Golf Courses in Fountain Hills: Best Courses Near the Famous Fountain (2026)

Fountain Hills sits 20 minutes east of Scottsdale in the McDowell Mountain foothills, and if you haven't played golf out here, you're missing some of the most dramatic desert terrain in the entire Valley. The town is famous for its 560-foot fountain---visible from nearly every course in the area---but the real draw for golfers is a concentration of courses that rival Scottsdale's best at prices that often undercut them by $50-$100 per round.

The landscape around Fountain Hills is wilder and more rugged than what you'll find in central Scottsdale. Courses here were carved through genuine desert canyons, around granite ridgelines, and across terrain with 200-foot elevation swings. There are no cookie-cutter resort layouts---every course out here has real character shaped by the McDowell Mountains and the surrounding Tonto National Forest.

Known locally as the Sonoran Desert Golf Trail, the Fountain Hills and Fort McDowell corridor packs six strong 18-hole courses into a compact area that you can drive end-to-end in 15 minutes.

Quick Reference: Fountain Hills Golf Courses

Why Fountain Hills Over Scottsdale?

Here's why savvy golfers make the 20-minute drive east from Scottsdale:

Better value. Comparable desert golf experiences cost $50-$150 less per round than equivalent Scottsdale courses. delivers Troon North-quality golf at lower prices. gets you 18 holes of desert golf for what you'd pay for 9 at Grayhawk.

Less crowded. Scottsdale courses during peak season can feel like rush hour---backed up on every tee box, five-hour rounds, ranger carts patrolling pace of play. Fountain Hills courses see lower volume, meaning faster rounds and fewer people in your photos.

More dramatic terrain. The McDowell Mountain foothills create elevation changes that flat-terrain Scottsdale courses can't match. drops nearly 200 feet on a single hole. routes through actual desert canyons. This is the terrain that drew golf architects to Arizona in the first place.

Small-town vibe. Fountain Hills is a quiet community of about 25,000 people. No strip malls, no traffic gridlock, no tourist hustle. You'll share the road with hikers and mountain bikers, grab lunch at a locally owned restaurant, and feel like you're on a desert getaway rather than stuck in suburban sprawl.

The Courses

--- Cholla & Saguaro Courses

Owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and located about 10 minutes west of Fountain Hills proper, We-Ko-Pa is the crown jewel of this area and one of the best 36-hole public facilities in the country. Two courses, two design philosophies, both worth playing.

The Saguaro Course (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, 7,225 yards, slope 140) is the strategic masterpiece. Wide fairways tempt you to blast driver, but positioning matters more than distance on nearly every hole. The greens are large with subtle contours that reveal themselves over multiple rounds. Coore and Crenshaw routed the course through natural desert terrain---no homes, no roads, no distractions---just golf and desert. It's the closest thing to a private club experience you'll find on a public course.

The Cholla Course (Scott Miller, 7,149 yards, slope 139) delivers more dramatic visual impact with pronounced elevation changes and saguaro-lined corridors. The par-3s are particularly memorable, playing across desert washes to greens carved into hillsides. Cholla demands more forced carries than the Saguaro, making it the tougher test for mid-to-high handicappers.

Green fees range from $85-$275 depending on season and course. Peak season (January-April) rates sit at the higher end, while summer brings rates down significantly. The facility also features a lighted short course for evening practice---a nice touch if you're staying nearby and want to dial in your wedge game after dinner.

Insider tip: The Saguaro gets more attention in national rankings, but locals often prefer the Cholla for its more dynamic terrain. Play both if time allows---the experience is distinctly different. Book the Saguaro first (higher demand), then grab whatever Cholla time is available.

Scott Miller designed Eagle Mountain to use every foot of the 200+ feet of elevation change on the property, and the result is one of the most visually dramatic rounds you'll play in Arizona. The par-5 14th drops nearly 200 feet from tee to green with panoramic views of the Valley floor stretching to the horizon. Several par-3s play across desert canyons to greens perched on shelves carved into granite hillsides.

