12 Best Golf Courses in Scottsdale, AZ (2026 Rankings)

Scottsdale has over 200 golf courses within a 45-minute drive. That number sounds impressive until you realize most of them are forgettable resort tracks or tired munis coasting on the Arizona sunshine. The courses below aren't.

This list is based on rounds played, not press releases. We weighed course design, conditioning, green fee value, and the kind of specific details you can only get from actually walking these fairways -- signature holes, pace of play realities, where to eat after, and which tee box to play your first time out.

Quick Comparison

1.

Stadium Course: Par 71 | 7,261 yards | Weiskopf & Morrish (1986) Champions Course: Par 71 | 7,115 yards | Randy Heckenkemper redesign (2007) Green Fees: $99-$579 (dynamic pricing, peak Feb-Mar highest)

You know the Stadium Course. The par-3 16th with its 20,000-seat colosseum, the WM Phoenix Open every February, the same greens where Rahm and Scheffler compete. What you might not know is that the rest of the course is a thoughtful desert layout that rewards course management over raw power. The par-4 15th -- 501 yards with water guarding the left side of a narrow fairway -- separates the players who can think from the ones who just swing.

The Champions Course gets overlooked, and that's a mistake. The 2007 Heckenkemper redesign turned it into a legitimate championship track with bolder bunkering and more dramatic green complexes than the Stadium. It plays similarly tough (slope 137 from the tips) at roughly 40% less cost. Local scratch players will tell you privately that they prefer Champions for pure golf.

After your round: Toro Latin Restaurant in the TPC clubhouse does solid upscale Mexican. The carnitas tacos and mezcal list are better than they need to be for a golf clubhouse.

2.

Monument Course: Par 72 | 7,070 yards | Tom Weiskopf (1990) Pinnacle Course: Par 72 | 7,044 yards | Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish (1996) Green Fees: $100-$325 (dynamic pricing)

If you play one desert course in your life, make it Troon North's Monument. Weiskopf routed the holes through raw Sonoran terrain at the base of Pinnacle Peak, and the result is golf that feels like it grew out of the landscape. The par-3 4th plays 215 yards from an elevated tee to a green tucked between massive granite boulders -- miss right, and you're hitting your next shot off bare desert rock. Hole 14 is a 441-yard par 4 that doglegs around a 30-foot boulder pile with a green site that drops away on three sides.

Pinnacle is the course locals actually prefer for everyday play. The layout is more varied -- the 609-yard par-5 16th is a legitimate three-shot hole for anyone under 300 yards off the tee, and the finishing stretch from 15 through 18 is the best closing four holes in Scottsdale. Greens are faster and firmer on Pinnacle, which rewards bump-and-run approaches you don't normally think about in Arizona.

After your round: Dynamite Grille at the clubhouse has a solid patio with Pinnacle Peak views. For something better, drive 10 minutes south to Mastro's City Hall in North Scottsdale -- the butter cake is mandatory.

3.

Saguaro Course: Par 72 | 7,225 yards | Coore & Crenshaw (2006) Cholla Course: Par 72 | 7,225 yards | Scott Miller (2001) Green Fees: $69-$309 (resort rates higher, AZ resident discounts available)

We-Ko-Pa sits on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land 30 minutes northeast of central Scottsdale, and that isolation is the whole point. No houses. No condos. No cart-path-only signs every other hole. Just golf and desert and Four Peaks Mountain filling the sky behind every green.

The Saguaro Course is the one Golf Digest keeps ranking in the Top 100 public courses, and it earns the spot. Coore and Crenshaw did what they do best -- minimalist routing that makes you think the holes were discovered, not built. The par-4 3rd is a 414-yard slight dogleg where the fairway tilts hard left-to-right toward a wash. You have to shape a draw off the tee or play for the right center and accept a longer approach. The green complexes across all 18 are large, undulating, and sneaky -- three-putts happen here even when you hit the green in regulation.

The Cholla Course is Scott Miller's best work. More dramatic than Saguaro, with forced carries over desert washes and elevated tees that give you the illusion of being a better golfer than you are. Hole 11 is a 177-yard par 3 from a tee box 80 feet above the green -- take two clubs less and aim left of the pin.

