Whisper Rock Upper
When Whisper Rock added a second course it turned to Tom Fazio, and the Upper, opened in 2005, gave the private north Scottsdale club a longer, more muscular companion to Phil Mickelson's Lower. Together they give a membership famous for its touring professionals thirty six holes of high desert golf with no tee times to chase.
Photo via Google, contributed by James Larcher.
The verdict
The Upper Course is Tom Fazio's contribution to Whisper Rock, opened in 2005 as the club's second eighteen. It plays to a par 72 of about 7,550 yards, longer and bolder than the Lower, with the polished shaping and dramatic desert framing that are Fazio hallmarks. Set in the same high Sonoran terrain north of the city, it offers width off the tee and demands a long, controlled iron game into well guarded greens.
Our verdict: the Upper is the stronger championship test of the two and a clear contrast in style, a big, handsome Fazio layout next to Mickelson's more short game driven Lower. Like its sibling it is strictly private, with no public play, so we profile it as one of the desert's great clubs to understand. For courses you can actually book nearby, see our guide to golf in Arizona and Scottsdale and the best courses in the region.
Whisper Rock Upper Course at a glance
- Opened
- 2005
- Designer
- Tom Fazio
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,550 yds
- Sibling
- Lower Course (Mickelson)
- Access
- Private members
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Whisper Rock and course records: the Upper is a Tom Fazio design, opened in 2005, playing as a par 72 of about 7,550 yards. Whisper Rock is a private members club with no public access and does not publish a visitor green fee, so any figures elsewhere are indicative only and access is by membership or member invitation.
The holes worth the trip
The Upper is the muscle of Whisper Rock. Fazio used the extra length to build a course that asks for control at full speed, with generous corridors that reward a confident driver and then tighten the test at greens framed by desert, rock and bunkering. It is the layout a low handicapper points to when they want to be stretched, while the Lower rewards finesse.
Fazio's eye for the dramatic suits the terrain. The Upper climbs and falls across the higher desert with long views and a sequence of strong par 4s, and its par 5s give the big hitter a genuine chance to take them on. The greens are large and contoured, so distance control on the approach is the difference between a birdie look and a testing two putt.
Whisper Rock is private, but a Scottsdale week built around it can pair the public Weiskopf desert of Troon North Pinnacle and the championship stadium golf of TPC Scottsdale Stadium, both bookable and close by, for a varied stretch of desert golf.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Strictly private members club; play is by membership or member invitation only |
| Green fee | Not published; the club does not offer public tee times, so any quoted figure is indicative only |
| Booking window | No public booking; accompanied guest play is arranged by members |
| Handicap and dress | Member and guest standards apply; a traditional club dress code is expected |
| Getting there | North Scottsdale, about 35 to 45 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport |
| Best months | October through May are ideal in the Sonoran desert; summers are very hot |
Access details verified June 2026 from Whisper Rock information: the club is private with no public play and publishes no visitor green fee. We profile the Upper for its design and place in Scottsdale golf, not as a bookable round; treat any third party figures as indicative only and confirm any access directly.
Where to stay nearby
Because Whisper Rock is private, a visiting group bases itself in north Scottsdale near the bookable desert courses and resorts rather than at the club. The Troon and Pinnacle Peak corridors keep a string of resort hotels within minutes of the public layouts.
Greater Scottsdale offers one of the deepest resort markets in American golf, so a group can build a comfortable week of bookable rounds, spa time and dining around the city while admiring Whisper Rock from afar.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around north Scottsdale.
Build a Scottsdale golf trip
Whisper Rock is private, but we build Scottsdale weeks around the best bookable desert courses and a base to match. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Whisper Rock Upper Course questions
Who designed the Whisper Rock Upper Course?
The Upper Course is a Tom Fazio design, opened in 2005 as the club's second eighteen, set in the high Sonoran desert north of Scottsdale.
What is the par and length of the Upper Course?
The Upper plays as a par 72 of about 7,550 yards, longer and more muscular than the Mickelson designed Lower.
Can the public play Whisper Rock?
No. Whisper Rock is a strictly private members club; play is by membership or member invitation only and there is no public green fee.
How do the Upper and Lower courses differ?
The Fazio Upper is the longer, bolder championship test, while the Mickelson Lower is shorter and built around an imaginative short game.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; Whisper Rock is private with no public green fee, so access is by membership or member invitation. Last reviewed June 2026.