Best Courses to See in Scottsdale

[Steve_Roths]

Heading out West and was curious what the GCA crowd thought would be the more interesting courses to play in Scottsdale if access wasn't an issue.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

 if access wasn't an issue.
Scottsdale National
https://sngc.com/
Whisper Rock
https://whisperrockgolf.com/
https://grayhawkdevelopment.com/projects/whisper-rock-golf-club/
Desert Forest
https://desertforestgolfclub.com/

Estancia
https://www.estanciaclub.com/

[Andrew Slane]

The Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa. Lacks the real estate development often found on Scottsdale courses. It's a Coore & Crenshaw public access track, definitely worth checking out.


Saguaro | Wekopa

[Mike Wagner]

Heading out West and was curious what the GCA crowd thought would be the more interesting courses to play in Scottsdale if access wasn't an issue.

Papago
We Ko Pa (Saguaro)
Talking Stick (both)
Ambiente


Aguila is the most underrated course in the state.

[Jerry Kluger]

Wickenburg Ranch is very good.

[astavrides]

Aguila is the most underrated course in the state.

+1

[Steve_ Shaffer]

...If access wasn't an issue.My original post were courses that are private and need access or outside of Scottsdale. I could add about 8 more.It seems to me that any public course does not need access, just pay and play; otherwise, this post will turn into a name dropping event. The public courses in Scottsdale , as rated in GD Top 30 , are TPC Scottsdale and Troon North. Others in rated  in Arizona are nearby We-Ko-Pa and far away from Scottsdale- Quintero. I don't know if Wickenburg Ranch is now private or not.
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/arizona-best-in-state-rankings
https://www.golfdigest.com/places-to-play/collections/best-public-courses-arizona
I thought my original post was to gain access to privates.

[Mike Wagner]

...If access wasn't an issue.My original post were courses that are private and need access or outside of Scottsdale. I could add about 8 more.It seems to me that any public course does not need access, just pay and play; otherwise, this post will turn into a name dropping event. The public courses in Scottsdale , as rated in GD Top 30 , are TPC Scottsdale and Troon North. Others in rated  in Arizona are nearby We-Ko-Pa and far away from Scottsdale- Quintero. I don't know if Wickenburg Ranch is now private or not.
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/arizona-best-in-state-rankings
https://www.golfdigest.com/places-to-play/collections/best-public-courses-arizona
I thought my original post was to gain access to privates.

Just my opinion, but I'm not sure the raters could have produced worse lists for AZ. Lazy / commercial / glitz.

[Jeff Evagues]

Heading out West and was curious what the GCA crowd thought would be the more interesting courses to play in Scottsdale if access wasn't an issue.

Papago
We Ko Pa (Saguaro)
Talking Stick (both)
Ambiente


Aguila is the most underrated course in the state.

I'll take both courses at Whirlwind over Talking Stick any day.

[A.G._Crockett]

If at all possible, go to We Ko Pa and play both courses.  Saguaro gets a lot more attention, justifiably so, but the other course is excellent, too.


Nobody has mentioned Troon North, but I like Monument a lot.  Also, the trip up to Sedona to play 7 Canyons is a beautiful drive to a breathtaking golf course.

[Ed Brzezowski]

The Boulders, ok golf but the views are outstanding.

[Ian Mackenzie]

They are all interchangeably similar and consistently unremarkable while being greener and in better shape than the next. Pick one that 1) you can get on 2) you can afford and 3) is close to where you are staying and dont forget to tip the cart girl well....


Desert golf is all about the sun, the course conditioning and, of course, the cart-balling...;-)..!

[Mike Wagner]

Heading out West and was curious what the GCA crowd thought would be the more interesting courses to play in Scottsdale if access wasn't an issue.

Papago
We Ko Pa (Saguaro)
Talking Stick (both)
Ambiente


Aguila is the most underrated course in the state.

I'll take both courses at Whirlwind over Talking Stick any day.

That's nice, Jeff .. any other suggestions for Steve?

[Brad Tufts]

Anyone like Verrado?


The Victory course looks pretty interesting from photos...laid out over the former Caterpillar proving ground.

[Mike Wagner]

Anyone like Verrado?


The Victory course looks pretty interesting from photos...laid out over the former Caterpillar proving ground.

Really solid .. wider than most desert courses. Location is only drawback .. unless you live west.

[Ken Fry]

If heading out anytime soon, it's over seeding season and many of the courses won't be open or require carts on paths only.

I head out there and play often and cost is the big issue for many public courses.

Troon courses or TPC Stadium will set you back $400+ in season.  I played TPC Champions and was pleasantly surprised.

