Best Public Golf Courses to Play in North Scottsdale, Arizona
North Scottsdale Real Estate · Golf Lifestyle
By Brent Votroubek | Compass Real Estate, North Scottsdale · Updated 2026
Quick Answer: The best public golf courses in North Scottsdale, AZ include TPC Scottsdale (home of the Waste Management Phoenix Open), Troon North Golf Club, Grayhawk Golf Club, and Boulders Golf Club — each offering world-class desert golf in the Sonoran Desert. Peak season rates range from $100 to $550 depending on the course, with TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course commanding the highest green fees in the Valley.
North Scottsdale, Arizona is widely regarded as one of the premier golf destinations in the United States. With its dramatic Sonoran Desert backdrop, over 300 days of sunshine per year, and an extraordinary concentration of championship-caliber public courses, it draws golfers from around the world — and offers residents an unmatched golf lifestyle just steps from home.
Whether you're visiting for a round or considering buying a home near a golf course in North Scottsdale, this guide covers the top public courses, what makes each unique, current 2025–26 pricing, and insider recommendations from someone who lives and works in this market every day.
In This Guide
- TPC Scottsdale – Stadium & Champions Courses
- Troon North Golf Club – Monument & Pinnacle Courses
- Grayhawk Golf Club – Raptor & Talon Courses
- Wildfire Golf Club – Palmer & Faldo Courses
- Boulders Golf Club – North & South Courses
- Kierland Golf Club
- McDowell Mountain Golf Club
- Legend Trail Golf Club
- FAQ: Golf in North Scottsdale
1. TPC Scottsdale — Stadium & Champions Courses
17020 N Hayden Rd, Scottsdale, AZ · Designers: Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish (Stadium); Randy Heckenkemper (Champions)
TPC Scottsdale is arguably the most famous public golf course in Arizona and one of the most recognized PGA Tour venues in the country. The Stadium Course hosts the annual Waste Management Phoenix Open — the most-attended golf tournament in the world — and is best known for its iconic 16th hole, a short par-3 enclosed by stadium-style bleachers that create an electric, almost NFL-like atmosphere. The 11th hole, a dogleg-right par-4 guarded by a pond, is the toughest test on the property.
The Champions Course, redesigned by Randy Heckenkemper, offers a more traditional desert experience with a creek running through the property — wider, more forgiving, and ideal for corporate outings or casual rounds. It's an excellent companion to the Stadium Course on a multi-day Scottsdale golf trip.
Stadium Course — Peak Season (Jan–Apr): $436–$550Stadium Course — Off-Season (May–Sep): $175–$320Champions Course — Peak Season: $139–$249
TPC Scottsdale uses dynamic pricing — rates fluctuate based on time of day, season, and demand. Morning prime-time tee times during peak season regularly hit $500+. Book 90 days in advance and check the direct booking portal for current rates.
The Stadium Course — without question. If you're going to play TPC Scottsdale, you play the Stadium Course. Walking the same fairways as the best players in the world, standing on that 16th tee, and experiencing what PGA Tour conditions actually feel like is a bucket-list round that's worth every penny. The Champions Course is a solid track, but you can get a comparable experience at several other North Scottsdale courses for less. When you're here, go big.
Brent's Pick between the two: Stadium Course
2. Troon North Golf Club — Monument & Pinnacle Courses
10320 E Dynamite Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ · Designer: Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish (renovated by Weiskopf, 2007)
Troon North is consistently ranked among the top public golf courses in Arizona and regularly appears on national "best courses" lists. Located at the base of Pinnacle Peak, it offers some of the most dramatic desert golf scenery in the Southwest. Golf Digest currently ranks the Monument Course 21st in Arizona (2025–26), and the course is widely considered Scottsdale's crown jewel for public golf.
The Monument Course — the original layout from 1990, renovated by Weiskopf in 2007 — is the signature experience, famous for weaving through giant granite boulders that directly influence shot selection. Bentgrass greens, slope ratings of 147–148, and stunning Sonoran Desert vistas make every hole memorable. The Pinnacle Course (1995) offers equally technical challenges with unforgettable elevation changes and desert scenery.
