The best golf courses in Scottsdale, Arizona are ready and waiting for you to put on your golf shoes and head to the practice range for a quick warm up. The possibilities are endless – from challenging desert golf to traditional tees and green approaches – you will love playing the best golf courses in Scottsdale.
Choose from a variety of resort courses offering stay-and-play packages or one of the highly rated public golf courses. With so many options on offer, you can find a course that fits your game and budget.
Scottsdale Golf has something for every golfer. Serious players will enjoy a cool early morning tee time that requires a higher booking fee for the premium tee time. The casual gamer looking to experience Sonoran desert golf will enjoy a round of twilight where they can explore the course at a more relaxed pace for a budget-friendly tee.
However you cut it (pun intended), Arizona Desert Golf is an outdoor experience you’ll want to repeat over and over again.
The seasonal prices are higher than the mid-season when you can play these courses for a fraction of the price when the weather is nice. We have listed the course prices based on the estimated winter season fees. The 13 courses are listed below in no particular order and their prices are given as follows:
- $: $ 75 to $ 150
- $$: $ 150 to $ 250
- $$$: $ 250 and more
Note: Some of the information in this article was obtained during a sponsored press trip, but all recommendations are my own.
Photo credit: JW Marriott Camelback Inn
1. Camelback Golf Club
As part of the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, the Camelback Golf Club offers its guests two 18-hole courses, the Padre Course and the Ambiente Course. The rugged backdrop of Camelback Mountain in front of the lush green fairways and greens creates a breathtaking coexistence. With wide open fairways and refreshing water features, you will love the challenging game. Surrounded by the local flora and fauna, immerse yourself in the desert golf experience.
Costs: $$ – $$$ (stay and game package)
Pro tip: Camelback is a semi-private course. Select a stay and play package during high season to ensure tee time availability.
Photo credit: Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale
2. Boulder club
The two courses of the Boulders Club are located in the Boulders Resort & Spa. With two beautiful golf courses running through the property, you will experience a challenging round of golf in the most unique landscape imaginable. Towering rock formations dotted with saguaro and other native xeriscapes and natural plants can distract you from your game with the beautiful views. Boulders offers a certified caddy to improve your game on the courses designed by Jay Morrish.
Cost: $$$ (stay and game package)
Pro tip: A stay and play package at this beautiful resort is the best way to secure a tee time in Boulders.
Photo credit: Myles McGuinness / Experience Scottsdale
3. Troon North Golf Club
Troon North Golf Club is one of Scottsdale’s premier clubs. With two breathtaking courses, Monument and Pinnacle, it’s a bucket list round for any golf enthusiast. This beauty from the Sonoran Desert designed by Tom Weiskopf is one of those rounds of golf that you will remember for years. It’s one of those “humble” golf course adventures to share with friends and family.
Cost: $$$ (dynamic prices)
Pro tip: Troon’s prices are calculated dynamically and fluctuate based on demand, availability and other factors.
Photo credit: Chip Henderson
4. TPC Scottsdale
Golfers love TPC Scottsdale golf courses. Follow in the footsteps of professional golfers as you cross the fairways on the Stadium Course designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish. Beautifully maintained with breathtaking views, every golfer will love to play this course. The Champion Course offers a desert feel and a more forgiving game. It’s the perfect place for a group of golfers with different abilities. Both courses offer a golfing experience that will be enjoyed by professionals and aspiring amateur golfers.
Cost: $$ – $$$
Pro tip: The Waste Management Phoenix Open is played on the Stadium Course and is a great place for experienced golfers who love the game.
5. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club is located on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land in the beautiful McDowell Mountain Range. The Cholla course was designed by Scott Miller. This classic desert style golf course will challenge your shots from tee to green. The more traditional saguaro course was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The peaceful, natural environment allows players to focus on their approach and make the best game decisions.
Cost: $ – $$$
Pro tip: Stay and play with a package at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort.
6. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
Between beautiful greens and fairways, surrounded by natural habitats, discover Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club. The course on the Ak Chin Indian Reservation is a Troon Golf managed facility so you know it is in fabulous condition, ready for an exhilarating round of golf. Experienced golfers will love the qualifying course for the US Open sections. You can strive to improve your swing and dream about the day you play in a qualifying round.
