Discover the unparalleled golfing experience of Phoenix-Scottsdale, where championship courses, breathtaking desert landscapes, and vibrant nightlife converge. From the iconic TPC Scottsdale to hidden gems like Raptor and Troon North, this region offers a golfing adventure for every skill level and taste.
There’s no vibe on Tour that matches the chaotic fun of the TPC Scottsdale . You know you want to follow in these famous footsteps—and you can. It’s time to scratch that itch and book a trip to the Phoenix- Scottsdale desert. With perfectly groomed, overseeded fairways glistening in green, mountains turning purple in the late afternoon light and the needled arms of Saguaro cacti beckoning, the Valley of the Sun offers a unique, memory-filled golf vacation for buddies and families alike.
Wait one week and you can tee it up where Scottie, Justin, Jordan and Rickie just played. Wait two weeks and you can mix and match dozens of championship layouts with Cactus League Spring Training baseball. Whenever you arrive, you’ll have hundreds of golf options. If you have member connections, or are an incredibly smooth talker, don’t miss the aptly named private gems Desert Mountain, Desert Highlands and Desert Forest. For everybody else, here are the seven public must-plays in Phoenix-Scottsdale.The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is center of the action when the PGA Tour is in town. / Stan Badz/PGA Back-slapping with your pals will reach its zenith at TPC Scottsdale’s par-3 16th hole, where Tiger’s 1997 ace in the Roman Colosseum environment still echoes. Equally dramatic are the island-green, par-5 15th and the drivable but dangerous par-4 17th, two risk/reward beauties that bookend the best stretch of holes at the biggest, loudest event in the sport, the WM Phoenix Open. Yes, the morning rates in high season run north of $500—and it’s a muni! Yet, as bucket-list courses go, it’s near the top of the list among courses that don’t overlook an ocean. And you can win back your green fees with one prop bet next door at the adjacent DraftKings Sportsbook, a first of its kind emporium which combines elevated dining, lounging and wagering. Tom Fazio carved out Raptor in 1995 from the flat desert floor, but sculpted the earth to create artfully shaped contours, cavernous bunkers and propped up greens. The par-3 8th and the lake-guarded 18th, both boasting McDowell Mountain backdrops, will resonate long after you’ve left the property. However, you won’t want to leave without sampling a goldfish bowl-sized margarita at Grayhawk’s 19th hole, “Phil’s Grill,” named for longtime favorite son Phil Mickelson. Since its inception, Raptor has played host to dozens of PGA Tour and special events, with champions that include Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie and Mike Weir. Most recently, from 2021-2023 Grayhawk tested the best collegiate players in the NCAA Championship, where Stanford’s Rose Zhang and Vanderbilt’s Gordon Sargent were among the winners. Whether you’re aboard the Monument course or the slightly more walkable Pinnacle, you’re in for a wild ride at Scottsdale’s Troon North. In the 1990s, Tom Weiskopf teamed with Jay Morrish to craft the first 18, then did the second 18 solo. In 2007, they swapped nine from one course with nine from the other, so whichever course you’re aboard, you’ll get the width and playability that Morrish was known for and the drivable par-4s that Weiskopf popularized. Both courses meld seamlessly into a high-desert setting, complete with massive rock outcrops, cactus-framed fairways and Pinnacle Peak and McDowell Mountain backdrops. Pinnacle boasts more dramatic forced carries and deeper bunkers, but most memorable is the par-5 3rd on Monument, which sports a humongous boulder in the center of the fairway landing area. Stick around to sample the Brisket Chili and the Prime Rib Tacos at Troon North’s Dynamite Grille. Architect Jay Morrish revised one course and built another in the late 1980s/early 1990s, resulting in the distinctive North and South layouts at the Boulders Resort & Spa in north Scottsdale, on the edge of the town of Carefree. Both courses zigzag through cacti forests and prickly desert shrubs and among the prehistoric, colossal rocks that give the resort its name. The North is more consistently strong from start to finish, but the cart ride alone on the front nine of the South is worth the price of admission. The greens at the first and fifth holes and the back tee boxes at 6, 7 and 8 yield in-your-face encounters with massive boulders. On different visits, I have eyeballed bobcats, javelina, rabbits, roadrunners and coyotes here—no surprise for a setting right out of the Flintstones. The Boulders Club has a perfectly fine 19th hole, but to kick it up a notch, head next door to the Spotted Donkey at el Pedregal, a restaurant owned by the Boulders Resort. Feast on the Spotted Donkey Nachos appetizer—tortilla rounds, pork carnitas, black beans, roasted tomato and tomatillo sauces, queso fresco, crema and fresh jalapenos—and you can likely skip dinner. Located just east of Scottsdale on Yavapai Nation tribal land in Ft. McDowell, We-Ko-Pa delivers two superb tracks that zigzag through canyons, climb atop ridges and tumble down mountain slope
GOLF TRAVEL PHOENIX SCOTTSDALE TPC SCOTTSDALE RAPTOR TROON NORTH WE-KO-PA
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
2025 WM Phoenix Open Betting Preview: Picks, Predictions and Odds for TPC ScottsdaleOdds, notable golfers, and best bets for this week's PGA Tour event, the WM Phoenix Open.
Read more »
Waste Management Phoenix Open Odds: Scheffler Eyes Third TPC Scottsdale TitleBreaking down the Waste Management Phoenix Open odds board at TPC Scottsdale, with analysis on the field, favorites, and more.
Read more »
Scottsdale Assisted Living Technician Arrested for Sexual Assault, Facing Repeat AllegationsGabriel Garcia Jr., a medication technician at Scottsdale Village Square, has been arrested for sexual assault. Police were alerted by the alleged victim's son who witnessed the act via a live camera. This is not Garcia's first accusation, as he is also under investigation for a similar incident at Fountain Hills Post Acute.
Read more »
Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show Focuses on Helping Wildfire VictimsThe 70th annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show will include a fundraising effort to support members of the Arabian Horse Association who lost their homes in the Los Angeles area wildfires. The Arabian Horseman's Distress Fund will receive proceeds from an auction featuring items from the Rose Bowl Parade.
Read more »
Family files lawsuit after man wanders away from Scottsdale care facility, dies in desertAnne Ryman is an award-winning journalist and Arizona resident since 1991
Read more »
Founders of Scottsdale-based Blueacorn face second federal investigationABC15 Senior Investigator Melissa Blasius has built a reputation for asking tough questions and taking action on behalf of Arizona families.
Read more »