Best Golf Courses in Scottsdale: Where to Play and Where to Live
Scottsdale has more good golf than almost any city in the country, and the right course depends on what you want from the round. Some courses punish a missed shot with desert and rock. Others are wide, walkable and forgiving. A few of the best-known names are private, and several "Scottsdale" courses sit outside the city limits.
I'm a real estate broker here, and golf comes up in almost every conversation I have with buyers moving to North Scottsdale, McCormick Ranch or Scottsdale Country Club. This guide covers the public courses worth playing, the private clubs you can't book, when to play, and how golf shapes where people live.
What Makes Scottsdale Golf Different
Most courses here are desert target golf. Fairways are separated by native desert, rock and cactus instead of rough. Miss the fairway by a few yards and you may still have a shot. Miss it badly at a course like Troon North and you are usually taking a drop.
Elevation matters too. Courses in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, Pinnacle Peak and Black Mountain use the terrain for big downhill tee shots, and the ball carries farther in the dry desert air.
Plan around overseeding. Almost every course closes for a few weeks in the fall to overseed with ryegrass for winter, and each course sets its own dates. If you are coming in September or October, confirm the schedule with the course before you book.
The Best Public Golf Courses in Scottsdale
I ranked these on design, conditioning, difficulty versus playability, and how different each course feels from the others. Private clubs are covered further down.
1. TPC Scottsdale, Stadium Course
The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish and opened in 1986, is home to the WM Phoenix Open and was renovated in 2014. It takes public tee times for most of the year. The par-3 16th turns into a full stadium during tournament week and plays as a normal par 3 the rest of the year. If you want to play where the pros play, book this one, and expect some of the highest peak-season rates on this list.
2. TPC Scottsdale, Champions Course
The Champions Course, designed by Randy Heckenkemper, is the quieter course at TPC Scottsdale. It has hosted the Epson Tour's Carlisle Arizona Women's Golf Classic since 2024. A lot of locals would rather play it than the Stadium Course: same facility, fewer crowds and usually a lower rate.
3. Troon North, Pinnacle Course
Troon North sits at the base of Pinnacle Peak with two Tom Weiskopf courses. Pinnacle is the more dramatic of the two, with forced carries, canyon holes and greens you often can't see from the fairway. If you picture Scottsdale golf as granite boulders and saguaros, this is the course.
4. Troon North, Monument Course
Monument plays firmer and gives you more room to run the ball onto the green. It is the more forgiving of the two. If you can only play one, Monument is easier on a first visit and Pinnacle is the bigger test. Most repeat visitors play both on back-to-back days.
5. Grayhawk, Raptor Course
Grayhawk has two public courses in North Scottsdale. Raptor, a Tom Fazio design, has the wider fairways and the bigger event history. Grayhawk hosted a PGA TOUR event from 2007 to 2009 and the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Golf Championships from 2021 to 2023. For a first Scottsdale golf trip, Raptor is the safest pick: championship conditions without the punishing carries.
6. Grayhawk, Talon Course
Talon, designed by David Graham and Gary Panks, is tighter and asks for more accuracy off the tee. It hosted the 1995 Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf, the event that later became the WGC Match Play. Stronger players looking for a harder round at Grayhawk should pick Talon.
7. We-Ko-Pa, Saguaro Course
We-Ko-Pa sits just outside Scottsdale near Fountain Hills on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land, so there are no homes along the fairways on either course. The Saguaro Course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, was ranked the number one public-access course in Arizona by Golfweek for 2026. It is wide, minimalist and built for walking, which is rare here.
8. We-Ko-Pa, Cholla Course
Cholla, designed by Scott Miller, is the harder of the two We-Ko-Pa courses and ranked eighth on the same Golfweek list. Pick Saguaro for an easier, walkable round and Cholla for more of a test. If you only have time for one trip outside the city, make it We-Ko-Pa.
9. Talking Stick, O'odham Course
Talking Stick, another Coore and Crenshaw design, is on Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land a short drive from Old Town. It is flat, open and links-style, a real change from the foothill courses. Add it to a multi-day trip for variety.
10. McDowell Mountain Golf Club
McDowell Mountain is a daily-fee course in North Scottsdale that gets less attention than Troon North or TPC. It is a solid desert round at a lower price than the headline courses, with tee options for most handicaps.
Best Scottsdale Golf Course by Type
Best overall: Troon North Pinnacle or Grayhawk Raptor
Best for a first trip: Grayhawk Raptor
Best tournament experience: TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course
Best for walking: We-Ko-Pa Saguaro
Best desert scenery: Troon North Pinnacle or We-Ko-Pa Cholla
Hardest test: Troon North Pinnacle or Grayhawk Talon
Best value: TPC Scottsdale Champions or McDowell Mountain
Courses Near Scottsdale Worth the Drive
The Boulders, Carefree. Two Jay Morrish courses built into the boulder fields below Black Mountain, about 30 minutes north of central Scottsdale. The North Course is members-only. The South Course is open to resort guests and daily-fee players.
