A Scottsdale golf trip works best from October to April, and it’s at its peak from mid-January to mid-March, when Phoenix averages 68°F in the afternoon. Base yourself in Old Town or North Scottsdale, play three or four of the headline courses (TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa, Grayhawk), and avoid late September to early November, when courses overseed.
Scottsdale is the easiest great golf trip in America to organize. Phoenix Sky Harbor has nonstop flights from nearly every major US city, and the resorts are half an hour from the gate. Experience Scottsdale counts more than 50 courses in the city itself and another 150 or more in the surrounding valley. The winter weather is so reliable that the biggest risk to your trip is booking a course the week it’s being overseeded.
What Scottsdale isn’t is subtle. The classic desert course is “target golf”: emerald fairways laid through cactus and rock, where a ball that misses the turf is usually gone for good. It’s spectacular, and it can be expensive. The best trips here balance the famous courses with a couple of value rounds, and plan around a calendar that moves prices more dramatically than almost anywhere else in golf.
This guide covers the whole trip: when to go, which courses you can actually play, where to stay, what it costs and how to extend it into Tucson, Palm Springs, Las Vegas and St. George. It’s also the hub for our desert golf guides. Prices and dates were checked in September 2026.
At a glance
- Best months: October to April. November and March are the sweet spots; February is the peak.
- Weather: Phoenix averages 68°F in January, with lows of 44°F. Summer highs pass 105°F.
- Getting there: Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), about 20 minutes from Old Town and 20 miles from TPC Scottsdale.
- The trap: overseeding, from about mid-September to early November, on a rolling schedule.
- Big week: the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, February 8–14, 2027.
- Cost marker: operator packages advertised from about $965 per golfer in September 2026.
Scottsdale golf trip at a glance
Here are the facts that shape every trip to the Valley of the Sun.
| What you need to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of courses | More than 50 in Scottsdale; 150+ more in the Phoenix area (Experience Scottsdale) |
| Main airport | Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) |
| Average January high / low | 68°F / 44°F (Phoenix, NOAA 1991–2020 normals) |
| Peak season | Mid-January to mid-March |
| Best-value weeks | Early November after overseeding; late March and April |
| Overseeding | Roughly mid-September to early November, 1–3 weeks per course, staggered |
| Summer | Highs often above 105°F; the cheapest golf of the year |
| Walking or riding | Almost everyone rides; desert courses are built for carts |
| Tournament week | WM Phoenix Open, TPC Scottsdale, Feb 8–14, 2027 |
| Also in town in spring | MLB spring training (the Cactus League), late February through March |
Course counts from Experience Scottsdale. Temperatures from NOAA via Current Results. Overseeding and summer pricing from Arizona overseeding schedules and Experience Scottsdale’s seasonal guidance.
When is the best time for a Scottsdale golf trip?
The best time for a Scottsdale golf trip is November or March: the courses are green after overseeding, afternoons are in the 70s°F and prices are below the February peak. December to February is the most reliable weather, and the most expensive. Avoid late September to early November, when courses close to overseed.
