Golf in Scottsdale and Phoenix
The desert golf capital of the United States, where more than two hundred courses spread across the Valley of the Sun under reliable winter sunshine. TPC Scottsdale and the roar of the WM Phoenix Open, the boulder strewn beauty of Troon North and We-Ko-Pa, and a private tier as good as anywhere in America. The courses that matter, the season, costs and how to plan it.
Photograph: TPC Scottsdale, via Google
Why golf in Scottsdale and Phoenix
No destination in America packs in desert golf like the Valley of the Sun. Scottsdale and greater Phoenix hold well over two hundred courses within easy reach of one base, played under dry, sunny winter skies while much of the country is frozen. The headliner is the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, where the WM Phoenix Open turns the par 3 sixteenth into the loudest amphitheatre in the game each February, and it is fully public the rest of the year. Around it sits a deep field of accessible desert golf, from Troon North and We-Ko-Pa to Grayhawk and The Boulders.
The setting is the draw as much as the golf. Courses thread between granite boulders, saguaro and the McDowell and Superstition mountains, framed by mountain light and almost guaranteed weather from late autumn to spring. Behind the public field lies a private tier among the best in the country, led by Desert Mountain's six courses and the pro favourite Whisper Rock. You base in north Scottsdale, hire a car, and string together short drives between courses, with world class dining and resorts waiting at the end of the round.
The areas
North Scottsdale
The heart of the resort and desert golf, in the high Sonoran foothills below the McDowells. Troon North, Grayhawk, Desert Mountain and Whisper Rock cluster here, making it the natural base for a golf week, with the best resorts and dining close by.
Central Scottsdale and the Fairmont
Home to TPC Scottsdale's Stadium and Champions courses at the Fairmont resort, the WM Phoenix Open venue, with easy access to Old Town Scottsdale's restaurants and nightlife. The convenient, do everything base for a first trip.
East valley and Fountain Hills
Toward the Superstition Mountains and the Yavapai Nation land east of the city, where We-Ko-Pa's two courses sit in open, unspoilt desert. A short drive for some of the purest design in the region.
Greater Phoenix
The wider metro adds further resort and daily fee courses and the major Sky Harbor airport. Most golf trips base in Scottsdale and dip into the valley beyond for variety and value.
The courses that matter
TPC Scottsdale, Stadium Course
The home of the WM Phoenix Open, the loudest week in golf, and its stadium par 3 sixteenth ringed by grandstands. A Weiskopf and Morrish design built for spectators, fully public through the Fairmont resort, and the headline desert round of any Scottsdale trip.
We-Ko-Pa, Saguaro Course
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw's walkable, minimalist desert course on Yavapai Nation land toward Fountain Hills, with wide fairways, no houses and greens set hard by the next tee. Widely rated the best pure design in the valley. Its sister Cholla, by Scott Miller, adds a second strong eighteen.
Troon North, Monument Course
The course that set the template for upscale Scottsdale desert golf, threading between granite boulders and saguaro in the high Sonoran foothills. A Weiskopf design, recently renovated, paired with the sterner Pinnacle Course on the same site for one of the great public desert duos.
Grayhawk Golf Club
Two acclaimed public courses in north Scottsdale, the Talon and the Tom Fazio designed Raptor, the latter a multiple host of the NCAA Championships. Polished, accessible and central, a reliable anchor for a desert golf week.
The Boulders Resort
Two Jay Morrish desert courses, the North and the South, carved around the giant weathered granite boulders that give the Carefree resort its name. One of the most striking settings in Arizona golf and a long standing resort favourite.
Desert Mountain
A private club in the high desert of north Scottsdale with six championship courses, five by Jack Nicklaus plus the Renegade, and a No. 7 short course. Among the finest and most exclusive multi course clubs in the country, member access only.
Whisper Rock Golf Club
A pro favourite in far north Scottsdale with two courses, the Lower by Phil Mickelson and Tom Fazio and the Upper, beloved by touring professionals who base in the valley. Strictly private, but a benchmark for desert design.
TPC Scottsdale, Champions Course
The Stadium Course's accessible sibling at the Fairmont resort, a friendlier, more forgiving desert layout that lets visitors play TPC Scottsdale without the championship teeth. A sensible value pairing with a round on the Stadium.
