Golf Courses in North Scottsdale: Complete 2026 Guide

North Scottsdale is where the Sonoran Desert meets championship golf at its best. Stretching from the 101 freeway north to Carefree Highway and beyond, this corridor packs more top-tier golf per square mile than anywhere else in Arizona. The PGA Tour's wildest venue, desert masterpieces carved into boulder-studded hillsides, and some of the most exclusive private clubs in America---all within a 20-minute drive of each other.

The terrain up here is different from central Scottsdale. Higher elevation means cooler temperatures (often 5-10 degrees), thinner air that adds 5-10 yards to every club, and dramatic topography that architects have turned into some remarkable golf holes. From a first-time round at to figuring out which private club is worth a six-figure initiation, this guide covers every course in North Scottsdale.

Quick Reference: All North Scottsdale Golf Courses

Public & Semi-Private Courses

These are the courses you can book without a membership or resort stay. North Scottsdale's public offerings range from PGA Tour venues to solid neighborhood courses that won't destroy your wallet.

--- Stadium Course

The Stadium Course needs no introduction. Home of the WM Phoenix Open and the loudest hole in golf---the par-3 16th---this is the most famous public golf course in Arizona. Walk the same fairways the Tour plays every February, with greens that run just as fast the rest of the year.

Peak season green fees run $436-$550 during the prime January-April window, making it one of the pricier public rounds in the Valley. After 2 p.m. and during early morning slots, rates drop closer to $303-$319. Summer brings the real deals, with rates falling significantly once temperatures climb.

Insider tip: The weeks immediately after the WM Phoenix Open (usually mid-February) offer near-tournament conditions at slightly lower demand. The course is in its best shape of the year, freshly prepped for TV, and the crowds have thinned. Book 30-60 days out for prime weekend tee times in peak season.

The Stadium Course measures 7,261 yards from the tips with a slope of 140. It's a fair test from the middle tees, but the back tees will expose any weaknesses in your long game. The greens are large but heavily contoured, and pin positions during peak season rival tournament setups.

Right next door to the Stadium, the Champions Course is the overlooked sibling that delivers championship golf at roughly half the price. Green fees run $139-$249 during peak season, and summer rates drop to as low as $20.

Originally called the Desert Course, the Champions layout plays through more natural Sonoran terrain than its stadium-style neighbor. The conditioning is a step below the Stadium Course (what isn't?), but the design rewards smart course management and creative shotmaking. At these prices relative to the Stadium, it's arguably the better value play in North Scottsdale.

Insider tip: Pair a morning round at the Champions with a twilight round at the Stadium for a 36-hole TPC day without paying two full premium rates.

--- Monument & Pinnacle Courses

Troon North sits at higher elevation in the desert foothills with the kind of terrain that makes desert golf legendary. The Monument Course features the iconic boulder that frames the par-3 signature hole, while the Pinnacle Course offers equally dramatic routing through rocky arroyos and saguaro-studded hillsides.

Green fees range from $220-$325, with weekday rates on the lower end and weekend mornings at the top. A mandatory forecaddie program runs Thursday through Saturday mornings (8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.) from mid-January through April, adding to the experience and the cost. There's also a 5% water surcharge on top of posted rates---a common practice at Scottsdale's premium courses.

Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish routed both courses to maximize the natural terrain rather than fight it. The Monument Course (7,008 yards, slope 147) demands precision off every tee, while the Pinnacle (7,044 yards, slope 145) offers slightly more generous landing areas. Both courses play 10-15 degrees cooler than courses down in the flats, making them a smart choice during shoulder season heat.

Insider tip: The Pinnacle Course is slightly less famous and slightly easier to book during peak season. The quality difference between the two courses is negligible---play whichever has better tee time availability.

--- Talon & Raptor Courses

Grayhawk sits at the intersection of North Scottsdale's golf and dining scene. The Raptor Course has hosted NCAA championships and PGA Tour qualifying, while the Talon skirts desert box canyons on its way to multi-tiered greens. Both courses are Tom Fazio designs that consistently rank among Arizona's top public/semi-private facilities.

Green fees range from $270-$334, with an 8.05% tax and 5% Course Water Resource Fee tacked on top. That pushes a peak-season round closer to $380 all-in. Grayhawk doesn't offer discounted tee times through aggregators---you book directly through their site or by phone.

The Raptor (7,135 yards, slope 140) plays more traditionally with generous fairways and deep greenside bunkers guarding crowned greens. The Talon (6,973 yards, slope 133) weaves through thicker desert with more forced carries. For groups with varying handicaps, the Raptor accommodates higher handicappers better while still challenging low single-digit players.

