Quick Answer
The Wigwam is one of Arizona's easiest true stay-and-play golf trips. The resort has 54 holes across the Gold, Blue and Red courses, with rooms, suites, casitas, restaurants, pools and a spa on the same 440-acre property in Litchfield Park.
Three nights is enough to play all three courses without spending the trip driving around Phoenix. Four nights makes sense when the group wants an outside round, a lighter schedule or more resort time. Start with the current Wigwam destination page for JEL's golf and lodging options. Our Gold vs. Blue vs. Red comparison explains the course differences, while the three-night Wigwam itinerary shows how they fit into one stay.
Why The Wigwam Works for a Golf Trip
Most Phoenix and Scottsdale trips combine separate courses, a hotel and daily drives. The Wigwam offers a different setup: stay in one place and rotate through three courses from the same golf operation. That is especially useful for groups that value simple logistics or have golfers with different ability levels.
The golf also looks different from the exposed desert courses commonly associated with Arizona. Gold, Blue and Red are parkland layouts with trees, broad turf corridors and traditional bunkering. The experience feels established rather than built around forced carries through native desert.
The location in the West Valley matters. The resort is practical from Phoenix Sky Harbor, but it is not a Scottsdale base. Build around The Wigwam first, then add an outside course only when the transfer improves the trip.
Gold Course
The Gold is the championship course and the round to protect on the schedule. Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed it in 1965, drawing on the scale and challenge associated with his larger tournament layouts. Tom Lehman led a 2015 restoration that refreshed the bunkering while retaining the original character.
Gold asks more from the tee and on approach than its sister courses. Long bunkers, elevated targets and its overall length make correct tee selection important. This is the course for the group's strongest competitive round, but moving forward keeps it playable for golfers who do not need the back-tee test.
Blue Course
The Blue is also a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design from 1965, but it provides the shortest and most forgiving full-length option. Its width and manageable length make it a good opening round, a group-match venue or the course to use when the trip includes a broad mix of handicaps.
A 2016 project modernized irrigation and reworked the bunker scheme, removing 35 bunkers and reshaping those that remained. The course is friendlier than Gold without becoming an afterthought. It works because golfers can keep the ball in play and settle into the trip.
Red Course
Robert "Red" Lawrence designed the Red Course, which has a more traditional Arizona parkland character and is a favorite among local players and members. Wide fairways and generous greens make it approachable, while water and refreshed bunkering give the course enough definition for a meaningful third round.
The bunkers were rebuilt in 2022, with reshaped hazards and new sand. Red fits well in the middle or at the end of the trip: it offers more length than Blue but generally asks less from the group than Gold.
Where to Stay
Staying at The Wigwam is the point of this trip. The resort offers Southwestern-style rooms, suites and casitas spread across landscaped grounds rather than concentrated in a single high-rise hotel.
Fairway rooms sit near the Blue Course, while other room categories place guests closer to gardens, pools and the resort's central amenities. Groups should decide whether they prefer standard rooms, more space in a suite or the privacy and setting of casita-style accommodations.
The property also includes Litchfield's, Red Allen's Bar & Grill and additional pool and bar options. Golf groups can finish a round and keep the evening on property rather than organizing another set of vehicles.
Three Nights or Four?
Three nights is the cleanest Wigwam trip: one round on each course, with enough time to use the resort after golf. Play Blue first, Red second and Gold last if the group wants the golf to build in difficulty, although availability and maintenance may change that order.
Four nights creates room for a replay or a separate Phoenix-area course. The resort is west of central Phoenix, so do not add a distant Scottsdale round without accounting for traffic and transfer time. Our Arizona destination guide shows the other JEL options available in the region.
Best Time to Visit
October through April is the main Arizona golf season, with the most comfortable temperatures and strongest demand. Winter works especially well for groups escaping colder climates, while spring provides warm days before the most intense summer heat.
Overseeding and maintenance schedules rotate among the three courses in early fall and summer. Because closures and cart restrictions change by year, confirm the operating schedule before choosing dates based only on a lower rate. The advantage of having three courses is that Wigwam typically keeps golf available while work moves around the property.
Getting There
The Wigwam is in Litchfield Park, generally 25 to 35 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport depending on traffic. A private transfer can work for a trip staying entirely on property. Rental vehicles are more useful when the group plans additional Phoenix or Scottsdale golf.
Planning Notes
- Build the trip around all three Wigwam courses before adding outside golf.
- Match the tees carefully on Gold rather than treating its back yardage as the default.
- Use Blue for mixed-handicap groups or the opening round.
- Check overseeding and maintenance dates before confirming fall travel.
- Stay on property to preserve the logistical advantage of a Wigwam trip.
FAQ
How many courses are at The Wigwam?
The Wigwam has three 18-hole courses: Gold, Blue and Red, for 54 holes on property.
Which Wigwam course is the best known?
Gold is the championship course and the resort's most demanding layout. Blue is the shortest and most group-friendly, while Red offers traditional parkland golf with wide corridors and refreshed bunkering.
Is The Wigwam in Scottsdale?
No. It is in Litchfield Park in the Phoenix West Valley. That makes it a self-contained alternative to a Scottsdale-based trip.
How many nights should you stay?
Three nights works well for one round on each course. Choose four when the group wants a replay, another Phoenix-area round or more time at the resort.
Can you stay at the golf resort?
Yes. The Wigwam offers rooms, suites and casita-style accommodations on the same property as the three courses.
When is the best time to go?
October through April provides the most comfortable golf weather. Check the course maintenance and overseeding calendar when considering early fall dates.
Plan a Wigwam Golf Trip
JEL can arrange the resort stay and course order around the group's dates, rooming needs and preferred pace. Tell us what you want from your Arizona golf trip, and we will handle the booking details.