Designers, opening years and access verified June 2026 from the courses and leading databases; several are private members clubs with limited or no visitor access, and access rules change. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| November to April | Warm, dry and sunny, courses in peak condition | Prime time; the best weather, highest demand and rates, peaking around the February WM Phoenix Open |
| October and May | Hot easing to warm, mostly settled | Strong shoulder value with comfortable golf either side of the peak |
| June to September | Very hot, often above 100F, dry heat | Play at dawn or twilight for the lowest rates of the year; plan around the midday heat |
| February | Peak winter, busiest week of the year | The WM Phoenix Open fills hotels and courses; book early or plan around it |
Scottsdale plays year round, but the desert heat is the thing to plan around. The cool, dry winter is the reason the valley exists as a golf destination; summer golf is cheap but reserved for the early morning.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TPC Scottsdale Stadium and Troon North | Premium peak winter green fees; far lower in summer and at twilight | The marquee public rounds; book well ahead for the peak season |
| We-Ko-Pa, Grayhawk, The Boulders | Upper tier desert green fees, season dependent | Excellent design at a notch below the marquee names |
| Everyday valley courses | Modest green fees for solid daily fee desert golf | The backbone of an affordable Scottsdale golf week |
| Private clubs | Access by member invitation only | Desert Mountain, Whisper Rock and the like are not open to visitors |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Green fees and resort rates move sharply with season and demand. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the gateway, around 20 to 30 minutes from most Scottsdale resorts and served by direct flights from across North America. The courses spread across the north and east of the valley, so a hire car is the norm and the driving between rounds is short. The practical move is to base in north Scottsdale, close to Troon North and Grayhawk, and make easy hops out to TPC Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa and the resorts, rather than chasing courses across the whole metro.
Where to stay
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess puts you on the doorstep of TPC Scottsdale, while The Boulders in Carefree and the resorts of north Scottsdale sit close to the desert courses and the foothills. Old Town Scottsdale offers a livelier, walkable base for groups who want the dining and nightlife alongside the golf. Book resort rooms and the marquee tee times together for the November to April window, when both move quickly.
Plan your Scottsdale golf trip
Tell us whether you want the marquee desert rounds at TPC Scottsdale and Troon North, a value week of daily fee golf, or a buddies trip built around Old Town, and roughly when. One concierge secures the tee times, sorts the resort and the car, and costs the whole trip to the head, with no obligation.
Scottsdale golf questions
What are the best golf courses in Scottsdale?
The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, home of the WM Phoenix Open and its famous stadium par 3 sixteenth, is the marquee public round, alongside the two Tom Weiskopf desert courses at Troon North, the Monument and the Pinnacle. We-Ko-Pa's Saguaro, a Coore and Crenshaw walk in the round desert, is widely rated the best of the lot for design. Grayhawk and The Boulders round out a deep field of accessible desert golf, while Whisper Rock and Desert Mountain sit among the country's best private clubs.
When is the best time to play golf in Scottsdale and Phoenix?
Roughly November to April is the prime season, with warm, dry, sunny days and the desert courses in peak condition, which is also why rates and demand are highest then around the WM Phoenix Open in February. High summer, from June to September, is extremely hot, often well above 100F, so golf is played at dawn and twilight at much lower rates. Spring and autumn shoulders offer a fine balance of weather and value. Always check the forecast for your dates.
How much does golf cost in Scottsdale?
It swings widely with the season. The marquee public courses, led by TPC Scottsdale's Stadium and Troon North, command premium peak winter green fees around the WM Phoenix Open, while the same courses fall sharply in the summer heat and at twilight. Everyday desert courses across the valley offer solid golf for far less. Figures are indicative and move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
Is Scottsdale or Phoenix better for a golf trip?
They are part of the same Valley of the Sun, minutes apart, so most trips simply base in Scottsdale and play across both. Scottsdale holds the densest cluster of resort and desert courses and the liveliest base of hotels and dining, which is why it anchors most golf weeks. Greater Phoenix adds further courses and a major international airport. In practice a Scottsdale and Phoenix trip is one destination, not two.
How do you get to the golf in Scottsdale and Phoenix?
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is about 20 to 30 minutes from most Scottsdale resorts and is served by direct flights from across North America. A hire car is the norm, as the courses spread across the north and east of the valley, from Troon North and Desert Mountain in the foothills to We-Ko-Pa out toward Fountain Hills. Most golf trips base in north Scottsdale and drive short hops between courses.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Desert course news, the WM Phoenix Open and the booking windows that matter. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts, access and seasons verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.