SunRidge Canyon, Fountain Hills. A Keith Foster design that drops into a canyon on the front nine and climbs back out on the back. The closing stretch is known as "The Wicked Six."
Private Golf in Scottsdale
Some of the courses most tied to Scottsdale's reputation can't be booked at all. Whisper Rock, Estancia, Desert Mountain, Silverleaf and Scottsdale National are all private. Whisper Rock has a Lower Course by Phil Mickelson and Gary Stephenson and an Upper Course by Tom Fazio. Estancia is a Tom Fazio course at the base of Pinnacle Peak. Desert Mountain has seven courses, six designed by Jack Nicklaus. Silverleaf, a Tom Weiskopf course inside DC Ranch, is tied to owning property in Silverleaf. Other private options include Mirabel, DC Ranch Country Club, Troon Country Club, Terravita and Ancala.
The usual ways in are membership, playing as a member's guest, or staying at a resort with a reciprocal arrangement. Policies change, so confirm with the club before you assume you can play.
How Much Does Golf Cost in Scottsdale?
There is no standard green fee. Most courses use dynamic pricing, so the same tee time can cost very different amounts depending on the date, the day of the week and how far ahead you book. Rates are highest from January through April, ease in late spring, and drop the most in summer. Check each course's official booking page for current rates, and watch for add-on fees that aren't in the quoted price.
Best Time to Golf in Scottsdale
January through April is peak season. The weather is at its best, courses are in top shape, and tee times are hardest to get, especially around the WM Phoenix Open in February. Late spring is a good middle ground. Summer brings the lowest rates of the year in exchange for real heat, so book the earliest tee time you can and bring plenty of water. Fall depends on overseeding dates, so check each course before you plan a trip.
Where to Stay for a Scottsdale Golf Trip
Stay close to where you plan to play. For Troon North, Grayhawk and McDowell Mountain, stay in North Scottsdale. For TPC Scottsdale, Talking Stick and Old Town restaurants, stay in Old Town; my Old Town hotel guide covers the options. For We-Ko-Pa and SunRidge Canyon, Fountain Hills is closest. For The Boulders, stay in Carefree.
Golf and Scottsdale Neighborhoods
Golf shapes Scottsdale's map. McCormick Ranch, Gainey Ranch, DC Ranch, Grayhawk and Troon were all built around golf, but living near a course doesn't mean you can play it. Grayhawk homeowners book the same public tee times as everyone else. In Silverleaf, Estancia and Desert Mountain, golf membership is separate from buying the home and can require an application or invitation.
If you want a home on or near a course, these are good places to start:
McCormick Ranch. Central Scottsdale, with greenbelts, lakes and the Palm and Pine courses at McCormick Ranch Golf Club. Read my McCormick Ranch guide, or see 9175 N 82nd St, a remodel I sold there in March 2026.
Scottsdale Country Club. A guard-gated community off Shea Boulevard. I sold 11916 N 81st St, a single-level remodel on a golf course lot, in October 2026.
Paradise Valley. Large lots minutes from Old Town and several resort courses. See my Paradise Valley guide.
For buyers who play, golf access is one of the first things I check, along with garage space for buyers who collect cars. If you're buying, see how I work with buyers. If you're selling a home on a course, see how I market homes, or book a call.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best golf course in Scottsdale?
It depends on the golfer. Troon North Pinnacle and Grayhawk Raptor are the two most often named as the best overall rounds. TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course has the most tournament history.
Can anyone play TPC Scottsdale?
Yes. Both the Stadium and Champions courses take public tee times for most of the year, except around the WM Phoenix Open.
Are We-Ko-Pa and Talking Stick in Scottsdale?
Not technically. Both are on tribal land just outside the city, but most golfers include them in a Scottsdale trip.
What is the best month to golf in Scottsdale?
January through April has the best weather and conditions, along with the highest prices. Late spring, and late fall after overseeding, are a good balance.
When do Scottsdale golf courses overseed?
Most close for a few weeks in the fall, usually in September or October. Each course sets its own dates, so check before you book.
Does buying a home in a golf community include membership?
Usually not. In most Scottsdale golf communities, membership is a separate purchase or application. Confirm with the club before you buy.
Cody Wolfe is a real estate broker and Partner at The Agency Scottsdale, representing buyers and sellers across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, McCormick Ranch, and Arcadia.