After your round: Iron Wood Grill at the clubhouse is better than expected. The Fort McDowell Casino is next door if you're feeling lucky, and the We-Ko-Pa Resort has a pool and rooms if you want to stay close for a second round tomorrow.

4.

Raptor Course: Par 72 | 7,135 yards | Tom Fazio (1995) Talon Course: Par 72 | 6,973 yards | David Graham & Gary Panks (1994) Green Fees: $130-$300+ (plus 8.05% tax and 5% water fee)

Grayhawk runs two courses that could not feel more different. Raptor is parkland golf transplanted to the desert -- rolling terrain, mature mesquite-lined fairways, and large undulating greens that punish lazy lag putts. The par-4 7th drops 60 feet from tee to green through a box canyon, and the approach demands a precise yardage because the green falls off sharply at the back. Third-generation superintendent Ernie Pock keeps Raptor in tournament shape year-round -- the greens roll 10-11 on the Stimpmeter consistently.

Talon winds through natural desert washes and deep box canyons with more elevation change per hole than any other Scottsdale course. The par-3 16th plays over a massive wash to a green perched on the opposite hillside. Multi-tiered greens mean a wrong club selection leaves you 40-foot putts with 4 feet of break.

After your round: Quill Creek Cafe at the clubhouse handles the basics. For dinner, Isabella's Kitchen is a five-minute drive south on Thompson Peak Parkway -- wood-fired pizzas and a solid Italian wine list.

5.

North Course: Par 72 | 7,133 yards | Coore & Crenshaw (1997) South Course: Par 72 | 6,938 yards | Coore & Crenshaw (1997) Green Fees: $80-$200

Talking Stick is the course that separates tourists from people who actually know Scottsdale golf. Built on Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land, both courses sit on flat terrain that Coore and Crenshaw sculpted into something you'd expect in the Scottish Lowlands, not the Arizona desert.

The North Course is the highlight -- wide fairways, minimal rough, and firm playing surfaces that let you run the ball 30-40 yards on approach shots. It's links golf without the ocean. Hole 2 is a 434-yard par 4 where the fairway narrows between two mounds, and the green is so firm that anything landing pin-high bounces 20 yards past. You learn to play target golf here, aiming 15-20 yards short and letting the bounce work.

The South Course is tighter and more target-oriented, with mounding that blocks sightlines and forces commitment off the tee. It plays harder than North for most mid-handicappers because there's less room for error.

After your round: The Casino Arizona complex is right there with several restaurants. For better food, drive 10 minutes west to Old Town Scottsdale -- Craft 64 does excellent wood-fired pizza and local beer.

6.

South Course: Par 71 | 6,917 yards | Jay Morrish (1985) North Course: Private (members only) Green Fees: $159-$329 (dynamic pricing)

The South Course at Boulders plays through 12-million-year-old granite formations that tower 30 feet above the fairways. Jay Morrish routed holes around and between the boulders rather than blasting through them, and the result is golf that feels ancient. The par-3 5th punches through a corridor of house-sized boulders to a green that's invisible from the tee -- you just aim at the gap and trust your club selection.

The 2022 renovation added TifEagle Bermuda greens that roll significantly truer than the old surfaces. The improvement is noticeable from the first putt. Combined with the desert terrain and elevation changes, the South Course demands creativity -- you'll hit shots off sidehill lies, over rock outcroppings, and around formations that have no equivalent anywhere else in golf.

After your round: The Boulders Resort has its own dining, but drive 10 minutes to Cave Creek for the real experience. Horny Toad has been there since 1974 -- the ribs are the move. Tonto Bar & Grill does elevated Southwestern without the resort price tag.

7.

The Other Course: Par 70 | 7,005 yards | Coore & Crenshaw (remodel) Green Fees: $500+ (limited public access through stay-and-play only)

Scottsdale National is a private equity club that allows limited outside play through resort partnerships, and the conditioning is on another level. We're talking greens rolling 12+ on the Stimpmeter, fairways you could putt on, and bunker sand that's raked before your divot marks cool. If you've ever wondered what a private club with a huge budget and a Coore & Crenshaw remodel can produce, this is the answer.