Scottsdale’s calendar is unusually sharp. The same round can cost a fraction of its February price in July, and a course that’s perfect in March can be a patchwork of bare dirt in early October. Here’s how the year goes:
| Month | Weather | Prices | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | Warm, drying out; highs in the 80s°F | Rising | Many courses closed or on temporary greens for overseeding; late October is when the best value begins |
| November | Highs in the 70s°F; the rye is in | Shoulder | One of the two best months; Thanksgiving week is busy |
| December | Mild days, cold mornings | Rising | Frost delays after clear nights; holiday weeks spike |
| January | 68°F / 44°F on average | Peak from mid-month | Reliable sun; book ahead |
| February | Warming; the most popular month | Highest of the year | WM Phoenix Open week (Feb 8–14, 2027) is the priciest week in town |
| March | Highs in the 70s–80s°F | Still high | Spring training crowds; desert wildflowers |
| April | Highs in the 80s°F | Falling | The best-value spring month |
| May | Hot; highs approaching 100°F | Low | Early tee times only by the end of the month |
| June–August | 105°F+; monsoon storms from mid-June | Lowest | Dawn golf, deep discounts; Troon North has advertised 50% off inside a 78-hour window |
| September | Still hot | Low | Overseeding begins mid-month |
Overseeding: the one date to check
Scottsdale’s fairways are Bermuda grass, which goes dormant and straw-colored when the nights turn cool. So every fall, the courses scalp it and sow winter ryegrass over the top. For one to three weeks while the rye germinates, each course is closed, on temporary greens or restricted to carts on paths. Courses stagger their dates, so the valley is never entirely shut, but the headline courses you want may be. Check each course’s schedule before you book a trip between mid-September and early November. Our Arizona golf overseeding schedule lists the dates course by course, and the best time to golf in Scottsdale goes week by week.
The best courses in Scottsdale you can play
Greater Scottsdale’s public and resort golf clusters in a few areas, and the best trips pick courses in one or two of them to keep the driving down. Here are the courses most visiting groups build a trip around.
| Course | Area | Designer | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPC Scottsdale, Stadium Course | Central Scottsdale | Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish | Home of the WM Phoenix Open and its stadium 16th |
| TPC Scottsdale, Champions Course | Central Scottsdale | Randy Heckenkemper (redesign) | The easier, cheaper sister course |
| Troon North, Monument and Pinnacle | North Scottsdale | Tom Weiskopf (Monument with Jay Morrish) | The classic high-desert experience, boulders and all |
| We-Ko-Pa, Saguaro | Fort McDowell | Coore & Crenshaw | No houses, big views and one of the few desert courses that’s comfortable to walk |
| We-Ko-Pa, Cholla | Fort McDowell | Scott Miller | Dramatic desert target golf |
| Grayhawk, Raptor and Talon | North Scottsdale | Tom Fazio (Raptor); David Graham and Gary Panks (Talon) | Polished, busy, with a lively clubhouse |
| Talking Stick, O’odham and Piipaash | Salt River | Coore & Crenshaw | Flat, open, links-like desert golf; good value |
| The Boulders, North and South | Carefree | Jay Morrish | Resort golf among giant granite boulders |
| Papago | Phoenix | Municipal, renovated | The best-value round in the valley, if you can get a tee time |
A few honest notes. We-Ko-Pa’s Saguaro is our pick of the public courses for serious golfers, because it plays firm and fast, like a Coore & Crenshaw course should, and the land is untouched by houses. Troon North is the course most people picture when they think of Scottsdale golf: boulders, saguaros and the McDowell Mountains. TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course is more famous than it is great on an ordinary day, but standing on the 16th tee where the grandstands hold about 20,000 fans in tournament week is worth the fee once. Our best golf courses in Scottsdale guide ranks them.
Desert golf has one rule every first-timer learns the hard way: the desert is not a hazard you play out of. Most courses treat it as a lateral hazard or simply out of bounds, and it’s full of cactus spines, rocks and the occasional rattlesnake. Take a drop, add a stroke and move on. Bring a few more balls than usual.
Value rounds worth knowing
Not every round on a Scottsdale trip needs to be a headline course. These four give you good desert golf at a fraction of the famous-course price, and they make a four-day trip much cheaper without making it worse:
- Talking Stick, on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community east of Old Town, has two Coore & Crenshaw courses, O’odham and Piipaash. They’re flatter and more open than the North Scottsdale courses, with firm, fast turf that plays more like a links than a desert target course. Better players tend to love them, and they’re among the most walkable courses in the valley.
- Papago Golf Course is a Phoenix municipal course among the red buttes of Papago Park, between Scottsdale and the airport. It was renovated to a high standard and is the best-value round in the valley, which is exactly why its tee times go quickly.
- Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, near Maricopa about 45 minutes south of the airport, is a big, wide-open desert course with none of North Scottsdale’s prices. It’s a long drive from Old Town but a good first or last round on the way to or from Tucson.
- The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, west of Phoenix, has been hosting winter golfers since it opened as a lodge in 1929. Its Gold course is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design from the 1960s, and the resort feels more like old Arizona than anywhere in North Scottsdale.
Can you play TPC Scottsdale?
Yes. Both courses at TPC Scottsdale are open to the public. The Stadium Course is home of the WM Phoenix Open (February 8–14, 2027) and its par-3 16th, surrounded by grandstands for about 20,000 fans during the event. It closes to public play around the tournament, and rates move with the season, so check the course’s own booking page.
The Stadium Course, designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, sits on land managed by the Bureau of Reclamation next to the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, which is the natural base if you want a resort within walking distance. The Champions Course next door is the value play, and a good warm-up round. Like almost everywhere in Scottsdale, the tee sheet is priced dynamically, so February mornings cost the most and summer twilight the least.
The Phoenix Open itself is the biggest party in golf, and a trip in its own right. If you’re going to watch, book lodging a year ahead, and read our Phoenix Open tickets guide. If you’re going to play, go another week. Our TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course guide covers booking, pricing and the best times to play it.
Where to stay on a Scottsdale golf trip
Scottsdale’s lodging divides into three kinds of trip, and the right one depends mostly on what your group does after golf.
- Old Town Scottsdale is the base for groups who want restaurants and bars within walking distance. It’s 20 minutes from the airport and 15–30 minutes from most of the courses. Boutique hotels and apartment rentals make it easy to split rooms.
- North Scottsdale and Carefree resorts put you on or near the famous courses: the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess next to TPC Scottsdale, the Boulders in Carefree, and the Four Seasons at Troon North. You drive less and relax more, but a night out means a taxi to Old Town.
- Rental houses are the best choice for eight or more golfers. A house with a pool and a grill, split eight ways, usually beats hotel rooms on price, and Scottsdale’s rental market is built for golf groups. Several local package companies arrange rentals together with tee times for groups of 4 to 60.
Whichever you choose, book early for February and March, when resort minimum stays and holiday pricing kick in. Our guide to the best golf resorts in Arizona compares the resorts, and our best golf resorts in the US ranking puts them in national context.
Getting there and getting around
Scottsdale’s biggest logistical advantage is how little of the trip is spent traveling. Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) has nonstop flights from nearly every major US city, and it’s one of the closest big-city airports to its golf in the country. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (AZA) in the East Valley, served mainly by budget carrier Allegiant, is an alternative from some smaller cities.
Once you land, everything is a short drive. Here are the ones that matter, in normal traffic:
| From | To | Approximate drive |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) | Old Town Scottsdale | About 20 minutes |
| Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) | TPC Scottsdale | About 20 miles, 25–30 minutes |
| Old Town Scottsdale | Troon North and Grayhawk | About 30–40 minutes |
| Old Town Scottsdale | We-Ko-Pa (Fort McDowell) | About 35–40 minutes |
| Old Town Scottsdale | The Boulders (Carefree) | About 40 minutes |
| Phoenix | Tucson | About 2 hours |
| Phoenix | Sedona | About 2 hours |
| Phoenix | Palm Springs | About 4 hours |
| Phoenix | Las Vegas | About 4.5–5 hours |
A few practical notes. The Loop 101 freeway ties most of the golf together, and it’s slow at rush hour, so leave early for morning tee times. Rent a minivan or large SUV for four golfers and their travel bags, and use rideshare for nights out in Old Town. And book the rental early for February and March, when spring-training visitors and golfers compete for the same vans.
Getting the clubs there follows the usual math. On most US airlines, a golf bag is a standard checked bag at $45 for the first and $55 for the second, each way. Shipping from the Midwest is competitive: Fairway Freight’s 2026 guide puts an Illinois-to-Scottsdale shipment at about $90–$140 each way. If the clubs would be your second checked bag, shipping is close in cost and much easier. Our guide to flying with golf clubs runs the numbers airline by airline.
