Best Golf Courses in Scottsdale (2026): 10 a Local Would Book

2. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (Saguaro & Cholla)

Par 72 · 7,225 / 6,966 yards · Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw / Scott Miller

We-Ko-Pa might be the best overall golf destination in greater Scottsdale. Two courses, both excellent, both maintained to a standard that makes most private clubs look neglected. The Saguaro course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, plays through untouched desert terrain with wide fairways that invite aggressive play off the tee. It is the kind of course that feels remote and wild even though you are 25 minutes from downtown.

The Cholla course, designed by Scott Miller, offers a different challenge with tighter landing areas and more strategic bunkering. Both courses sit on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land, which means no residential development anywhere in sight -- just saguaros, rock formations, and golf. The lack of real estate lining the fairways is rare in Scottsdale and dramatically changes the feel of a round. Green fees are reasonable relative to the quality, especially during value season.

Best-conditioned courses in the Valley. Saguaro is the one I send people to when they want to feel like they're the only ones out there.Marcus Pickett

Best For: The group that wants pure desert golf · Green Fees: $100-$250

3. Troon North Golf Club (Monument & Pinnacle)

Par 72 · 7,028 / 7,044 yards · Tom Weiskopf

Troon North is the course that put North Scottsdale on the map for destination golf. The Monument course is the flagship -- named for Pinnacle Peak, which serves as a backdrop to several holes. The layout moves through granite boulder fields and desert washes with elevation changes that create memorable tee shots on nearly every hole. It is a challenging round that rewards course management over raw distance.

The Pinnacle course is the one I recommend more often. It is slightly more playable for mid-handicap golfers while still delivering the desert-golf drama that makes Troon North special. The par-3 fifth on Pinnacle, playing over a desert wash to an elevated green backed by boulders, is one of the most photographed holes in Arizona. Both courses are impeccably maintained, and the service level matches the price point. The clubhouse and restaurant are worth arriving early for.

Monument is the one everyone talks about, but Pinnacle is the better round for most groups.Marcus Pickett

Best For: The serious golfer who wants desert beauty · Green Fees: $150-$325

4. Grayhawk Golf Club (Talon & Raptor)

Par 72 · 6,973 / 7,135 yards · David Graham & Gary Panks / Tom Fazio

Grayhawk is where Scottsdale golf culture lives. The Raptor course, designed by Tom Fazio, is a top-50 public course that hosts the NCAA Division I Championship. It is a legitimate test with well- defended greens and enough length to challenge low-handicap players. The Talon course, designed by David Graham and Gary Panks, plays more moderately and suits groups with mixed skill levels.

What sets Grayhawk apart is everything that happens after the round. Phil’s Grill -- the 19th hole -- is the best post-round gathering spot in Scottsdale. Cold beer, good food, a patio that overlooks the 18th green, and the kind of atmosphere that turns a golf outing into an event. For groups, the social element matters as much as the course, and Grayhawk delivers both. The practice facility is also world-class, making it a great warm-up stop on arrival day.

The 19th hole at Grayhawk is as good as any in Scottsdale. Great courses, even better post-round scene.Marcus Pickett

Best For: Groups with mixed handicaps · Green Fees: $125-$300

5. Quintero Golf Club

Par 72 · 7,271 yards · Rees Jones

Quintero is the course that locals argue about. Some call it the best layout in Arizona. Others say the 45-minute drive from Scottsdale disqualifies it. I fall into the first camp. Rees Jones carved this course through rugged desert canyon terrain west of Phoenix, and the result is a sequence of holes that would hold up against anything in the American Southwest.

The back nine at Quintero is special. Holes 13 through 16 play through a canyon that frames every shot with red rock walls and native vegetation. The par-3 15th, playing downhill to a green tucked against a canyon wall, is the hole you will talk about at dinner. Green fees are significantly lower than TPC or Troon North, which makes Quintero arguably the best value in top-tier Arizona golf. The clubhouse is modest but the course speaks for itself. I recommend scheduling Quintero as a standalone day -- the drive and the round deserve their own window.

45 minutes from Scottsdale and worth every minute of the drive. Top 5 course in Arizona and half the price of TPC.Marcus Pickett

Best For: The golfer who cares about the golf, not the scene · Green Fees: $100-$200

6. Talking Stick Golf Club (O’odham & Piipaash)

Par 72 · 7,133 / 6,833 yards · Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw / Beau Welling

Sitting on Salt River Pima-Maricopa land just east of Scottsdale, Talking Stick offers something rare: two excellent courses with opposite personalities. The O’odham course, designed by Coore and Crenshaw, plays like Scottish links transplanted into the Sonoran Desert. Wide fairways, firm conditions, and minimal rough make it the most forgiving championship-level course in the Valley. The Piipaash course, redesigned by Beau Welling, brings more desert definition with arroyos and native vegetation framing each hole. Green fees are among the best values in the area, especially during summer and value season. The on-site restaurant is above average, and the proximity to Scottsdale proper (15 minutes) makes it easy to pair with dinner plans. For groups that want to play 36 in a day without leaving one property, Talking Stick is the answer.

