Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish
Troon North
Monument and Pinnacle are the Scottsdale headliners, routed through boulders, desert washes, and saguaro-lined corridors near Pinnacle Peak.
USA
Golf Trips in Arizona
Desert golf built around Scottsdale icons, Sonoran views, resort stays, and winter-sun tee times.
Arizona — overview
Arizona golf trips revolve around the Phoenix-Scottsdale corridor, where desert target golf, resort convenience, and dependable winter weather come together. Build the itinerary around Troon North, We-Ko-Pa, Talking Stick, and The Wigwam, then let JEL Golf Travel line up the tee times, lodging, and trip flow.
- Destinations
- 4
- Courses
- 9+
- Best months
- January through April is the premium window for Arizona golf, with warm days, high demand, and the strongest case for early booking. October through December can also be excellent, but fall overseeding schedules may affect course availability and conditions.
- Typical length
- 3–5 nights / 3–6 rounds
- Trips from
- $895
What makes it special
Why play golf in Arizona.
Arizona works because it gives golfers a high-density desert golf trip without forcing a long road trip between every round. Scottsdale delivers the visual drama—boulders, saguaros, mountain backdrops, and firm desert edges—while Phoenix-area resorts add lodging, restaurants, pools, and easy airport access. It is especially strong for groups that want a 3–5 night warm-weather escape with multiple recognizable courses on one itinerary.
Arizona is one of the cleanest warm-weather golf trips in the country because so much of the best public and resort golf sits within a manageable Phoenix-Scottsdale footprint. Groups can play rugged desert golf in North Scottsdale, add wide-open Sonoran views east of town, and still keep drives practical between rounds.
The course mix is strong. Troon North brings Monument and Pinnacle through granite boulders and saguaro corridors; We-Ko-Pa pairs Cholla and Saguaro on land free from surrounding home sites; Talking Stick offers two Coore & Crenshaw courses with a different, flatter desert rhythm; The Wigwam adds 54 holes of classic resort golf west of Phoenix.
The main planning variable is season. Prime winter and spring tee times are in demand, overseeding can affect fall conditions, and summer heat changes the entire cadence of the trip. A good Arizona itinerary balances bucket-list rounds, easier replay options, and enough downtime to avoid turning every day into a sprint.
Resorts & destinations
View all 4 destinationsWhere to play in Arizona.
The Arizona destinations we plan the most — each with the courses, lodging and seasonality our concierge knows by heart.
Signature courses
The courses that define Arizona.
For a first Arizona trip, anchor the itinerary with Scottsdale’s desert icons, then use resort-style rounds to manage pace and budget. These four destinations give the region its strongest mix of scenery, access, and trip logistics.
- Scott Miller; Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
Cholla and Saguaro give the trip one of its purest desert settings, with wide Sonoran views and no surrounding residential corridors.
- Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw
Talking Stick Resort
O’odham and Piipaash offer a flatter Coore & Crenshaw counterpoint to the boulder-heavy Scottsdale courses, with resort access and a strong 36-hole setup.
Plan your trip
When to go, how to get there.
- Best time to visit
- January through April is the premium window for Arizona golf, with warm days, high demand, and the strongest case for early booking. October through December can also be excellent, but fall overseeding schedules may affect course availability and conditions.
- Weather & climate
- Arizona’s desert climate is the reason golfers chase it in winter, but it also requires smart timing. Winter and spring bring the most comfortable golf weather, while summer can be extremely hot and should be planned around early tee times, hydration, and more selective daily schedules.
- Typical trip length
- 3–5 nights / 3–6 rounds
- Getting there
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International is the main airport for Arizona golf trips and works especially well for Scottsdale, Talking Stick, Troon North, and We-Ko-Pa. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway can work for some groups depending on flight options, but most itineraries still benefit from a rental car or pre-arranged transportation because the courses are spread across the metro area.
- Nearest airports
- PHX (Phoenix) · AZA (Mesa)
- Who it's best for
- Buddies trips, couples, and winter-golf groups that want desert scenery, resort lodging, and a deep public-course lineup without leaving the Phoenix-Scottsdale area.
- Trip styles
- Buddies tripDesert golfResortLuxuryCouplesWinter sun
Off the course
Local culture in Arizona.
Off the course, Arizona is built for easy post-round plans: Old Town Scottsdale dinners, resort pools, spring-training energy, desert drives, and casual patios that stay lively through the winter season. Groups can keep the trip golf-heavy without feeling isolated, because the best itineraries sit close to restaurants, nightlife, spas, and quick airport access.
Frequently asked
Arizona golf FAQs.
What is the best time of year for an Arizona golf trip?
January through April is the best window for most Arizona golf trips because the weather is warm and the destination is fully in season. October through December can also be strong, but golfers should pay attention to fall overseeding schedules before locking in specific courses.
How many days do you need for a Scottsdale golf trip?
Most groups should plan three to five nights for an Arizona or Scottsdale golf trip. That usually gives enough time for three to six rounds while still leaving space for travel days, resort time, and one easier round between the bigger desert courses.
What airport should I fly into for Arizona golf?
Phoenix Sky Harbor International is the primary airport for Arizona golf trips. It gives the easiest access to Scottsdale, Talking Stick, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa, and most Phoenix-area resorts.
Do you need a rental car for a Phoenix-Scottsdale golf trip?
A rental car is helpful for most Arizona golf trips because the courses are spread across Scottsdale, Fort McDowell, Salt River, and the West Valley. Groups that prefer not to drive can use pre-arranged transportation, especially if the itinerary includes multiple resort stops.
Which Arizona golf courses should first-time visitors play?
First-time Arizona visitors should usually look at Troon North, We-Ko-Pa, Talking Stick, and The Wigwam as core options. Troon North and We-Ko-Pa deliver the strongest desert-golf visuals, while Talking Stick and The Wigwam add strong resort-style depth.
Is Arizona golf expensive in winter?
Arizona golf is usually most expensive from January through April because demand is highest and the weather is at its best. Groups can often find better value in shoulder periods or by mixing premium rounds with resort replay options.
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