How much does a Scottsdale golf trip cost?
A Scottsdale golf trip typically costs $1,800–$3,500 or more per golfer before flights in peak season, and far less in summer or the shoulder months. Package operators advertised Scottsdale trips from about $965 per golfer in September 2026. In summer, Troon North has advertised 50% off tee times booked inside 78 hours.
We don’t print a single “Scottsdale green fee” because there isn’t one. Most of the headline courses price dynamically on their own booking engines, so the same tee time can cost very different amounts depending on the month, the day of the week and the hour. What’s consistent is the shape of the year:
| Season | Months | What happens to prices |
|---|---|---|
| Peak | Mid-January to mid-March | Highest of the year, especially February and Phoenix Open week |
| Shoulder | November, early December, late March to April | Noticeably lower, with near-peak conditions |
| Overseeding | Mid-September to early November | Courses close in rotation; open courses may discount |
| Summer | June to September | The deepest discounts; early tee times only |
Peak and summer patterns from Experience Scottsdale and Arizona course announcements. The $965 package figure is Golfbreaks’ September 2026 starting price. The $1,800–$3,500 range is JEL Golf Travel’s 2026 tier for a premium domestic resort trip, before flights.
The rest of the budget follows the national pattern: lodging (the biggest variable, especially at resorts), flights to Phoenix, a golf bag at $45–$55 each way on most US airlines, a rental van for four golf bags, and food and drink. There are no caddie fees at most Scottsdale courses, since everyone rides, which keeps the per-round extras lower than at walking resorts like Bandon.
Three ways to cut the cost:
- Go in November or April. Most of the February experience at a noticeably lower price.
- Mix famous and value courses. One round at Troon North or We-Ko-Pa and two at Talking Stick or Papago costs far less than four headline rounds.
- Play twilight. In the winter, late-afternoon tee times are cheaper and the light is beautiful. Just check the sunset time, which falls before 6 p.m. in December and January.
Our Scottsdale golf trip cost guide builds a full per-golfer budget, and Scottsdale golf packages compares the package companies. For the national picture, see our golf trip cost guide.
Can you golf in Scottsdale in the summer?
Yes, and it’s the cheapest golf of the year, but highs routinely pass 105°F and monsoon storms arrive from mid-June. Take the first tee time of the day, ride a cart, carry far more water than you think you need, and finish before 11 a.m. Troon North has advertised 50% off summer tee times booked inside 78 hours.
Summer desert golf has a following, and the logic is simple. Courses that cost a fortune in February are nearly empty in July, and a 5:30 a.m. tee time finishes in the low 90s°F. The heat is dry, so it’s more bearable than a humid Florida afternoon, until it isn’t. Heat illness is a real risk on a desert course at midday, and the rules are straightforward: play early, drink water on every hole, use a cooling towel, and stop if anyone feels dizzy or stops sweating.
The monsoon season, which Arizona officially dates from June 15 to September 30, adds afternoon storms, lightning and dust. Another reason to be done by lunchtime.
The Scottsdale buddies trip
Scottsdale is one of the three great buddies-trip destinations in America, with Myrtle Beach and Las Vegas, and it’s the best of them for golf. What makes it work is the combination: great courses, easy flights, a walkable nightlife district in Old Town, and rental houses built for groups.
Here’s how groups usually do it:
- Rent a house in Scottsdale or Paradise Valley for eight to twelve golfers, with a pool, a grill and space for the travel bags.
- Book tee times in consecutive slots for the whole group, and set up a team game. Our buddies golf trip playbook has formats for 8 and 12.
- Rent two minivans or large SUVs rather than one oversized van. It’s easier to park at the courses and gives the group flexibility.
