Scottsdale & Arizona

Scottsdale is the answer when you want to play golf in shorts in February. Phoenix gets 300 days of sun a year, the Valley has more than 200 golf courses within an hour's drive, and the November-April peak season was built around East Coast and Midwest golfers escaping winter. The desert tracks here are unlike anything in the rest of the country — wide-cut emerald corridors hard against red rock and saguaro, with desert 'rough' that swallows any ball that goes too far offline.

The marquee names cluster in north Scottsdale: Troon North (two Tom Weiskopf courses), We-Ko-Pa (two desert layouts, no homes, no carts), Grayhawk (host of the NCAA championships every year), and TPC Scottsdale's Stadium course — the one with the 16th-hole party every February at the Phoenix Open. None of these is private. All are bookable on the standard tee-time systems with 30-90 days' lead time. Resort guests get priority.

Phoenix Sky Harbor is one of the easiest big-city airports in America — direct flights from every major hub, 25 minutes to Scottsdale, no traffic on a Saturday morning. The catch is the heat: May through September the Valley is unplayable past 9am, so most courses go to dawn-only tee times and the trip math falls apart. Plan around November to April and the place delivers like no other US destination.

Best courses

• TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)

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  The Phoenix Open course. Famous for the par-3 16th, where 20,000 fans surround the green during the tournament. Bookable year-round, $295-475 green fee depending on season.

• Troon North (Monument)

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  Tom Weiskopf's high-desert layout, threaded around boulder outcrops and saguaro. The signature 3rd hole plays off a 200-foot drop. Sister course (Pinnacle) shares the clubhouse and is slightly easier.

• We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro)

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  Coore + Crenshaw 2006 design on Fort McDowell Yavapai land. No homes, no carts on fairways — just walking-or-cart desert golf. Pairs with the older Cholla course (Bill Coore solo design) next door.

• Grayhawk (Raptor)

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  Tom Fazio. Hosts the NCAA Men's and Women's Championships every year, which keeps conditioning year-round. Sister course Talon is slightly tougher and arguably more interesting.

• The Boulders (South)

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  Resort course tucked into Carefree's boulder outcrops 25 minutes north of Scottsdale. The most photogenic round in Arizona — quail and javelina cross fairways at dawn. The North course is the easier sister.

• Wildfire (Faldo)

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  JW Marriott Desert Ridge resort. Two courses (Faldo + Palmer); Faldo is the desert routing, Palmer the parkland. Cheaper than Troon North and bookable through JW guests up to 90 days out.

Sub-areas to know

When to go

Best monthsNovember through April

Perfect winter golf weather: 65-75°F daily highs December-February, cool desert nights, near-zero rain. Spring stays good through April. May through September is brutal — 105°F+ afternoon highs and most courses go to dawn-only tee times or close entirely.

Sample itinerary

4-day Scottsdale sampler

1. Day 01
   Land PHX, settle in north Scottsdale

   25 minutes from Sky Harbor to most golf hotels. Check in at the Four Seasons Troon North or the Phoenician. Late tee time at Wildfire (Faldo) — your cheapest loosener.

2. Day 02
   Troon North double

   Monument in the morning, Pinnacle in the afternoon. Cart-only, walking discouraged. Lunch between rounds at the Troon Grille. Drinks at Tonto Bar & Grill in Carefree at sunset.

3. Day 03
   TPC Scottsdale (Stadium)

   The marquee. Tee off mid-morning so you finish in the shade of the 16th-hole grandstand. Lunch at the Phoenix Open Grill. Old Town Scottsdale dinner.

4. Day 04
   We-Ko-Pa or Boulders, then home

   We-Ko-Pa Saguaro for the walking-friendly Coore + Crenshaw round, OR The Boulders for the most photogenic Arizona course. PHX for the evening flight.

What it costs

$2,000–$4,000 per person for 4 days

Green fees swing dramatically by season — Troon North runs $325 in February, $115 in August. Most groups land $250-400 per round in peak. Hotels: Four Seasons Troon North $700-1,200/night, Phoenician $550-900, JW Desert Ridge $450-700, an Airbnb in north Scottsdale $250-400. Carts are included or $30-50 extra. Caddies are rare outside Troon North.

Want a real number for your group? The planner produces a per-person estimate based on your dates, party size, and course choices.

Getting there

• PHX · Phoenix Sky Harbor25 min to north Scottsdale driveDirect from every US hub plus several international (Heathrow, Mexico City, Calgary). One of the easiest big-city airports in America for rental-car pickup.
• AZA · Phoenix-Mesa Gateway45 min driveAllegiant and a few low-cost carriers. Useful for budget direct flights from secondary cities (Bellingham, Provo) but a longer drive.

Rent a car — Scottsdale is spread out and Uber from north Scottsdale to a south Phoenix course is $35+. Most resort guests still rent.

Practical

FAQ