Insider tip: Phil's Grill at Grayhawk is one of the better 19th holes in Scottsdale. Budget time for a post-round meal on the patio overlooking the Raptor finishing holes.

Rees Jones designed Legend Trail as a straightforward desert golf experience, and at $84-$130 it represents the best value among North Scottsdale's quality courses. The layout stretches through natural desert corridors with strategic bunkering and elevation changes that keep your attention for 18 holes.

At 6,845 yards with a slope of 133, Legend Trail plays fair from the middle tees while offering enough teeth from the tips to test low handicappers. The greens are smaller than you'll find at Troon North or Grayhawk, putting a premium on iron accuracy.

Insider tip: Legend Trail often has same-day availability when premium North Scottsdale courses are booked solid. It's the perfect backup plan during peak season, and the $150+ you save over Grayhawk doesn't feel like a compromise.

Tucked into the McDowell Mountain foothills, this public course operates with the feel of a private club---no memberships, no attitude, just solid desert golf with mountain views in every direction. Weekend breakfast-and-back-nine combos run $92, and afternoon rates drop to $39 during overseeded periods.

The course plays through a residential community but the homes don't encroach on the golf experience the way they do at lesser desert courses. Mountain views dominate the sightlines, and the routing makes good use of gentle elevation changes.

Insider tip: The breakfast deal at Rossa Kitchen & Patio combined with 9 holes of golf is one of the best casual golf outings in the Valley. Runs Friday through Sunday mornings through May.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort sits adjacent to TPC Scottsdale, and hotel guests receive priority booking and a $300 golf credit toward green fees at both TPC Scottsdale courses and Grayhawk. If you're already staying at the Princess, this is how you access premium North Scottsdale golf at a discount.

When it's 115 degrees outside or the courses are soaked from monsoon rains, Epic Golf Club offers high-end indoor simulator golf. It's not a replacement for 18 holes on real grass, but it fills a niche during summer and for late-night golf with friends.

Up near the Desert Mountain community, the Outlaw is a no-frills public option that serves the far-north Scottsdale population. Green fees are budget-friendly, and while it won't make any "best of" lists, it's a perfectly fine place to get in a casual round without the premium pricing that dominates this part of the Valley.

Private Clubs

North Scottsdale is home to the highest concentration of elite private golf clubs in the American Southwest. These clubs require membership (and typically a member invitation) to play. For detailed membership costs and how to get invited, see our .

The crown jewel of North Scottsdale private golf. Tom Weiskopf designed 18 holes through some of the most dramatic desert terrain in the Valley, with massive boulders, towering saguaros, and elevation changes that create one memorable hole after another. Silverleaf's membership is among the most exclusive and expensive in Arizona, with initiation fees well into six figures. The clubhouse and lifestyle amenities match the golf---this is a complete luxury experience. .

Six Jack Nicklaus-designed courses make Desert Mountain the largest private golf community in the Southwest. The courses range from the original Renegade to newer designs, each offering distinct character and challenge. With six courses, members rarely struggle to get tee times even during peak season. The community spans over 8,000 acres of high-desert terrain north of Scottsdale proper. .

Phil Mickelson's home course and a favorite among PGA Tour players who live in the area. Whisper Rock has two courses---Upper and Lower---both designed with a focus on pure golf rather than real estate. The club culture is casual and golf-centric, attracting members who'd rather play 36 holes than sit through a formal dinner. If you care more about the quality of the golf than the size of the clubhouse, Whisper Rock is the play. .

Scottsdale National breaks every private club convention. The "One Rule" policy (no member shall impinge upon another member's enjoyment) sets the tone. The club features multiple courses including The Other Course and the notorious Bad Little Nine---a 9-hole par-3 layout with greens so devilish that owner Bob Parsons offers $1,000 to anyone who finishes under par. The culture is deliberately irreverent, attracting members who want great golf without country-club stuffiness. .

Rees Jones designed the course at DC Ranch to complement the master-planned community surrounding it. The club skews more family-oriented than pure golf clubs like Whisper Rock, with robust tennis, fitness, and social programming alongside the 18-hole championship course. The McDowell Mountain views from the back nine are among the best in the Valley. .

Tom Fazio's desert masterpiece winds through 640 acres at the base of Pinnacle Peak. Estancia limits its membership to around 300 golf members, ensuring uncrowded conditions that most private clubs can only dream about. The routing integrates massive boulders and desert washes into a course that feels like it was always there. .

Another Tom Fazio design, Mirabel sits adjacent to the Pinnacle Peak area and offers a slightly more intimate experience than Estancia. The club limits membership to maintain an uncrowded, personal atmosphere. The course design favors strategy over brute length, making it enjoyable for members across all handicap ranges. .