The layout is minimalist -- wide fairways, natural contouring, and green complexes that look simple until you're standing over a 12-footer with two feet of break you didn't see from the fairway. The par-4 11th is a 387-yard hole where the green narrows to a 15-foot-wide peninsula between two bunkers. You can hit the fairway, hit a decent approach, and still walk away with bogey.

Limited tee times mean rounds move in under four hours. The service matches the price -- you'll feel like the only group on the course.

8.

Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,173 | Designer: Rees Jones (2000) Green Fees: $160-$385

Quintero sits 45 minutes northwest of Scottsdale near Lake Pleasant, and that drive filters out the casual golfer. What you get for the trip is a Rees Jones design carved through natural desert washes with zero housing development on the course. Every hole feels isolated -- you can hear coyotes during afternoon rounds.

The par-5 6th is the signature: 548 yards that drops 100 feet from tee to green through a wash-crossed valley. The second shot from a downhill lie to a narrow landing area is one of the toughest in Arizona. Hole 15 is a 200-yard par 3 with nothing but desert between you and the green -- the forced carry is every yard of 180 from the back tees.

Conditioning is consistently strong, and the club takes pace of play seriously. Four-hour rounds are the norm, not the exception.

9.

Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,068 | Designer: William P. Bell (1963, updated) Green Fees: $49-$90

Every golf city needs one course that locals protect like a secret, and Papago is it. This city-owned muni threads through Papago Park with red sandstone buttes, the Hole in the Rock formation, and views of Camelback Mountain -- for $49-$90. William Bell's original routing holds up six decades later because the bones are solid: tree-lined fairways, elevation changes that feel earned, and green sites that reward accuracy.

The par-4 16th plays 413 yards along a ridgeline with the Phoenix skyline spread out behind the green. It's a hole that has no business being on a municipal course. The par-3 15th plays downhill to a green guarded by a pond -- hit it 10 yards short and you're fishing for your ball.

The catch: Papago gets crushed with traffic. Peak-season weekend rounds push five hours. Weekday mornings are the move -- you'll play in under four hours and save on the twilight rate.

10.

Three Nines: Ironwood, Acacia, Mesquite | Par: 72 (any 18-hole combination) Designer: Scott Miller (1996) Green Fees: $100-$250

Kierland's three-nine format gives you three different 18-hole combinations, which means repeat rounds feel like different courses. The Ironwood-Mesquite pairing plays as the championship combination at 7,042 yards with tighter fairways and more water. Acacia-Mesquite is the most forgiving setup for higher handicaps.

Scott Miller used water features more aggressively here than on his desert courses -- the Mesquite 9 has water on six of nine holes. The par-3 7th on Ironwood plays 195 yards over a lake to a narrow green with bunkers on three sides. It's the hole that ruins scorecards for visitors who try to carry the water instead of playing the left bail-out.

The Phil Mickelson-designed short game area is legitimately one of the best practice facilities in Scottsdale -- worth arriving 45 minutes early to use it.

11.

Padre Course: Par 72 | 6,903 yards | Red Lawrence, updated by Arthur Hills Ambiente Course: Par 72 | 7,225 yards | Jack Snyder, redesigned 2018 Green Fees: $100-$275

Camelback flies under the radar because TPC and Troon North absorb all the attention, but the Padre Course is a quiet heavyweight. The tree-lined fairways, water on seven holes, and Arthur Hills' green redesign create a parkland experience you don't find elsewhere in the desert. Hole 11 is a 544-yard par 5 with water running the length of the left side -- the second shot layup decision defines your score.

The Ambiente Course got a full redesign in 2018, adding desert elements to what was previously a vanilla resort layout. The new routing plays firmer and faster with better strategic variety, though it hasn't fully matured. Give it a few more growing seasons and it'll climb this list.

Both courses connect to the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn, which means views of Camelback Mountain and Mummy Mountain from most holes. The Padre's conditioning peaks December through March when the resort invests in tournament-prep levels of maintenance.

12.

Par: 71 | Yardage: 6,799 | Designer: Scott Miller (1996) Green Fees: $79-$200

Eagle Mountain sits in the Fountain Hills foothills 30 minutes northeast of central Scottsdale, and the elevation changes are the most dramatic on this list outside of Quintero. Scott Miller routed holes that climb and drop through natural ridgelines, with several tees positioned high enough to see the entire Valley of the Sun spread out below.

