8 of the Best Golf Courses in Scottsdale, The World’s Finest Golf Destination

For almost a hundred years, Scottsdale and golf have been synonymous. Its 51 courses, cacti-dotted landscape, billion-year-old, other-worldly rock formations, and year-round sunshine have won the hearts of new, avid, and professional players.

If you’ve never been to this iconic U.S. vacation destination, now is the time to plan a trip to play one of these top-rated greens, soak up some sunrays, and take in the beauty of the Sonoran Desert.

How This List Was Made

This list doesn’t waste your time featuring courses that visitors can’t access. It omits private courses requiring a membership or those without stay-and-play privileges. You will find eight courses ranging from luxe to municipal and beginner to advanced. Plus, you’ll get three bonus courses in the surrounding areas to consider.

Troon North Golf Club

Want a taste of true Scottsdale golf mixed with icon Tom Weiskopf’s true vision? Then don’t pass up Troon North’s two 18-hole courses, Monument and Pinnacle, both improved for playability. No wonder they have made their way onto Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the United States.

Want to stay and play? Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale guests enjoy special golf privileges and complimentary transportation. Planning a family vacation? Scottsdale’s more than 330 days of sunshine mean plenty of pool time and Kids For All Seasons program activities (included in the nightly rate).

Boulders Golf Club

If you want to take a lesson or are a female golfer, booking Boulders is a no-brainer. One of the finest golf resorts in the world, the two 18-hole, award-winning championship golf courses were designed by Jay Morrish. Deemed one of the Best Golf Destinations for Women, and with Donald Crawley, one of America’s Top 100 Golf Teachers, on staff, it is no wonder it is one of the finest overall golf offerings in the United States.

Want a luxe hideaway right next to the courses? Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale, Curio Collection by Hilton, has been named one of the Best Hotels in Arizona, the Best Spa in the Valley, and the #1 Best Wellness Resort in the Southwest. It is perfect for a group with varied interests.

The Phoenician Golf Club

The Phil Smith-designed 18-hole course offers four sets of tees and a more contiguous pattern of play. No matter the hole, it displays the beauty of the Sonoran desert. Stay right on site in luxuriously appointed guestrooms, beautifully fashioned lawn casitas, and exceptional suites that reflect the surrounding desert landscape.

Grayhawk Golf Club

For over 30 years, it has been a premier course on the Southwestern golf scene. Open to everyone, Grayhawk Golf Club offers two of the Southwest’s most enjoyable and challenging golf experiences in their Talon course and Raptor course.

Also open to the public, their Clubhouse offers four restaurants and two course snack carts, adding to its Club atmosphere without a high-priced membership.

TPC Scottsdale

It’s rare that everyday players can step on the same greens and challenge themselves in the same place pros do. And to do it at the home of the biggest golf event in the world is legendary.

As you stand at the 16th hole, you can imagine The Coliseum stands full around you. But don’t be intimadated. The Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish design offer a blend of challenge and playability for all levels of golfers.

Two More TPC Must-Dos at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

As soon as you book a TPC tee time, book a dining reservation at Toro by acclaimed Chef Richard Sandoval and a spa appointment, both at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Reserve an outside table as Toro’s patio overlooks the TPC Scottsdale Stadium course’s 18th hole. If you’re on a family vacation, there’s no need to fret about bringing the kids along, even for a more formal dinner. My family and I dined at Toro during its soft opening in November, and the staff was very welcoming and accommodating to my kids’ picky-eater requests.

While enjoying a spa day pass, I noticed many men in the facility and others making appointments for their group after TPC tee times. Relax and recuperate with one of their sports-specific treatments, which offer enhanced mobility, pain relief, and stress reduction specifically designed for golfers.

The Short Course at Mountain Shadows

Don’t overlook the course whose greatness has stood the test of time. The Short Course was beloved by old Hollywood celebrities and is still loved by locals today. Have a golf group with differing abilities? This course is approachable to novice players and provides opportunities for advanced players to work on their short game. Every one of its 18 holes is a par-3.

McCormick Ranch Golf Club

McCormick Ranch Golf Club is an excellent option for novice players, home to two beautiful resort courses. With one of the Southwest’s largest putting greens, a massive driving range, and a chipping green open daily, it’s also a great match for retirees.

Gainey Ranch Golf Club

Gainey Ranch Golf Club, a private members club, is also available to guests of Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Arizona. Recently refreshed with a $115 million-property-wide renovation, relax at a new aquatic wonderland at the resort’s 2.5-acre destination pool complex after rounds. Or catch more thrills on their three-story, high-speed waterslide.

These top-rated Benz and Poellot designed greens offers stunning scenery and a challenge for golfers of any skill level with three distinct nine-hole courses. Additionally, a beachside putting green provides a novel touch to this already exceptional escape.

Two Bonus Phoenix Courses

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa’s Wildfire Golf Club offers two championship courses designed by Arnold Palmer and Nick Faldo. Want to plan a family trip that’s a hit with everyone? A vacation at this AAA 4-Diamond gem with an on-site waterpark, Revive Spa, and pickleball courts will knock it out of the park.

Papago Golf Club, not far from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, has a fun, walkable layout and a killer 19th hole. This municipal course is a bargain during off-peak tee times, with a $49 price tag in the summer.

Don’t Skip The Nearby Green Voted Arizona’s Best Public Course

Don’t travel to Scottsdale without playing one of We-Ko-Pa’s two golf courses in nearby Fort McDowell, an enterprise of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. The Saguaro Course, unencumbered by houses and roads, has been recognized for its affordability and quality for almost twenty years. No wonder this Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw beauty was ranked the top public golf course in the state. The Cholla course, designed by Scott Miller, appeals to golfers just as much for its strategic challenge as its sweeping views of river valleys and majestic mountains.

While in the area, tour the iconic Talin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home, 20 minutes away.

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