Desert resort capital. · Vol. 01

The Ultimate
Arizona Golf Trip.

Arizona is winter golf for the rest of the country. Scottsdale's resort catalog (Troon North, Estancia, Whisper Rock, Desert Mountain's six layouts) is the densest cluster. Tucson is the quieter alternative with the Boulders and the Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain.

Above · Troon North Golf Club

IScottsdale Private Loop IIDesert Mountain Marathon IIIScottsdale Public Loop IVTucson Quiet Route

Route I of IV · North Scottsdale

The Scottsdale Private Loop

Troon North · Estancia · Whisper Rock

Duration3 days

Total drive35 mi

Tariff$$$

Approx. $2,800 / person, 3 days. Troon North is public-resort; Estancia and Whisper Rock are sponsored-play only. Winter peak Nov-Apr.

Day
1
Troon North Golf Club
Day 1 · Troon North
Fly into PHX. Stay at the Four Seasons Troon North. Public-access desert golf at its peak.
- Troon North Golf Club
  Troon North, Tom Weiskopf 1990, two layouts (Monument + Pinnacle), sonoran cactus framing every hole.
Day
2
The Estancia Club
Day 2 · The Estancia Club
Ten minutes north of Troon. The Tom Fazio private retreat of the desert.
- The Estancia Club
  The Estancia Club, Tom Fazio 1995, course rating 75.5, ringed by the Pinnacle Peak preserve.
Day
3
Whisper Rock Golf Club
Day 3 · Whisper Rock
Tour-pro-favored private club. Two layouts (Upper + Lower). Sponsored play only.
- Whisper Rock Golf Club
  Whisper Rock, Phil Mickelson's home club, Fazio Upper + Phil/Stephenson Lower.

Route II of IV · Carefree, AZ

The Desert Mountain Marathon

Six Jack Nicklaus layouts at one club

Duration3 days

Total drive15 mi

Tariff$$$$

Approx. $4,000 / person, 3 days. Member-host required. Desert Mountain has six Nicklaus designs (Cochise, Geronimo, Renegade, Apache, Chiricahua, Outlaw) plus the par-3 Seven.

Day
1
Desert Mountain Geronimo Golf Course
Day 1 · Geronimo
Fly into PHX. Stay at the resort or rent a Desert Mountain home. Geronimo is the championship favorite.
- Desert Mountain Geronimo Golf Course
  Desert Mountain Geronimo, Jack Nicklaus 1995. Course rating 76.6 / slope 152.
Day
2
Desert Mountain Outlaw Golf Course
Day 2 · Outlaw
Outlaw is Desert Mountain's most photographed layout. Cochise + Chiricahua are alternates.
- Desert Mountain Outlaw Golf Course
  Desert Mountain Outlaw, Jack Nicklaus 1995. Carved into the Continental Mountains foothills.
Day
3
Desert Mountain Geronimo Golf Course
Day 3 · Replay favorite
Day 3 is choose-your-own from the remaining four layouts. The par-3 Seven course is the closer.
- Desert Mountain Geronimo Golf Course
  Pick a layout you haven't played. Renegade or Cochise are the consensus next-best.

Route III of IV · North Scottsdale

The Scottsdale Public Loop

We-Ko-Pa + TPC Scottsdale + Troon North

Duration3 days

Total drive35 mi

Tariff$$$

Approx. $2,400 / person, 3 days. All three are public-resort. Winter peak Nov-Apr.

Day
1
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
Day 1 · We-Ko-Pa Saguaro
Fly into PHX. Drive 25 minutes east to Fort McDowell. Two layouts at the Yavapai Nation's resort, walking-only, no homes around the holes.
- We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
  We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Coore & Crenshaw Saguaro 2006 + Scott Miller Cholla 2001. The desert pair every architect cites.
Day
2
TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course
Day 2 · TPC Scottsdale Stadium
The most famous public-access course in Arizona. WM Phoenix Open every January, the 16th hole stadium.
- TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course
  TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course, Tom Weiskopf + Jay Morrish 1986.
Day
3
Troon North Golf Club
Day 3 · Troon North
Two layouts (Monument + Pinnacle), both Tom Weiskopf. Stay at the Four Seasons.
- Troon North Golf Club
  Troon North, Tom Weiskopf 1990. Public-resort desert golf at its peak.

Route IV of IV · Southern Arizona

The Tucson Quiet Route

The Boulders + Stone Canyon + Dove Mountain

Duration3 days

Total drive95 mi

Tariff$$$

Approx. $2,400 / person, 3 days. Quieter, less private, less expensive than the Scottsdale loop. Winter peak.

Day
1
The Boulders Golf Club
Day 1 · The Boulders Resort
Fly into TUS. Stay at the Boulders or the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain. Stunning desert resort framing.
- The Boulders Golf Club
  The Boulders South, Jay Morrish 1985.
Day
2
The Golf Club at Dove Mountain
Day 2 · Dove Mountain
Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, Jack Nicklaus 2009. Two-time WGC Match Play host.
- The Golf Club at Dove Mountain
  Dove Mountain. Nicklaus desert routing.
Day
3
Stone Canyon Club, The
Day 3 · Stone Canyon
Tucson's private side. Jay Morrish 1999, ranked top-100 modern in the country.
- Stone Canyon Club, The
  Stone Canyon Club. Closer-out for the southern Arizona loop.