Article by Golfbreaks.com

Golf in Scottsdale is desert golf at its best. A relative newcomer to the golf world due to the extreme climate and harsh landscape, there have been more than 300 courses built since the 1960s in the Scottsdale-Phoenix area. Golf vacations here are now regarded as the best on the planet, and our partners at Golfbreaks.com are often asked by golfers, “what are the best golf courses in Scottsdale?” So, to help you, here are of the best golf courses in Scottsdale that we highly recommend.

We-Ko-Pa

Set in the Sonoran Desert and on land owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, We-Ko-Pa offers two fantastic courses – Cholla and Saguaro. Unlike other Arizona golf courses, there are no homes, condos or townhomes lining these fairways…it is just you and the elements, with giant saguaros in the foreground framed by magnificent mountains in the distance.

Troon North

North Scottsdale’s crown jewel and arguably the best public 36-hole facility in the area, with the Pinnacle course top of recent Golf Monthly ‘Best Public Course in Arizona’ rankings, and the Monument course just three behind. Recent course renovations by original designer and British Open Champion Tom Weiskopf have enhanced the experience further.

TPC Scottsdale

The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale naturally gets all the attention for hosting the Waste Management Phoenix Open, thanks to the famous Par-3 16known as ‘The Coliseum’. Everyone loves to play where the Pros play, however right across the street is the underrated Champions Course, which is less expensive and very walkable.

Talking Stick

Another great 36-hole facility, with both courses designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and situated on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Adjacent to each other on flat land, and therefore very walkable, the O’odham (formerly North) course has a links feel whilst the Piipaash (formerly South) course is shorter but with more water and trees.

The Boulders

As its name would suggest, this unique resort sits in the Sonoran Desert foothills nestling among massive granite boulder formations. Quite a surreal setting for golf, with both Jay Morrish designed championship courses offering spectacular views. The North, known for its challenging back-9 and is the older of the two, and the South has holes that go right up into the boulder formations.

Grayhawk

Both courses are amongst the top rated public courses in Arizona with the Tom Fazio-designed Raptor Course having hosted the PGA Tour Frys.com Open from 2007-2009. The Talon Course features in Golf Magazine’s prestigious list of the “Top 100 You Can Play in the U.S.” for daily fee courses.

Quintero

Ranked number one in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area by both Golf Digest and Golfweek in their ‘Best Public Course’ list, and as ‘best course in Arizona’ by GolfAdvisor, this Rees Jones masterpiece fully deserves all of its accolades. With tees ranging from 5,800 to 7,200-yards, generous landing areas and slick, multi-tiered bent grass greens, Quintero is a great test for all golfers.

SunRidge Canyon

Constructed in 1995, SunRidge Canyon is one of the best value, premier daily-fee golf club offerings available in the area. Designer Keith Foster adopted the ‘less is more’ approach and fully utilized the canvas that Mother Nature provided. Consequently, level lies in fairways will be few and straight, flat putts won’t be found. Enjoy the thrilling string of finishing holes, dubbed the “Wicked Six”, that are among the best golf experiences in Arizona.

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes

Within the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation, amid uninhabited 360-degree views of Arizona’s desert expanse, the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes course is ranked in the Top-5 ‘Best Courses to Play in Arizona’ by Golf Monthly. A Fred Couples and Schmidt-Curley designed course with a distinct links feel, that has hosted numerous US Open qualifiers, and regional amateur and PGA events.