Peak Season (Jan–Apr) — Prime Morning: $300–$400+Off-Season (May–Sep): $150–$200
Note: Forecaddies are mandatory on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings during peak season (fee included in rate; gratuity paid separately, ~$20 cash). A 5% water surcharge is added at check-in.
The Monument Course. It's one of the finest golf experiences in the entire Southwest, and the original Weiskopf routing is special in a way that's hard to fully articulate until you're standing in it. The boulder formations aren't just scenic backdrops — they're in play, framing shots and creating decisions you won't find anywhere else. If you're visiting Scottsdale and can only play one round at Troon North, Monument is the one. Pinnacle is excellent, but Monument is iconic.
Brent's Pick between the two: Monument Course
3. Grayhawk Golf Club — Raptor & Talon Courses
8620 E Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ · Designer: Tom Fazio (Raptor, 1995); David Graham & Gary Panks (Talon, 1994)
Grayhawk Golf Club sits at the heart of the DC Ranch and Grayhawk residential communities and is one of the most prestigious public golf facilities in the Phoenix metro area. Open since 1994, both courses have hosted professional and amateur events at the highest levels — the Raptor is one of only two Scottsdale courses to have hosted a PGA Tour event, and is listed among the best public courses in Arizona by Golfweek and Golf Magazine.
The Raptor Course, designed by Tom Fazio, features generous fairways, deep greenside bunkers, and naturally contoured greens that reward strategic ball-striking. It plays 7,221 yards from the tips with a slope of 143 — technical without being punishing for mid-handicappers. The Talon Course is a classic desert-style layout that skirts thick Sonoran Desert vegetation and box canyons on the way to large multi-tiered greens.
Peak Season (Jan–Apr): $350–$500+Off-Season (May–Sep): $125–$175
Grayhawk uses dynamic pricing. Prime morning tee times during peak weeks can exceed $500. Afternoon and twilight times offer meaningful savings. Check grayhawkgolf.com directly for current rates.
The Raptor Course. Tom Fazio's design is as close to a perfect public golf experience as you'll find in North Scottsdale — the fairways give you room to swing freely, but the bunkering and green complexes demand precision when it counts. It has that rare quality of feeling fair and difficult at the same time. Talon is a worthy round in its own right, but Raptor is the one that keeps you coming back. It's also the course that many North Scottsdale luxury homebuyers are daydreaming about when they tour properties in Grayhawk and DC Ranch.
Brent's Pick between the two: Raptor course
4. Wildfire Golf Club — Palmer & Faldo Courses
5350 E Marriott Dr, Phoenix, AZ (JW Marriott Desert Ridge) · Designer: Arnold Palmer (Palmer Course); Nick Faldo (Faldo Course)
Located at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, Wildfire Golf Club offers a resort-style golf experience with two distinctly different courses bearing legendary names. The Arnold Palmer Course is a classic, accessible design suited to a wide range of players, while the Nick Faldo Course introduces more technical challenges — elevation shifts, strategic bunkering, and demanding approach angles that reward course management over raw power.
The resort setting means golfers enjoy exceptional clubhouse amenities, a full-service pro shop, and seamless service that makes it a top choice for golf getaways and corporate events.
Pricing
Peak Season: $250–$350 Off-Season: $100–$150
The Faldo Course for the more serious golfer; the Palmer Course if you're playing with a mixed group or hosting clients. Faldo's design rewards patience and shot-making — it's a course that challenges your game without punishing you unfairly. Palmer is the right choice when the goal is a fun, relaxed round with great scenery and the full resort experience front and center.
Brent's pick between the two: Faldo Course
5. Boulders Golf Club — North & South Courses
34631 N Tom Darlington Dr, Carefree, AZ · Designer: Jay Morrish
Few golf courses in Arizona — or anywhere — match the visual drama of Boulders Golf Club. Designer Jay Morrish routed both the North and South Courses through and around massive 12-million-year-old granite rock formations, creating a playing environment that feels as much like sculpture as sport. Located in the distinctive community of Carefree, just north of Scottsdale, Boulders offers a serene, private-feeling experience despite its public accessibility.
Fairways weave through boulders, cacti, and desert flora, with every hole offering a unique and visually stunning composition. Both courses are as much about aesthetic experience as competitive play.
