Troon North Pinnacle Course
The Monument made Troon North famous; the Pinnacle keeps the purists coming back. Designed by Tom Weiskopf and opened in 1996 beneath Pinnacle Peak in the high Sonoran desert, this 7,044 yard par 72 winds through saguaro, granite boulders and natural washes on some of the most dramatic golf ground in Arizona. Here is the verdict, the facts, the holes and how to get on.
Photograph: Troon North Golf Club, via Google.
The verdict
Troon North is the benchmark for upscale public desert golf, and the Pinnacle is its sterner half. Weiskopf laid it out in 1996 on the higher, rockier ground of the property and later returned with his associate Phil Smith to renovate it, so the course carries his ideas at both ends of his career: wide, inviting drive zones, short par 4s that whisper temptation, and green complexes that ask for one precise decision after another.
Where the Monument Course flows through the desert floor, the Pinnacle climbs and tumbles, with more elevation change, bolder greens and a slope around 149 from the tips that tells you the examination is real. Conditioning is the famous Troon standard, emerald turf against raw desert, and the views across the boulder fields to Pinnacle Peak are the postcard Arizona promises. For a Scottsdale buddies trip, the 36 hole Troon North day, Monument in the morning, Pinnacle after lunch, remains the gold standard.
Troon North Pinnacle at a glance
- Opened
- 1996
- Designer
- Tom Weiskopf
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 7,044 yds
- Type
- High desert
- Green fee
- ~$220 to $325
Designer, opening and layout verified June 2026. The Pinnacle Course was designed by Tom Weiskopf and opened in 1996, with a later renovation by Weiskopf and his design associate Phil Smith. It plays as a par 72 of 7,044 yards from the back tees, slope around 149. Indicative 2025 rates ran from roughly 220 to 325 dollars with dynamic peaks of 300 to 400 dollars on winter mornings, plus a 5 percent water surcharge at check in; fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Pinnacle's drama is geological. Fairways thread between granite outcrops and stands of century old saguaro, and the desert is not decoration but the working edge of every hole: carry it from the tee, respect it on the recovery, and putt with it in your peripheral vision. Weiskopf's renovation widened the playing corridors and rebuilt the greens, so the course rewards the aggressive line without demanding it.
Weiskopf's signature drivable par 4 thinking shows up here as it does on every course he built, and the short two shotters are where matches turn: lay back for a wedge or chase the green between the boulders and accept what follows. The par 3s play across washes and against rock walls with the Sonoran light doing its theatrical best, and the closing holes climb home with views that stretch across the McDowell Sonoran Preserve toward the city far below.
Play it late in the day if you can. The saguaro throw long shadows, the granite turns copper, and the Pinnacle makes its case as not just a great round of desert golf but one of the great desert settings, full stop.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Fully public; tee times bookable online up to 90 days ahead, with Troon Rewards members earning discounts across the company's courses |
| Green fee | Dynamic pricing. Indicative 2025 rates roughly 220 to 325 dollars midweek and 255 to 325 weekends, with peak winter mornings at 300 to 400 dollars and a 5 percent water surcharge added at check in |
| Booking | January to April mornings go fast; book the 36 hole Monument and Pinnacle day early, or chase value in May, October and summer twilight windows |
| On the day | Carts with GPS, forecaddies by arrangement, a full practice campus and one of Arizona's best golf shops; standard resort dress code |
| Getting there | In north Scottsdale off Dynamite Boulevard, around 40 to 45 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport |
| Best months | November to April for prime desert weather; June to September is extremely hot but dawn rounds are cheap and spectacular |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Troon North or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
North Scottsdale is resort country. The Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North sits beside the courses and is the natural luxury base, while the Boulders, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess and a deep bench of golf villas cover every style of group. Old Town Scottsdale, 30 minutes south, adds restaurants and nightlife for the evenings.
A Scottsdale week built around Troon North usually adds the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course and Grayhawk's Raptor, with a tee sheet ordered by our best courses in Arizona ranking.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts across north Scottsdale and the valley.
Build a Scottsdale golf week
We arrange tee times on the Pinnacle and Monument and build them into a full Scottsdale trip, TPC, Grayhawk, a resort base and every transfer, costed to the head. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge does the rest, with no obligation.
Troon North Pinnacle questions
Who designed the Pinnacle Course at Troon North?
The Pinnacle was designed by Tom Weiskopf and opened in 1996, six years after the Monument Course he created with Jay Morrish. Weiskopf later returned to renovate the Pinnacle, working with his design associate Phil Smith, so the course you play today is his finished thought.
What par and length is the Pinnacle?
The Pinnacle plays as a par 72 of 7,044 yards from the back tees, with a slope around 149 at full stretch. Multiple tee decks bring it down to a very playable length for resort golfers.
How much does it cost to play Troon North Pinnacle?
Pricing is dynamic. Indicative 2025 rates ran from around 220 to 325 dollars midweek and 255 to 325 dollars at weekends, with peak winter mornings reaching 300 to 400 dollars and a small water surcharge added at check in. Summer twilight rates fall far below that. Always confirm directly before booking.
Which is better, the Pinnacle or the Monument?
The Monument is the postcard and gets the headlines; the Pinnacle is generally rated the slightly sterner test, with more elevation change and bolder green complexes. Most groups play both on a 36 hole day, which is exactly how Troon North is best consumed.
When is the best time to play golf in Scottsdale?
November to April is the prime Scottsdale season, with warm days, cool mornings and perfect turf. May and October are excellent value shoulders. June to September is extremely hot, but dawn tee times are cheap and the desert at sunrise is its own reward.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening date and layout verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.