10 Best Public Golf Courses in Scottsdale (2026)

Want serious golf in Scottsdale without knowing a member? You can. The best public courses here compete with private clubs on conditioning and design -- and you book them online like any other tee time.

This guide ranks the top public access courses in the Scottsdale area by design quality, conditioning, and value. From TPC Scottsdale's PGA Tour venue to a $49 muni that ASU's golf team uses for practice, these are the courses worth booking.

How We Ranked These Courses

Four factors drove the rankings:

Course Condition: How well fairways, greens, and bunkers hold up throughout the year. Desert climate helps, but maintenance budgets vary.

Design & Challenge: Routing quality, strategic interest, and the overall golf experience. We favored recognized architects and courses that test every skill level.

Accessibility: Booking ease, out-of-town visitor availability, and year-round public access.

Value: The experience relative to the green fee. A $300 round at a great course can deliver more value than $150 at a mediocre one.

The 10 Best Public Courses in Scottsdale

1. (Stadium Course)

Why it ranks first: Home of the WM Phoenix Open and the famous 16th hole. Playing the same layout PGA Tour pros tackle every February is the draw. The par-3 16th -- golf's loudest hole during tournament week -- plays as a quiet 163-yard desert hole the rest of the year.

Price: $100-$400 depending on season (peak in February/March)

Best for: Golfers who want a genuine Tour venue experience. The 7,261-yard layout demands accuracy off the tee and creativity around greens that run 11+ Stimpmeter in season. Book well ahead for winter dates. .

2. (Cholla & Saguaro)

Why it ranks here: Owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, We-Ko-Pa has two distinct courses that showcase the Sonoran Desert without a single house in sight. Cholla (Coore & Crenshaw) emphasizes positioning. Saguaro (Scott Miller) delivers dramatic elevation changes and panoramic views.

Price: $85-$275 depending on season and course

Best for: Design-focused golfers who want well-maintained desert golf without resort pricing. The routing winds through natural terrain -- arroyos, ancient saguaros, untouched desert. A lighted short course adds evening practice.

3. (Talon & Raptor)

Why it ranks here: Two Tom Fazio designs that consistently rank among Arizona's best public facilities. Raptor has hosted PGA Tour qualifying. Talon offers slightly gentler terrain for mid-handicappers. Both deliver strong conditioning.

Price: $80-$300 depending on season and course

Best for: Mixed-skill groups. Raptor challenges scratch players while Talon works for higher handicaps. Practice facilities rival private clubs -- dedicated short-game area, multiple putting greens, grass range. The on-site restaurant has patio views of the finishing holes.

4. (North & South)

Why it ranks here: Two Coore & Crenshaw designs with links-style character unusual for desert golf. Wide-open fairways, strategic bunkering, and fewer forced carries than typical Scottsdale courses. The North Course hosted LPGA Tour events.

Price: $65-$230 depending on season and course

Best for: Players who prefer positioning over forced carries. The open layout forgives high-handicappers while rewarding precise shotmaking. Wind plays a real factor on the exposed terrain. Subtle green complexes reveal themselves over multiple rounds.

5. (Monument & Pinnacle)

Why it ranks here: Two Tom Weiskopf designs through boulder-strewn Sonoran Desert at the base of Pinnacle Peak. Monument plays like links golf adapted to the desert. Pinnacle has dramatic elevation changes and a 609-yard par 5. Slope ratings of 147-148 tell the story.

Price: $95-$395 depending on season

Best for: Strong players who want a challenge. Not recommended for beginners or players uncomfortable with forced carries. Higher elevation means cooler temps (10-15 degrees below central Scottsdale) and the ball flies farther in the thin air. .

6.

Why it ranks here: Phoenix's best municipal course, just south of Scottsdale. William P. Bell design with red rock formations and strategic bunkering at a fraction of resort pricing. ASU's golf team practices here.

Price: $35-$80 depending on season and residency

Best for: Budget-conscious golfers who want real desert golf. The par-3 7th plays to a green tucked against red rock buttes -- one of the best-looking holes in the metro area. Conditions vary more than premium daily-fee courses, but the layout and value are hard to beat. .

7. (Devil's Claw & Cattail)

Why it ranks here: Located on the Gila River Indian Community south of Scottsdale, Whirlwind gives you two contrasting layouts. Devil's Claw showcases desert terrain and native vegetation. Cattail features water on multiple holes and a parkland feel rare in Arizona golf.

Price: $55-$175 depending on season and course

Best for: Golfers who want variety at one facility. Cattail works well for players who prefer water hazards over desert carries. Both maintain excellent conditions with bentgrass greens that putt true year-round.

8.

Why it ranks here: Rees Jones created a links-style layout north of Scottsdale with wide fairways, deep bunkers, and minimal desert vegetation. Elevated terrain with fast-draining soil keeps the course playable even after rare desert rain.