The par-3 14th plays 185 yards from an elevated tee to a green 100 feet below, framed by desert hillside on three sides. Take two clubs less than the yardage suggests and aim for the center -- the green slopes hard from back to front. Hole 4 is a 405-yard par 4 that climbs uphill to a blind second shot, where you're hitting a 7-iron approach to a green you can't see.

At $79-$200, Eagle Mountain is priced well below the courses ranked above it on this list while delivering a more memorable visual experience than several of them.

When to Play Golf in Scottsdale

November is the move. Post-overseed conditions are dialed in, temperatures sit in the low 70s, green fees drop 30-40% from winter peak, and weekend rounds take four hours instead of five. If you have schedule flexibility, this is when to come.

Booking Tips That Actually Help

Book 90 days out for peak season. Troon North, TPC, and We-Ko-Pa all open their booking windows at 90 days. Set a calendar reminder and book morning tee times the day the window opens. By 60 days out, the good Saturday times are gone.

Play twilight for 40-50% off. Most courses drop rates after 1 PM in winter, 2 PM in shoulder season. You won't finish 18 in December daylight, but you'll get 14-15 holes in and pay half price. Worth it.

Use the Champions Course trick. At TPC, the Champions Course plays comparably to the Stadium at 40% less cost. At Troon North, locals split between Monument and Pinnacle -- Pinnacle often has better availability. At Grayhawk, Talon is the under-ordered sibling of Raptor. The "second course" at dual-course facilities is consistently the better value.

Summer golf is legitimate. Scottsdale pros and locals play year-round. The trick is simple: first tee time (6:00-6:30 AM), finish by 10:30, bring 3 liters of water, wear a cooling towel. You'll play the same courses for 50-70% less, with empty fairways and four-hour rounds.

Sample Itineraries

Budget Trip (3 rounds, ~$350-$500 in golf)

1. -- $49-$90
2. (North) -- $80-$200
3. -- $79-$200

Mid-Range Trip (3 rounds, ~$500-$750 in golf)

1. (Raptor) -- $130-$300
2. (Saguaro) -- $69-$309
3. (North) -- $80-$200

Go Big (4 rounds, ~$1,000-$1,500 in golf)

1. (Stadium) -- $99-$579
2. (Monument) -- $100-$325
3. (Cholla) -- $69-$309
4. (South) -- $159-$329

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the single best golf course in Scottsdale?

Depends who's answering. Golf Digest and the ranking publications lean toward Scottsdale National or We-Ko-Pa Saguaro. Locals who play 50+ rounds a year usually say Troon North Monument or Talking Stick North. Visitors overwhelmingly remember TPC Scottsdale because of the PGA Tour connection. We put TPC at #1 because the total experience -- the 16th hole, the history, the conditioning -- is hard to beat at any public facility.

How much should I budget for a round?

Municipal courses (Papago): $49-$90. Mid-tier (Talking Stick, Eagle Mountain): $80-$200. Premium (Troon North, We-Ko-Pa, TPC): $100-$579 depending on season. Summer brings everything down 50-70%. Budget $150-$250 per round for a peak-season trip mixing premium and mid-tier courses.

When is the best time to visit?

November for the best balance of weather, price, and pace. January-March for guaranteed perfect weather at peak prices. Summer for half-price golf if you can handle 6 AM tee times and 110-degree heat by noon.

Can a 20-handicap enjoy these courses?

Yes -- play the right tees. Every course on this list has forward tees that bring yardage down to 5,500-6,200 yards. Avoid the back tees at Troon North Monument (slope 147) and Quintero (slope 143) until your game is ready. Start with Talking Stick, Papago, or Kierland -- all three are forgiving from the forward tees.

Do I need a rental car?

Yes. Courses are spread across 30+ miles of the Valley. Uber from Old Town Scottsdale to We-Ko-Pa runs $40+ each way. A midsize rental is $40-$70/day and essential for early tee times.

Related Guides

• -- rounds under $100
• -- full logistics breakdown
• -- stay-and-play packages