Cost: $ (dynamic pricing)
Pro tip: Stay and play packages are available at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino & Resort, where you can play golf all day and play all night.
7. Quintero Golf Club
Quintero Golf Club in nearby Peoria is a Reese Jones designed golf experience. This Phoenix / Scottsdale area desert course is a golf destination for players who love the game and want a one-of-a-kind golf adventure. If you are looking for a golf course to gather golf enthusiasts for a fun vacation, Quintero is the perfect option.
Cost: $$
Pro tip: Quintero offers fun stay and game packages, including large executive loft units with a pool table for relaxing after a day on the links.
meunierd / Shutterstock.com
8. McDowell Mountain Golf Club
Experience a round of golf at the McDowell Mountain Golf Club, where green fairways seamlessly intersect with the McDowell Mountains and the vast desert landscape. The rugged beauty of the manicured natural desert landscape surrounded by the rugged mountains offers breathtaking approaches from surprisingly lush holes. You will be enchanted by the scenery when you look at your play and shot count.
Cost: $ – $$
Pro tip: McDowell has a Back 9 & Breakfast special for when you tee off early in the morning for a small breakfast and great golf.
Photo credit: Lonna Tucker
9. Grayhawk Golf Club
Grayhawk Golf Club is a public club with two 18-hole courses. The Raptor Course is a traditional course with classic, undulating fairways and guarded greens. The Talon Course is an Arizona desert-style golf course where you must play your best golf shots. On this highly rated course, golfers can enjoy the game and the beautiful scenery.
Cost: $$
Pro tip: Check out the 36-hole special rates where you can play all day at a reduced price.
10. Starfire Golf Club
Tee off on an Arnold Palmer-designed public course, Starfire Golf Club. The 18-hole course offers views of the beautiful McDowell Mountains. Strikes from the tee to the green in particular are hindered by strategically placed traps and water hazards. Golfers will enjoy a fun desert-style golf excursion under the glorious Scottsdale sun.
Cost: $
Pro tip: If you don’t have time to play an 18-hole game, Starfire has a 9-hole, par 28 course with a playing time of just 1.5 hours.
Photo credit: Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch
11. Gainey Ranch Golf Club
Gainey Ranch Golf Club is a private club for guests of the Hyatt Regency of Scottsdale. The golf course is dotted with lush palm trees that support three nine-hole courses; The Lakes Course, The Dunes Course, and The Arroyo Course offer golfers the opportunity to design an 18-hole round that suits their game.
Cost: $$$ (stay and game package)
Pro tip: With a stay at the Hyatt, you can play at the Gainey Ranch. If you love the area, purchase a Snowbird apartment or permanent home in the exclusive Gainey Ranch neighborhood.
12. Sunridge Canyon Golf Club
Sunridge Canyon Golf Club is a scenic public golf course that is surrounded by beautifully manicured and natural habitats. With undulating fairways and gentle height differences, Sunridge offers players a comprehensive desert golf experience. Sunridge is a great place to enjoy an afternoon of golf.
Cost: $ – $$
Pro tip: Sunridge offers an annual pass program for the Snowbirds who want to play golf all the time.
Steve Cukrov / Shutterstock.com
13. Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa course is certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for its commitment to preserving desert flora and fauna. The 27-hole course designed by Scott Miller has three nine-hole segments. The three places offer guests a wide range of play options. The trio of Acacia, Ironwood and Mesquite can be arranged for a serious round of swing testing or a fun golf excursion with your golf buddies.
Cost: $$ (dynamic prices)
Pro tip: Stay at the Westin Kierland and enjoy the luxury of a Westin hotel with fabulous desert golf in Arizona just steps from your room.
The 19th hole
Scottsdale has a lot to offer visitors and is a haven for snowbirds fleeing the cold winters of the north. Your visit allows you to plan all of your adventures by exploring Experience Scottsdale. They provide the latest and greatest happening in and around the city.
Make sure to add Old Town Scottsdale to your bucket list, then head outside for some amazing outdoor adventures. Scottsdale is the perfect place for a winter vacation; It offers some of the best golf courses in Arizona.