Since the weather in Scottsdale, AZ is close to perfect from October through April, it’s the hot spot for golfers across America in the winter months. I would not recommend Scottsdale in the summer, unless you want your skin to melt off of your body.
Since most golfers can’t gain access to the wide variety of private clubs in the area, I have selected my favorite 13 public options with some honorable mentions at the end of my list. Since there are a significant number of 36 hole destinations in Scottsdale, I have decided to consolidate those options into one entry. These destinations obviously earn bonus points for visiting golfers. 36 holes is always better than 18.
Not all of these golf courses are in Scottsdale, but they are all very accessible from Scottsdale. The move is to rent a place in Old Town and then head out every day to golf your ball. I won’t be jumping into food options on this post but I will strongly suggest that you eat Grimaldi’s Pizza every single night.
Welcome to the only Scottsdale golf guide that you will ever need.
Top 13 Public Golf Options
13. Talking Stick
Coming in at lucky 13 on this list is the 36 hole option at Talking Stick Golf Club. Both courses are designed by the renowned design team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The O’odham Course (formerly North) and The Piipaash Course (formerly South) share many similarities and are built on an extremely flat piece of land. While the routing keeps your interest, the flat piece of property isn’t quite as exciting as some of the other options on the list. There is also a casino nearby for those that like to roll the dice.
12. The Wigwam
For over 50 years Ole Wiggy has been delighting Arizona golfers with it’s classic design There are 54 holes of golf at The Wigwam with the Blue, Red, and Gold Course all offering something different. The Gold Course is the big boy and I would consider it a must play. If you plan on going against my strong recommendation to eat pizza for every meal, the scallops at Litchfield’s are some of the finest in America.
11. The Phoenician
With a recent renovation on a very tough piece of land, The Phoenician somehow strikes a chord with me. This is the type of golf course that could easily blend into the mix, but a handful of golf holes on the back nine really tickle my fancy. The drivable 13th hole pushes the Phoenician into the number 11 spot.
10. Boulders Golf Club
There are two golf courses at The Boulders and don’t worry, both of the golf courses feature massive boulders. While the courses are named for their surrounding boulder formations, that green grass in between is what puts The Boulders on the map. Both courses are designed by Jay Morrish and offer a fine desert golf experience.
9. TPC Scottsdale
There are two golf courses at TPC Scottsdale, the Stadium Course, where the PGA Tour’s Waste Management tournament is played, and the Champions Course. Most golfers will come to play the course that they see on television, but I am here to tell you that you shouldn’t skimp on the Champions course. The Stadium course is good enough, but it doesn’t get interesting until the finish.
8. Verrado Golf Club
Just 32 minutes from the Phoenix airport are 36 holes of golf waiting for you at the base of the White Tank Mountains. All 36 holes at Verrado Golf Club are designed by Tom Lehman. Both the Founders Course and the more recently added Victory course offer championship tests of golf.
7. Whirlwind Golf Club
Just 11 miles from the Phoenix airport and you will find 36 holes of golfing goodness at Whirlwind Golf Club. The Cattail and The Devil’s Claw are both designed by Gary Panks. Panks has delivered two golf courses that ditch the daily fee vibe for that of a remote golfing destination. Thanks Panks!!
6. Grayhawk Golf Club
With a central location and two top tier golf courses, Grayhawk is one of the pricier options in town. Is it worth it? Probably. Yes. You can’t go wrong with either the Raptor or the Talon. The talon challenges with large multi tiered greens and the Raptor offers more generous fairways with crowned greens.
5. Troon North
There are 36 holes of golf to enjoy at the original desert classic. Both the Pinnacle and the Monument are of comparable quality and the conditioning of the golf courses is always one of the best in the area. The destination is the flagship location for Troon Management company and the facility always receive a high amount of attention to detail. Troon North sits near the top of most Phoenix golf lists and it’s easy to see why.
4. Quintero Golf Club
The eye candy goes up a notch with the #4 course on our list. It’s a 53 minute drive from the airport, but Quintero Golf Club is definitely worth the trip. The par 3’s all play downhill and every one of them will make you pull out your camera. The lack of houses surrounding the Rees Jones design gives Quintero a pure desert golf vibe.
3. Southern Dunes
This little number simply doesn’t get enough love. Southern Dunes is not just good, it is double rainbow good. Along with Fred Couples, the pairing of Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley brings the golfer one of Arizona’s finest desert designs. Sprawled across the Ak-Chin Indian reservation, Southern Dunes is managed by Troon and always delivers a high level of quality.
2. Wickenburg Ranch
Wickenburg Ranch is another course on our list that requires a little bit of a drive, but the golf experience at Wickenburg is well worth the 45 minutes it takes to get there from Phoenix. The variety is high with 5 par 5’s and 5 par 3’s on the scorecard. Wickenburg is managed by Troon and the conditioning is always top tier. In addition, the facility sports a short course called Little Wick. No visit is complete without a tour around both the big and little Wick.
1. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
The 36 holes of premium desert golf at We-Ko-Pa run away with the victory on our list. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have designed the pinnacle of public golf in Arizona at the Saguaro course and Scott Miller tags on an equally impressive option with the Cholla course. Both courses are always meticulously maintained and provide stunning scenery free of real estate development. We-Ko-Pa is as good as public golf gets in Scottsdale.
Honorable Mentions
The Short Course at Mountain Shadows - Short fun, fun, and more fun.
Papago Golf Course - Challenging desert good.
Eagle Mountain Golf Club - The 1000th different golf course that I have played in my lifetime holds a special place in my heart.
Kierland Golf Club - Experience great golf on top of the Ellwee Golf ATV to make you feel like a badass.