Pricing
Peak Season: $200–$325 Off-Season: $100–$175
The South Course. Both are spectacular, but the South Course at Boulders edges it out for its dramatic terrain changes and the way the boulders frame the approach shots on the back nine. It's a round that genuinely stops you in your tracks mid-swing to appreciate where you are. If you have time for both, play them back-to-back — Boulders is worth an entire day.
Brent's Pick between the two: South Course
6. Kierland Golf Club
15636 N Clubgate Dr, Scottsdale, AZ · Three nine-hole courses: Acacia, Ironwood & Mesquite
Kierland Golf Club is the most centrally located option on this list — set in the heart of North Scottsdale's upscale retail and dining corridor. Its three distinct nine-hole courses (Acacia, Ironwood, and Mesquite) can be combined in any pairing for an 18-hole round, giving golfers variety across visits. Kierland is particularly well known for its air-conditioned golf carts — a genuine luxury during Arizona's warmer months — and its accessible, player-friendly design that suits all handicap levels.
Pricing
Peak Season: $180–$300 Off-Season: $100–$125
7. McDowell Mountain Golf Club
10690 E Fountain Hills Blvd, Fountain Hills, AZ · Redesigned by Phil Mickelson
McDowell Mountain Golf Club carries a unique distinction: redesigned by five-time major champion Phil Mickelson, who crafted expansive fairways, strategic bunkering, and a layout designed to challenge golfers of all skill levels. The course is set against a stunning backdrop of the McDowell Mountains and Fountain Hills, delivering some of the most spectacular panoramic vistas and desert sunsets in the Valley — at a price point considerably lower than the marquee courses above.
Pricing
Peak Season: $150–$225 Off-Season: $75–$120
8. Legend Trail Golf Club
9462 E Legendary Lane, Scottsdale, AZ · Designer: Rees Jones
Designed by Rees Jones — known as "The Open Doctor" for his work renovating U.S. Open venues — Legend Trail offers a fair yet genuinely challenging layout that rewards strategic thinking. Naturally contoured greens, thoughtful bunkering, and the rugged elegance of the surrounding Sonoran Desert make every round feel earned. At the most accessible price point on this list, Legend Trail punches well above its weight in course quality and design pedigree.
Pricing
Peak Season: $100–$175 Off-Season: $70–$100
Frequently Asked Questions: Golf in North Scottsdale
What is the best public golf course in North Scottsdale?
The best public golf course in North Scottsdale depends on what you're prioritizing. For a PGA Tour bucket-list experience, TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course is the answer. For scenery and authentic desert golf, Troon North's Monument Course is widely considered the finest. For a balance of quality and value, Grayhawk's Raptor Course is the top choice — Tom Fazio design, PGA Tour pedigree, and consistently excellent conditions.
When is the best time to play golf in North Scottsdale?
The ideal golf season in North Scottsdale runs from October through April, when temperatures are comfortably between 65–85°F. January through March offers peak conditions and coincides with the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Summer months (June–September) bring extreme heat but significantly reduced green fees — often 40–60% lower than peak rates.
How much does it cost to play golf in North Scottsdale?
Green fees at North Scottsdale's public courses range widely. TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course charges $436–$550 per round during peak season (2026 rates). Premium desert courses like Troon North and Grayhawk range from $300–$500+. Mid-tier options like Boulders and Wildfire run $200–$350. More accessible options like Legend Trail and McDowell Mountain range from $100–$225 at peak. All courses use dynamic pricing, so rates fluctuate — always book directly with the course for current availability.
Which North Scottsdale golf course has the best views?
For mountain and desert vistas, Troon North Golf Club and Boulders Golf Club are the standouts. Troon North sits at the base of Pinnacle Peak with sweeping views across the McDowell Mountains, while Boulders frames every hole with ancient granite rock formations. McDowell Mountain Golf Club also delivers outstanding panoramic views, particularly at sunset looking across Fountain Hills.
Are there homes for sale near golf courses in North Scottsdale?
Yes — North Scottsdale has one of the highest concentrations of golf course communities in the country. Notable neighborhoods include DC Ranch and Grayhawk (near Grayhawk Golf Club), Troon and Troon North (adjacent to Troon North Golf Club), Mirabel, Silverleaf, and Paradise Valley. Homes in these communities range from luxury townhomes to multi-million-dollar custom estates, often with direct course frontage or mountain views.