We-Ko-Pa Cholla
Scott Miller routed the Cholla Course in 2001 on Yavapai Nation land at Fort McDowell, the older of the two layouts at We-Ko-Pa. A par 72 stretching to about 7,225 yards across open Sonoran desert with no houses, roads or rough in sight, it is one of the purest desert golf experiences in the Scottsdale area.
Photo: We-Ko-Pa Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
We-Ko-Pa is the rare Scottsdale area golf where the only thing you see is desert. There are no homes, no cart paths cutting across the view and no other holes crowding the one you are playing. Scott Miller laid out the Cholla Course in 2001 on tribal land at Fort McDowell, and it set the tone before Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw added the walkable Saguaro Course alongside it in 2006.
Cholla is the longer, bolder of the two, a par 72 that reaches about 7,225 yards and uses the natural roll of the Sonoran desert for width and drama. The McDowell Mountains and Four Peaks fill the horizon, the greens are large and receptive, and the elevation changes give the better player plenty to think about. It is genuine daily fee public golf, so unlike many of the desert's best, you can simply book a tee time.
We-Ko-Pa Cholla at a glance
- Opened
- 2001
- Designer
- Scott Miller
- Type
- Desert
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,225 yds
- Green fee
- Daily fee, public
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from We-Ko-Pa Golf Club and leading course databases. The Cholla Course was designed by Scott Miller and opened in 2001, a par 72 of about 7,225 yards. It is a daily fee public course; seasonal green fees are highest in the cool winter high season and lower through the summer. Rates change by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Cholla plays bigger than the card because it uses the desert floor so well, fairways tumbling between stands of saguaro and ironwood with mountain backdrops on nearly every shot. The width invites the driver, but the smart line is dictated by where the green opens up, and the desert waste areas punish the wild miss with a lost ball rather than a raked bunker.
The greens are generous in size and hold a well struck approach, which keeps the course fair for the resort golfer while leaving the back tees a real test at over 7,200 yards. Elevation changes add deception to club selection, and the dry Arizona air sends the ball a long way, so judging distance into the thinner desert air is part of the challenge.
The closing stretch turns toward Four Peaks and the McDowell range for a memorable finish, the kind of desert scenery that draws golfers to Arizona in the first place. Pair Cholla with its sister Saguaro Course for a full day at one of the few clubs in the region where the desert, not the real estate, is the headline.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Daily fee public course; visitors and resort guests welcome by tee time |
| Green fee | Seasonal daily fee; highest in the winter high season, lower in summer (indicative, 2026). Confirm current rates with the golf shop |
| Booking | Book online or through the golf shop; winter tee times go quickly, so reserve well ahead |
| On the day | Carts with GPS are standard on the desert layout; the sister Saguaro Course is walkable |
| Getting there | Fort McDowell, about 30 minutes northeast of Scottsdale; Phoenix Sky Harbor is around an hour |
| Best months | October to May for the cool, dry desert season; summer rounds are best played early |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026; We-Ko-Pa is a daily fee public course and seasonal rates vary widely, so always confirm current pricing and tee time availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visitors stay in Scottsdale or nearby Fountain Hills, both a short drive from We-Ko-Pa and full of resorts, spas and dining built around the desert golf season. The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort sits beside the courses for those who want to roll out of bed and onto the first tee.
Scottsdale makes an ideal hub for a wider Arizona golf trip, pairing We-Ko-Pa with the area's many desert layouts. A winter week here, with cool mornings and warm afternoons, is one of the great golf escapes in the United States.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Scottsdale.
Build a Scottsdale golf trip
We pair We-Ko-Pa with the best of the Scottsdale desert, secure the tee times and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
We-Ko-Pa Cholla questions
Who designed the Cholla Course at We-Ko-Pa and when did it open?
The Cholla Course was designed by Scott Miller and opened in 2001, the original of the two courses at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw added the Saguaro Course in 2006.
What is the par and length of We-Ko-Pa Cholla?
Cholla is a par 72 of about 7,225 yards from the back tees, played across open Sonoran desert with large greens and dramatic mountain backdrops.
Can visitors play We-Ko-Pa Cholla?
Yes. We-Ko-Pa is a daily fee public club, so visitors and resort guests can book tee times. Winter is the high season, so reserve well in advance and confirm current rates.
What is the difference between the Cholla and Saguaro courses?
Cholla is the longer, more dramatic desert layout from 2001, while the walkable Saguaro Course, opened in 2006 by Coore and Crenshaw, is firmer and more strategic. Many golfers play both in a single visit.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; daily fee rates are seasonal and indicative, verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.