Quintero: Arizona’s Hidden Gem
Fresh off a multi-million-dollar renovation, secluded in the Hieroglyphic Mountains. Here’s what it costs and why the drive is worth it.
Quick Facts
Quintero is the course we send groups to when the golf itself matters more than the scene around it. Set in the Hieroglyphic Mountains near Lake Pleasant, about an hour from Old Town, it trades proximity for genuine seclusion: dramatic elevation change, Rees Jones bunkering, and a quiet you don’t get at the closer-in courses.
The course reopened November 1, 2025 after a five-month, multi-million-dollar renovation overseen by Jones himself: all 18 greens rebuilt to 007XL bentgrass, every tee releveled, and all 65 bunkers rebuilt with Augusta-style white sand. It’s the best condition this course has been in since it opened in 2000.
What Quintero Is Known For
Quintero's high-Sonoran setting gives it dramatic elevation change most Scottsdale-area courses simply don't have, and it's built around a genuinely famous set of par-3s (holes 6, 9, 13, and 16), often called one of the best sets of threes anywhere in the Southwest. Hole 8, a 586-yard par-5, carries the course's #1 handicap.
Golf Digest ranks it #93 among America's 100 Greatest Public courses and #16 in Arizona; Golfweek has it at #2 in the state for "Best You Can Play," just behind We-Ko-Pa's Saguaro.
Green Fees & When to Play
Quintero prices dynamically. Here's the realistic range:
| Season | Green Fee |
|---|---|
| Summer, early AM (AZ resident) | $145-$178 |
| Summer, early AM (non-resident) | $162-$199 |
| Peak (Nov-May) | $230-$385 |
Cart included in every rate. Summer rates are early-AM tee times only; peak-season figures come from third-party live booking data, treat as directional. Rates as of August 2026 per our full pricing guide; always confirm at booking.
“About an hour from Scottsdale and worth every minute of the drive. One of the best courses you can play in Arizona, at a fraction of TPC's peak rate.”
— Marcus Pickett, Founder
How to Play Quintero With Scottsdale Luxury Golf
Quintero is part of the championship course network we build trips around. We handle the tee time booking, arrange the hour-each-way transport (this is exactly the kind of drive a private driver earns its keep on), and can build the rest of your day around it so the distance never feels like a cost.
Getting There & On-Course Logistics
Quintero sits at 16752 W State Route 74 in Peoria, budget the full hour each way from Old Town Scottsdale.
No caddie program; cart golf is the norm given the elevation and transfers between holes. Dress is collared shirts, soft spikes, no denim, hemmed shorts only.
Other Scottsdale Courses We Play
Quintero is the furthest stop on a roster we build to match your group’s skill and budget across the trip, including We-Ko-Pa and TPC Scottsdale. See the full lineup and current green fees in our Best Golf Courses in Scottsdale guide, or check current rates for the rest of the network on our luxury golf overview.
Quintero FAQ
How much does it cost to play Quintero?
Summer early-morning rates run about $145 for AZ residents up to $162-$199 for everyone else, cart included. Peak season (Nov-May) climbs to roughly $230-$385. Rates as of August 2026; verify at booking, since this is dynamic pricing.
How far is Quintero from Scottsdale?
About an hour, out near the Hieroglyphic Mountains and Lake Pleasant. It's the furthest course in our regular rotation, and the seclusion is part of the appeal, not a downside.
What changed at Quintero recently?
The whole course reopened November 1, 2025 after a five-month, multi-million-dollar renovation overseen by original architect Rees Jones: all 18 greens rebuilt with 007XL bentgrass, every tee releveled, and all 65 bunkers rebuilt with Augusta-style white sand. It's the freshest conditions this course has had since it opened in 2000.
Is Quintero public or private?
Public, daily-fee, no membership required. It opened in 2000 as semi-private but has been open to the public since reopening after the 2025 renovation.
Is Quintero worth the drive for a group or bachelor trip?
Yes, for a group that cares more about the golf than the scene. It's one of the best courses you can actually play in Arizona (Golfweek ranks it #2 public in the state), with a famous set of par-3s and dramatic elevation most Scottsdale-area courses can't match. It's a fraction of TPC's peak rate, but budget the full hour each way.
Get on the Quintero Tee Sheet
Tell us your dates and group size. Marcus handles the tee time, the drive out, and everything around it.