The course measures 6,800 yards from the tips with a slope of 143---modest yardage but the elevation changes and forced carries make it play longer than the card suggests. Ball-striking accuracy matters here more than distance. Bring extra balls if you're not confident carrying 150-180 yards over desert terrain.

Green fees run $70-$187 depending on season and day of week. Weekday rates are substantially lower than weekends, and afternoon rates drop further. Peak season mornings top out around $175-$187, while weekday afternoons in shoulder season can dip below $100.

Insider tip: This is not a walking course. The elevation changes between holes make a cart mandatory for all practical purposes. Ride the cart, enjoy the scenery, and don't rush through the views from elevated tee boxes---they're worth the price of admission by themselves.

The Inn at Eagle Mountain sits adjacent to the course and offers stay-and-play packages that bundle lodging with discounted rounds. It's a quieter alternative to Scottsdale resort hotels with direct course access.

Keith Foster routed SunRidge Canyon through some of the most rugged terrain available to a golf architect---actual desert canyons with sheer rock walls, dry creek beds, and ridgeline tee boxes that make you feel like you're playing golf on the edge of the world. The course is a Troon-managed facility, which means conditioning stays consistently high.

The layout measures 6,823 yards from the tips with a demanding slope. The front nine plays through relatively open desert terrain, building up to the "Wicked Six"---holes 13 through 18---a stretch of canyon-routed golf that ranks among the most dramatic finishing holes in Arizona. The 14th tee sits on a rocky promontory overlooking a desert canyon, and the tee shot requires both nerve and accuracy.

Green fees average around $100-$210 depending on season. Peak season morning rounds command the highest rates, while Troon Rewards members can access some discounted afternoon tee times.

Insider tip: Don't let the Wicked Six intimidate you from the wrong tee boxes. Play from the appropriate set for your handicap---the forced carries from the tips on holes 14-17 can eat golf balls for breakfast. From the middle tees, the carries are manageable and the holes are far more enjoyable.

The oldest course in Fountain Hills and consistently the most affordable, Desert Canyon delivers a solid desert golf experience at green fees between $62-$115. Hot deal rates drop as low as $45. For golfers who want to play Fountain Hills terrain without the premium pricing of Eagle Mountain or SunRidge Canyon, Desert Canyon fits the bill.

The course winds through natural desert landscaping at the base of the McDowell Mountains. It's a semi-private facility with a resident membership base, but public tee times are readily available year-round. The layout won't make national best-of lists, but the conditioning stays respectable and the mountain views are just as good as anywhere in the area.

At 6,524 yards from the tips, Desert Canyon plays shorter than its neighbors, making it more accessible to higher handicappers and senior players. The forced carries are shorter, the greens are more forgiving, and the overall experience is more relaxed.

Insider tip: Desert Canyon is the perfect warm-up round if you're coming from a flat-terrain state and need to calibrate your game for desert golf. Play here first to adjust to altitude, desert rough, and the elevation-change ball flight before tackling Eagle Mountain or SunRidge Canyon the next day.

Located about 10 minutes north of Fountain Hills in Rio Verde, Verde River Golf & Social Club is a semi-private facility that offers surprising quality at the area's lowest green fees. Rates range from $38-$145 depending on season and time of day, making it the budget option for golfers working their way through the Fountain Hills corridor.

The course measures 7,229 yards from the tips---the longest in the Fountain Hills area---and plays through the Verde River basin with mountain views and riparian desert terrain. It's a residential community course, so homes line some fairways, but the layout has enough character to hold your interest for 18 holes.

Insider tip: Verde River is the least known of the Fountain Hills-area courses, which means tee time availability is almost never an issue, even during peak season weekends. If everything else is booked, this is your fallback---and a good one at these prices.

Seasonal Pricing Guide

Peak Season (January-April): The best weather for golf in Fountain Hills, with daytime highs in the 65-85 degree range. Green fees hit their maximums, but you'll still save $50-$100 per round compared to equivalent Scottsdale courses. Book 2-4 weeks ahead for weekend morning tee times at We-Ko-Pa and Eagle Mountain.