Price: $65-$225 depending on season

Best for: Players who appreciate ground-game options. You can run shots onto greens instead of flying every approach. Wind plays a real factor on the exposed site. Former Champions Tour venue, maintained to that standard.

9.

Why it ranks here: 15 minutes northeast of Scottsdale in Fountain Hills, Eagle Mountain wraps around the McDowell Mountains. Scott Miller's design features risk-reward options on nearly every hole. The par-5 14th drops nearly 200 feet from tee to green.

Price: $50-$175 depending on season

Best for: Players comfortable with severe elevation changes and forced carries. Several par 3s play across desert canyons to greens on carved hillside shelves. Dramatic terrain creates memorable golf but demands ball-striking. Take a cart.

10.

Why it ranks here: Arnold Palmer's design in northeast Scottsdale blends desert and parkland elements with water features unusual for Arizona. Three nines (Hawks, Falcons, Eagles) let you mix and match your 18-hole round.

Price: $45-$140 depending on season and nines played

Best for: Mid-handicappers seeking variety without extreme difficulty. The three nine-hole options work well for twilight rounds or quick 9-hole outings. Palmer's design emphasizes playability with generous landing areas balanced by water and strategic bunkering.

Course Comparison Table

Public vs. Resort vs. Semi-Private: What's the Difference?

Public/Daily-Fee: Anyone can book. No resort stay or membership required. All courses on this list accept public play. Book through the course website, GolfNow, or by phone.

Resort Courses: Attached to hotels. Guests get priority and better rates, but most accept public play when times are available. Examples: The Boulders, Arizona Biltmore, Westin Kierland.

Semi-Private: Membership base plus daily-fee play. Members get guaranteed times and lower rates. Public players book remaining times at higher rates. Grayhawk and Troon North fall here.

Private: Members or member guests only. Silverleaf, Estancia, Desert Mountain. No public tee times at any price. covers these.

Booking Tips That Save Money

Book peak season early. January through April is prime time. Reserve 30-60 days out for weekends at popular courses. TPC Stadium sells out weeks ahead in February and March.

Twilight rates drop 30-50%. After 12-1 PM, prices fall hard. Winter twilight still finishes before dark with a 1 PM start. Summer twilight rates are some of the best deals in Scottsdale golf.

Check resident vs. non-resident pricing. Munis like Papago charge less for Arizona residents. If you're local or visiting friends with local IDs, ask about resident rates.

Use tee time aggregators strategically. GolfNow and TeeOff offer hot deals for last-minute or unpopular slots. But book directly with premium courses for better cancellation policies.

Join course email lists. We-Ko-Pa, Grayhawk, and other top facilities send exclusive promotions -- sometimes 20-30% below published rates.

Ask about replay rates. Several courses discount same-day second rounds. Works well in summer when afternoon temps drop prices further.

Consider multi-round packages. We-Ko-Pa and Talking Stick (both owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation) sometimes offer combo deals.

Summer golf saves real money. May through September, play early (6 AM) or late (after 3 PM). Bermuda grass stays in great shape because it thrives in heat. Rates drop 50-70%.

Check cancellation policies. Summer monsoons bring afternoon storms. Know each course's rain check policy before booking expensive rounds.

Rent clubs if traveling. Most top courses rent premium sets ($60-$80) with current-year equipment. Often cheaper than airline baggage fees.

Best Times to Play

Peak Season (January-April): Perfect weather, 70s-80s. Premium rates, crowded courses. Book ahead. Expect 4.5-5 hour rounds on weekends.

Shoulder Season (November-December, May): Great value. Late spring warms into the 90s but rates drop 30-40%. Early winter offers near-peak conditions before snowbirds arrive in force.

Summer (June-September): Extreme heat (100-115) but incredible deals. Twilight rates under $50 at courses that charge $300 in winter. Bring water, sunscreen, and play early.

Morning tee times (6:00-7:30 AM) are most popular year-round. Afternoons offer better rates and faster pace. Winter afternoons (12-2 PM) combine comfortable temps with discounted pricing.

Build Your Scottsdale Golf Trip

The best public courses in Scottsdale compete with private clubs on conditioning, design, and experience. From TPC's PGA Tour venue to We-Ko-Pa's no-houses desert immersion to Papago's $49 muni -- quality public golf is accessible to anyone.

For the best trip: plan 3-4 days during shoulder season (November or May). Mix a premium round at TPC or Troon North with mid-tier options like Talking Stick and Quintero. Add a value play at Papago for 36-hole days.

Book ahead for peak season, bring water regardless of when you visit, and prepare for some of the best public golf you'll play anywhere.

Ready to book? Browse our or check for courses under $100. Planning a full trip? Start with our .