategic routing where club selection and angles matter more than raw length. For the traveling golfer the appeal is the whole package: serious design, dramatic scenery and a five star resort wrapped around it.
The Boulders North Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1985
- Designer
- Jay Morrish
- Type
- Desert target
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,959 yards
- Slope
- 138
Designer and details verified June 2026: the North Course was designed by Jay Morrish and opened in 1985, playing 6,959 yards to a par 72 with a slope of 138 from the championship tees. The North is generally the members' course at The Boulders, with the public South Course the main resort play. Indicative rates of roughly 180 to 339 dollars reflect 2026 winter peak season and change by season and demand, dropping sharply in summer, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The North is all about the rock. Morrish routed holes through, around and over granite formations that frame tee shots and guard greens, so the strategy is constant: take on the carry or play the safe angle, flirt with the boulders or leave yourself the long way home. The fairways are generous enough to keep it fun, but the desert and the rock punish the careless.
The par 3s are the signature, several of them played to greens tucked among or beneath the boulders with the Sonoran desert falling away beyond. The closing holes bring the resort and Black Mountain into view and reward a player who has kept the ball in the short grass all day. It is target golf at its most scenic, demanding precision without ever feeling tricked up.
Conditioning is resort standard and the elevation change keeps every round interesting. This is desert golf as theater, the kind of course that sells a winter golf trip to the Phoenix and Scottsdale corridor on the strength of a single round.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | The North is generally the members' course; resort and public play centers on the South Course, with North access typically by membership or resort program |
| Green fee | From about 180 to 339 dollars, indicative 2026 winter peak; rates vary by season and demand, summer is far lower |
| Booking | Book through the resort or club; winter is the busy, premium season, so reserve well ahead |
| On the day | Cart golf with forecaddies common; resort dress; generous desert, but respect the rock and washes |
| Getting there | In Carefree, about 40 minutes north of Phoenix Sky Harbor airport (PHX) |
| Best months | October to May; winter and spring are peak, midsummer is hot but heavily discounted |
Access and fees verified June 2026; resort pricing and access policies change year to year, so always confirm current rates, course availability and tee times directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The Boulders is a destination resort in its own right, a collection of adobe casitas and villas set among the granite with spa, pools and dining built for a premium desert escape. Staying on property is the natural play, with both the North and South courses within a few minutes of the room.
For a fuller Scottsdale area golf trip, the Boulders pairs with the desert courses to the south, from the long, links style golf at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes to the resort golf at Wildfire Golf Club at Desert Ridge.
Looking for a base nearby? See our recommended hotels and resorts.
Build a Scottsdale golf trip
We arrange tee times at The Boulders and across the best of the Phoenix and Scottsdale desert courses, then book the resort lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Boulders North Course questions
Who designed the Boulders North Course?
The North Course at The Boulders was designed by Jay Morrish and opened in 1985. It is one of the courses that defined minimalist desert golf in Arizona, routed through the giant granite boulders of Carefree north of Scottsdale.
What is the par and yardage of the Boulders North Course?
The North Course is a par 72 measuring about 6,959 yards from the championship tees, with a slope rating of 138. It is the tighter, more strategic of the resort's two Jay Morrish courses.
Can the public play the Boulders North Course?
The North is generally the members' course at The Boulders, with the public South Course the main resort play. Access to the North is typically through membership or a resort program, so confirm availability directly before booking.
How much does it cost to play golf at The Boulders?
Indicative rates run from about 180 to 339 US dollars in the 2026 winter peak season and drop sharply in summer. Rates change by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year and yardage verified June 2026; indicative rates verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.