Shoulder Season (November-December, May): Outstanding value. November and December bring comfortable mid-70s temperatures with rates 20-30% below peak. May gets warm (upper 90s by month's end) but green fees drop sharply and courses are uncrowded.

Summer (June-September): Temperatures hit 105-115 degrees, but green fees plummet. We-Ko-Pa rounds that cost $275 in February drop below $100. Eagle Mountain afternoons go for pocket change. Play at dawn (6 a.m. shotguns) or twilight (after 3 p.m.) and bring two bottles of water per nine holes. Bermuda grass loves the heat, so course conditions often improve in summer.

Getting to Fountain Hills

From Scottsdale (Old Town): 20-25 minutes via the Beeline Highway (AZ-87) or Shea Boulevard east through the McDowell Mountains. The Shea Boulevard route is more scenic; the Beeline is faster.

From Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport: 35-45 minutes via the Loop 202 to the Beeline Highway. Straightforward drive with minimal traffic outside rush hour.

From Tempe/Mesa: 25-30 minutes via the Beeline Highway north. We-Ko-Pa is the first course you'll hit, sitting right off the highway at Fort McDowell.

Between courses: All five Fountain Hills-area courses sit within a 15-minute drive of each other, making it easy to play 36 holes at two different facilities in a single day.

Planning a Fountain Hills Golf Trip

The top experience: Play in the morning and the Cholla in the afternoon. Two top-tier desert courses at one facility, and you'll understand why this is consistently rated among the best 36-hole public facilities in America.

The dramatic terrain day: Morning at for the elevation drops and mountain views, afternoon at for the Wicked Six finish. Bring extra balls and a camera.

The value play: Start at for an $62-$75 warm-up round, then splurge on one premium round at We-Ko-Pa or Eagle Mountain. Total cost for 36 holes stays under $350 in peak season.

Three-day itinerary: Day 1: We-Ko-Pa (both courses). Day 2: Eagle Mountain morning, Desert Canyon afternoon. Day 3: SunRidge Canyon morning, drive back to Scottsdale for an afternoon round at .

For more Scottsdale-area golf options, explore our or find deals in our guide. Stay-and-play visitors should check our .

Frequently Asked Questions

How many golf courses are in Fountain Hills, AZ?

Fountain Hills and the immediately surrounding area (Fort McDowell, Rio Verde) have five 18-hole golf courses: (two courses), , , , and .

Is Fountain Hills golf cheaper than Scottsdale?

Yes, generally $50-$100 less per round for comparable quality. We-Ko-Pa delivers Troon North-caliber desert golf at lower green fees, and Desert Canyon offers solid 18-hole rounds starting at $62. The savings add up fast on a multi-round trip.

What is the best golf course in Fountain Hills?

is the clear standout, with both the Saguaro and Cholla courses ranking among Arizona's top public courses. For the most dramatic terrain and views, is hard to beat.

Can you see the Fountain Hills fountain from the golf courses?

Yes---the 560-foot fountain is visible from most courses in the area, particularly from elevated tee boxes at Eagle Mountain and SunRidge Canyon. The fountain operates daily on the hour from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and runs for about 15 minutes each cycle.

How far is Fountain Hills from Scottsdale?

Fountain Hills is approximately 20-25 minutes east of central Scottsdale via Shea Boulevard or the Beeline Highway (AZ-87). From Scottsdale's resort corridor along Scottsdale Road, the drive is closer to 15-20 minutes to the nearest courses.

Is Fountain Hills worth the drive from Phoenix for golf?

Absolutely. The 35-45 minute drive from central Phoenix puts you in some of Arizona's best desert golf terrain with lower green fees and fewer crowds than Scottsdale. If you're playing more than one round during a trip, dedicating a full day to Fountain Hills courses is one of the smartest plays you can make.