The best golf courses to play in Scottsdale, Arizona, are ready and waiting for you to don your golf shoes and hit the practice range for a quick warm-up. The options 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 that offer stay and play packages or any of the highly-rated public golf courses. With so many options offered, you will find a course that fits your play and your budget.
Scottsdale golf has something for every level of golfer. Serious players will enjoy a cool, early morning tee time that requires a higher booking fee for the premium tee time. The casual player who wants to experience Sonoran Desert golf will enjoy a twilight round where they can explore the course at a more relaxed pace for a budget-friendly tee time fee.
Any way you slice it (pun intended), Arizona desert golf is an outdoor experience you will want to repeat over and over again.
In-season rates will be higher than shoulder season when you can play these courses in beautiful weather for a fraction of the price. We have listed the course rates based on their projected winter season fees. The 13 courses are listed below in no particular order, and their prices are indicated like this:
- $: $75 to $150
- $$: $150 to $250
- $$$: $250 and up
Note: Some information in this piece was obtained during a sponsored press trip, but all recommendations are my own.
1. Camelback Golf Club
Part of the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, the Camelback Golf Club offers guests two 18-hole courses, the Padre Course and the Ambiente Course. The rugged backdrop of Camelback Mountain set against the lush verdant fairways and greens creates a stunning juxtaposition. With wide-open fairways and refreshing water features, you will love the challenging play. Surrounded by the local flora and fauna, you are immersed in the desert golf experience.
Cost: $$–$$$ (stay and play package)
Pro Tip: Camelback is a semi-private course. During the high season, choose a stay and play package to ensure tee time availability.
2. Boulders Club
The two courses at the Boulders Club are located at the Boulders Resort & Spa. With two gorgeous courses running through the property, you will experience a challenging golf round set in the most unique scenery imaginable. Towering rock formations studded with saguaro and other native xeriscape and natural plantings, the beautiful vistas may distract you from your game. Boulders offers a certified caddy to enhance your game on their Jay Morrish-designed courses.
Cost: $$$ (stay and play package)
Pro Tip: A stay and play package at this gorgeous resort is the best way to secure a tee time at Boulders.
3. Troon North Golf Club
Troon North Golf Club is one of Scottsdale’s premier clubs. With two stunning courses, Monument and Pinnacle, it is a bucket list round for every golf enthusiast. Designed by Tom Weiskopf, this Sonoran Desert beauty is one of those golf rounds you will reminisce about for years. It is one of those “humble brag” golf course adventures to share with friends and family.
Cost: $$$ (dynamic pricing)
Pro Tip: Troon’s rates are dynamically priced and fluctuate based on demand, availability, and other factors.
4. TPC Scottsdale
Golfers love the TPC Scottsdale courses. Follow in the footsteps of pro golfers as you traverse fairways on the Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish-designed Stadium Course. Beautifully maintained with breathtaking views, every golfer will love playing this course. The Champion Course offers a desert feel and more forgiving play. It is the perfect spot for a group of golfers with varying abilities. Both courses offer a golfing experience that is enjoyed by pros and aspiring amateur golfers.
Cost: $$–$$$
Pro Tip: The Stadium Course is where the Waste Management Phoenix Open is played and is a great course for experienced golfers who love the game.
5. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club sits squarely 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, nature-focused surroundings allow players to concentrate on their approach, making the best gameplay decisions.
Cost: $–$$$
Pro Tip: Stay and play with a package at the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort.
6. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
Amongst gorgeous greens and fairways hemmed in by natural habitats, you will discover the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club. On the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation, the course is a Troon Golf-managed facility so you know it’s in fabulous shape ready for an exciting round of golf. Experienced golfers will love the U.S. Open sectional qualifying venue. You can aspire to improve your swing and dream of the day you will be playing in a qualifying round.
Cost: $ (dynamic pricing)
Pro Tip: Stay and play packages are available at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino & Resort where you can golf all day and gamble all night.
7. Quintero Golf Club
The Quintero Golf Club in nearby Peoria is a Reese Jones-designed golf experience. This Phoenix/Scottsdale-area desert course is a golf destination for players who love the game and want to enjoy a unique golf adventure. When you are looking for a course to gather golf buddies for a fun vacation, Quintero is a perfect option.
Cost: $$
Pro Tip: Quintero offers fun stay and play packages including large executive loft units with a pool table to unwind after a day on the links.
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 extended desert landscape. The rugged beauty of the manicured natural desert landscaping hemmed in by the jagged mountains offers stunning approach shots from surprisingly lush holes. You will be enchanted by the scenery as you consider your game and shot count.
Cost: $–$$
Pro Tip: McDowell offers a “Back 9 & Breakfast” special when you tee off early in the morning for a little breakfast and great golf.
9. Grayhawk Golf Club
Grayhawk Golf Club is a public club offering two, 18-hole courses. The Raptor Course is a traditional course with classic, undulating fairways and guarded greens. The Talon Course is an Arizona desert-style course that will require you to play your best golf shots. This highly rated course allows golfers to enjoy the game and the gorgeous scenery.
Cost: $$
Pro Tip: Check for the 36-hole special rates, where you can play all day at a reduced rate.
10. Starfire Golf Club
Tee off at an Arnold Palmer-designed public course, Starfire Golf Club. The 18-hole course sports views of the beautiful McDowell Mountains. Straight tee-to-green shots are hampered by strategically located traps and water hazards. Golfers will enjoy a fun desert-style golf outing under the gorgeous Scottsdale sunshine.
Cost: $
Pro Tip: When you don’t have time for an 18-hole game, Starfire offers a par 28, nine-hole course with a playtime of only 1.5 hours.
11. Gainey Ranch Golf Club
The Gainey Ranch Golf Club is a private club for guests of the Hyatt Regency of Scottsdale. The golf course is dotted with lush palms supporting three nine-hole courses; The Lakes Course, The Dunes Course, and The Arroyo Course offer golfers the option of crafting an 18-hole round that suits your game.
Cost: $$$ (stay and play package)
Pro Tip: With a stay at the Hyatt, you can play at Gainey Ranch. If you love the area, you can purchase a snowbird condo or a permanent home in the exclusive Gainey Ranch neighborhood.
12. Sunridge Canyon Golf Club
Sunridge Canyon Golf Club is a scenic public golf course surrounded by beautifully groomed and natural habitats. With undulating fairways and gentle elevation changes, Sunridge offers players an immersive desert golf experience. Sunridge is a great course to get out and enjoy an afternoon of golf.
Cost: $–$$
Pro Tip: Sunridge offers an annual pass program for the snowbirds who want to play all golf all the time.
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 desert flora and fauna preservation. The Scott Miller-designed, 27-hole course features three nine-hole segments. The three courses offer guests a variety of play options. The Acacia, Ironwood, and Mesquite trio can be arranged for a serious swing-testing round or a fun golf outing with your golf buddies.
Cost: $$ (dynamic pricing)
Pro Tip: Stay at the Westin Kierland and enjoy the luxury of a Westin hotel with fabulous Arizona desert golf just steps from your room.
The 19th Hole
Scottsdale has lots to offer visitors and is a haven for snowbirds escaping the chilly northern winters. When you visit, you can plan out all your adventures by exploring Experience Scottsdale. They offer the latest and most up-to-date happenings in and around town.
Make sure to add Old Town Scottsdale to your bucket list then head outside for some fantastic outdoor adventures. Scottsdale is the perfect spot for a winter getaway; it offers some of the best golf courses to play in Arizona.