I usually head to We Ko Pa if available and play Saguaro.  Saguaro is excellent and can be walked.  It's isolated with a brilliant routing by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.  I played Cholla once and it's not to my liking.

Talking Stick North is fun, strategic and forgiving while South didn't strike a cord with me.

Wickenburg Ranch I've been told is nice but it's a long way out and someone mentioned may be going private soon.

Quintero is also suppose to be nice.  Haven't been.

Grayhawk is convenient to where I stay.  Both courses are fine but tight development golf that again gets expensive in season.

Boulders as mentioned is fine and the views are pretty spectacular.

Mountain Shadows is a really fun par 3 course by Forrest Richardson.  Carry at most a 5-7 iron down and you're covered.  Really fun place and worth a stop.

Papago is a busy Billy Bell course near the airport.  They've done a ton of tree removal and it's quite different than the standard desert golf course.  I really enjoyed the course but it is pretty busy and loud around the perimeter.

Ak-Chin is also suppose to be outstanding but it's south of Phoenix and quite a distance from Scottsdale.

That pretty much covers the public courses I've played or tried to play.

In season, any golf in Scottsdale will be expensive.  If this is a ploy to gain access to one of the private properties, well.......

Ken

[Gene Greco]

Also, the trip up to Sedona to play 7 Canyons is a beautiful drive to a breathtaking golf course.

It would behoove you to take this gentleman’s suggestion if access is not an issue.
Seven Canyons is in one of the most beautiful settings of any golf course I have ever played.
Stunning..

[Adam_Messix]

Good call on Seven Canyons by TDTTS.  It's gorgeous.


There is a surprising amount of quality golf in the Arizona desert, most of which have been mentioned. 


It's a shame that many, if not by now all, of the original greens at Desert Highlands have been softened, they were a pretty amazing.  Troon CC may be Weiskopf and Moorish's best but in the end everyone needs to see Desert Forest.  It's the paradigm of Desert golf today and quite a test.  I love the no frills, focus ok golf atmosphere and it is am enjoyable walk.

[David Wuthrich]

I agree with Adam, as I usually do!

[Jeff Schley]

Anyone like Verrado?


The Victory course looks pretty interesting from photos...laid out over the former Caterpillar proving ground.

Really solid .. wider than most desert courses. Location is only drawback .. unless you live west.

Agree on Veraddo as I really liked it, 18 is a thrill over the water tee shot.

[Bill Buthorn]

There are two good layouts in Verrado.  The older Founders course is more a traditional desert course.  The back nine especially, is very good.  John Fought and Tom Lehman did the design work.
The Victory course, I think Lehman on his own, is newer.  It is definitely not your usual desert layout.  Very fun, a wide variety of unique holes.  As mentioned, Caterpiller had there proving grounds here for many years.  Both courses run through the old property. 
At the moment, the Founders is closed for overseed, but Victory is open, cart path only, which equals a hike. Hope this helps.

[Matt_Cohn]

In season, any golf in Scottsdale will be expensive.

TPC Scottsdale asking $525 in the weeks leading up to the Phoenix Open.

[Jerry Kluger]

I say that Wickenburg Ranch is unique enough to make the drive worthwhile.  As I understand it, the course was built quite a few years ago but wasn't opened for a number of years thereafter because of economic conditions.  I have to admit that I am not familiar with the designers but they did create some very cool and unique holes.  They also have a lighted par 3 course with music and stands for your beverage of choice which can be a cool way to end the day.  BTW: I asked what brought people out to Wickenburg and I was told that the annual calf roping championship is conducted in Wickenburg.

[Stewart Abramson]

I like Wickenberg Ranch, but don't love it. Wickenberg is pretty, well maintained and has some good holes (I like the uphill par 5 9th hole) , but I'd rather play We Ko Pa Saguaro or Ak Chin Southern Dunes. If you haven't played them I wouldn't take the longer car ride to Wickenberg.

Link to Wickenberg Ranch photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/albums/72157680258178456

[Forrest Richardson]

'Interesting", of course, is the key here. If you are really interested in "interesting" you might consider:

McCormick Ranch — Desmond Muirhead's seminole work defining the planned community
Oakcreek Country Club — Robert Trent Jones, Sr. in Sedona
Mountain Shadows — All par-3, cracked the $150/round mark (first ever) [disclosure: Our work]
Encanto 18 — c. 1930s Wm P Bell; muni...Former Phoenix City Manager once said of it, "Forrest, all these morons think Papago is the cat's meow...little do they know it's really Encanto..."
Troon CC — My favorite modern desert course (besides our Legend Trail)
Desert Forest — Although, I wish you could still play the c. 1960s version
Lookout Mountain — Will never be duplicated, some will say "thankfully" [disclosure, also our work]