Two courses, completely different vibes. O’odham is wide-open links golf -- forgiving and fast. Piipaash is tighter with more desert feel. I send bachelor parties here because both courses keep everyone happy regardless of handicap.Marcus Pickett

Best For: Groups with mixed skill levels who want two styles in one stop · Green Fees: $80-$200

7. The Boulders Golf Club (North & South)

Par 72 · 6,811 / 6,726 yards · Jay Morrish

Nestled among the 12-million-year-old granite formations that give it its name, The Boulders is one of the most visually dramatic golf experiences in Arizona. The North course is the standout, with several holes threading between massive rock formations that dwarf the players below. Jay Morrish designed both courses to work with the terrain rather than against it, which means elevation changes, blind tee shots, and green complexes that reward local knowledge. The South course is slightly more traditional but still features desert washes and Sonoran vegetation throughout. The attached resort offers spa services, fine dining, and casita-style accommodations, making The Boulders a strong choice for couples or groups that include non-golfers. Green fees are mid-range for the Scottsdale market, and the course conditions have improved significantly under recent management. The 45-minute drive from central Scottsdale is the only downside, but the scenery along Carefree Highway makes even the commute enjoyable.

The boulder formations on the back nine of the North course are unlike anything else in the Valley. It feels like playing golf on another planet. The resort is first-class if your group wants a spa day mixed in.Marcus Pickett

Best For: Couples or smaller groups who want scenery and a resort atmosphere · Green Fees: $125-$275

8. Pinnacle Peak Country Club

Par 71 · 6,523 yards · David Graham & Gary Panks

Pinnacle Peak flies under the radar compared to the marquee names in Scottsdale, and that is part of its appeal. The course plays shorter than most in the area, which makes it accessible to mid-to-high handicap golfers without sacrificing interesting design. The front nine weaves through residential areas with mountain views on every hole, while the back nine opens up into more natural desert terrain with unobstructed sightlines to Pinnacle Peak itself. Graham and Panks designed the layout to be strategic rather than punishing -- wide landing areas off the tee with more demanding approach shots. The pace of play tends to be reasonable, and the clubhouse has an old-Arizona character that the bigger resorts lack. Green fees represent genuine value, especially during shoulder season. For groups that include a few players still building their game, Pinnacle Peak offers a round that challenges without demoralizing.

Short yardage, big views. Pinnacle Peak does not try to be championship golf. It tries to be a good time, and it succeeds. I send groups here when they want a relaxed round with memorable scenery.Marcus Pickett

Best For: Players who want a scenic round without an intimidating layout · Green Fees: $90-$175

9. The Phoenician Golf Club

Par 71 · 6,518 yards · Phil Smith

The Phoenician reopened in 2018 after a full redesign that collapsed the old 27-hole layout into a single 18-hole championship course. Phil Smith, who spent more than two decades working alongside Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf, routed it up against the south slope of Camelback Mountain, and the elevation gives several holes genuine drama and long views back across the valley. It is a Troon-managed resort course, which means conditioning is consistent and the service is dialed in. At just over 6,500 yards from the tips it will not overpower low handicaps, but the redesigned green complexes and desert-wash carries keep it interesting for every level. The location is the real selling point -- it is one of the closest premium courses to Old Town Scottsdale, so groups can play in the morning and be at lunch downtown by early afternoon. Complimentary range balls come with the tee time.

The 2018 redesign turned this from a dated resort track into a course I actually recommend. It sits right at the base of Camelback Mountain, ten minutes from Old Town, so it is the easy add when a group wants a half-day of golf without a long drive.Marcus Pickett

Best For: Groups that want a polished resort round minutes from Old Town · Green Fees: $150-$325

10. Camelback Golf Club (Ambiente)

Par 72 · 7,225 yards · Jason Straka (Hurdzan/Fry)

Camelback Golf Club sits at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn and gives groups two very different 18s on one property. The Ambiente course, redesigned by Jason Straka of Hurdzan/Fry in 2013, is the headliner: a 7,225-yard links-style layout with wide fairways, firm turf, and almost no trees, which lets the desert wind become the primary defense. The lack of forced carries makes it playable for higher handicaps off the tee, but the large, contoured greens and deep bunkering give better players plenty to think about on approach. The Padre course next door, an Arthur Hills redesign, is the more traditional parkland option and rounds out a full 36-hole day. It is a semi-private facility that welcomes both resort guests and public play, so access is straightforward. Central location, reliable conditioning, and two contrasting courses make it a dependable choice for larger groups with mixed skill levels.

Ambiente plays like desert links -- wide, firm, and windier than people expect. Paired with the Padre course next door, it is the spot I book when a group wants to play 36 in a day without ever leaving the property.Marcus Pickett

Best For: Groups that want two full courses on one resort property · Green Fees: $60-$200