One of North Scottsdale's more established private clubs, Pinnacle Peak CC has been part of the community for decades. The course may not generate the headlines of newer clubs like Scottsdale National, but it offers consistent conditioning, loyal membership, and a strong social scene. .

Not to be confused with Troon North (the public/semi-private facility), Troon Country Club is a private club in the Troon Village community. The course offers challenging desert golf in a more traditional country-club setting with the McDowell Mountains as a backdrop.

Seasonal Pricing Guide

Understanding North Scottsdale's pricing seasons will save you hundreds per round:

Peak Season (January-April): The best weather and highest prices. Expect to pay top dollar at every course, and book 30-60 days ahead for weekend times. This is when snowbirds and golf tourists flood the Valley, and courses like TPC Scottsdale and Troon North can sell out weeks in advance.

Shoulder Season (November-December, May): Near-peak conditions with 20-40% lower green fees. Late November and early December are the sweet spot---temperatures in the low 70s, courses freshly overseeded, and prices that haven't fully ramped up yet. May starts getting warm (mid-90s) but offers excellent value.

Summer (June-September): Temperatures regularly hit 105-115 degrees, but green fees crater. Courses that charge $400+ in February drop to $100 or less. Play at dawn (6 a.m. starts) or late afternoon (3 p.m. twilight) and bring extra water. Bermuda grass thrives in the heat, so course conditions remain surprisingly good.

WM Phoenix Open Week (Late January-Early February): TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course closes for tournament setup, and surrounding courses see elevated demand. Book elsewhere during tournament week unless you have Open tickets.

Getting Around North Scottsdale

North Scottsdale courses spread across a wide geographic area. Here are approximate drive times from the Scottsdale Road/101 freeway interchange:

• TPC Scottsdale / Grayhawk / McDowell Mountain: 5-10 minutes
• Legend Trail / Troon North: 15-20 minutes
• Desert Mountain / Outlaw: 25-30 minutes
• Silverleaf / DC Ranch / Estancia / Mirabel: 15-25 minutes

From downtown Phoenix, add 30-40 minutes to all estimates. From Scottsdale Old Town, add 15-20 minutes. Traffic on the 101 moves well most of the day, but the Scottsdale Road corridor gets congested during morning rush.

Planning Your North Scottsdale Golf Trip

For the must-do experience: in the weeks right after the WM Phoenix Open. Top-tier conditioning, tournament atmosphere lingering, and you'll walk fairways the pros just played.

For desert golf purists: delivers the quintessential Sonoran Desert golf experience. The Monument Course is the showpiece, but the Pinnacle is equally memorable.

For groups: offers two great courses, excellent practice facilities, and Phil's Grill for the post-round gathering. The Raptor-Talon combination accommodates every skill level.

For value: at $84-$130 delivers quality Rees Jones desert golf without the premium pricing. Pair it with the for a quality 36-hole day under $300.

For an all-day outing: Morning round at with the breakfast combo, afternoon round at the , and dinner at Phil's Grill at Grayhawk.

Check current rates and availability at our , and for more budget-conscious options throughout the Valley, see our guide to .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best public golf course in North Scottsdale?

is the most famous, but often gets the nod from serious golfers for its pure desert golf experience. The Monument and Pinnacle courses consistently rank among Arizona's top public-access layouts.

How much does it cost to play golf in North Scottsdale?

Peak season (January-April) green fees at premium courses range from $220-$550. Mid-tier options like run $84-$130. Summer rates drop 50-70% across the board, with rounds available under $50 at several courses.

Can I play any private golf courses in North Scottsdale without a membership?

Generally, no. North Scottsdale's private clubs---including , , and ---require membership or a member invitation. Some clubs offer "experience" days for prospective members. See our for details.

What is the best time of year to play golf in North Scottsdale?

Late November through early April offers the best combination of weather and course conditions. For the best value, target November or May when temperatures are still comfortable but green fees drop 20-40% from peak.

How far is North Scottsdale from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport?

Most North Scottsdale courses are 30-45 minutes from Sky Harbor International Airport via the Loop 101 and Loop 202 freeways. TPC Scottsdale and Grayhawk are the closest at roughly 30 minutes, while courses near Desert Mountain and Troon North are 40-45 minutes.

Should I rent clubs or bring my own to North Scottsdale?

Most premium courses offer current-model rental sets for $60-$80. If you're playing 3+ rounds, bringing your own clubs is worth the airline baggage fee. For a single round, renting saves the hassle. Courses like TPC Scottsdale and Troon North stock top-tier rental equipment.