- Time it right. Phoenix Open week and spring training weeks add a lot of fun and a lot of cost. For golf alone, go in November or early December.
- Plan one evening in Old Town and leave the rest open. The house is often the best bar in town.
For bachelor parties, Scottsdale’s mix of golf, pools and nightlife is hard to beat; our bachelor party golf trip guide covers the planning.
Scottsdale for couples, families and solo golfers
Scottsdale’s reputation as a buddies-trip town undersells it. It’s also one of the best golf destinations in the country for a mixed trip, because the non-golf side is so strong.
- Couples. The big resorts (the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, the Boulders, the Four Seasons at Troon North and The Phoenician) all have spas, pools and restaurants good enough that a non-golfer won’t feel parked. Old Town has galleries, shopping and some of the best Mexican and Southwestern food in the country. Sedona’s red rocks are a two-hour drive for a day trip. Our golf vacations for couples guide has more ideas.
- Families. Resort pools with water slides, spring-training games in late February and March, and short, forgiving resort courses make Scottsdale an easy family trip. Book a mid-morning tee time for the golfers and let everyone else have the pool.
- Solo golfers. Scottsdale is one of the easier places to travel alone as a golfer. Public courses routinely pair singles, and in the shoulder months you can often walk on as a single or book a tee time a day or two ahead. February is harder, when tee sheets are full of foursomes.
- Improving your game. Arizona has a long list of golf schools and academies, and the winter weather makes it a natural place for a multi-day clinic. Our golf schools in Arizona guide compares them.
Desert golf: what to pack and how to play it
Desert golf is different enough from what most Americans play at home that a few adjustments make a real difference to the trip.
What to pack:
- Layers. A 44°F start and a 70°F finish is a normal January day. A light windproof jacket and a vest cover it, and you’ll be in short sleeves by the turn.
- Sun protection. A wide-brimmed hat, high-SPF sunscreen and sunglasses, even in winter. The desert sun is strong at any time of year.
- More balls than usual. You’ll lose some to the desert. There’s no shame in it.
- A water bottle. Carts carry water at most courses, but a refillable bottle is easier.
- A rangefinder, because the elevation changes and the dry air make club selection trickier than at home.
How to play it:
- Treat the desert as a hazard, not a lie. Most courses play the desert as a penalty area. Take your drop and a stroke rather than trying to hit off rocks and cactus roots, which is how clubs and wrists get broken.
- Don’t go looking. The desert is home to rattlesnakes, scorpions and the odd javelina. A ball that disappears into the brush is usually best left there.
- Expect a little extra distance. Much of North Scottsdale sits well above Phoenix’s elevation, and the dry air helps too. Most golfers see their ball fly a little further than at home, particularly early in the trip.
- Allow for frost delays. On clear winter mornings, courses often hold tee times until the frost melts. A 9:30 a.m. start is often better than a 7:30 a.m. start on a delay.
- Follow the cart rules. Some courses keep carts on paths on certain holes or after rain. It slows the round, but it’s the rule.
For the full list, see our golf trip packing list.
Beyond Scottsdale: the desert golf circuit
Scottsdale is the capital of desert golf, but it isn’t the only desert destination. Four others make great trips of their own, and each can be combined with Scottsdale on a longer road trip.
| Destination | From Phoenix | Average January high / low | Headline golf | Cost marker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | About 2 hours southeast | 67°F / 41°F | Ventana Canyon, Omni Tucson National, Dove Mountain | Cheaper than Scottsdale in peak season |
| Palm Springs, CA | About 4 hours west | 70.5°F / 47.6°F | PGA WEST Stadium Course | Peak premium rates about $200–$400+ |
| Las Vegas, NV | About 4.5–5 hours northwest | 59°F / 41°F | Shadow Creek | $1,250, MGM hotel guests only |
| St. George, UT | About 2 hours beyond Las Vegas | Cooler than Phoenix in midwinter | Black Desert, Sand Hollow | Black Desert $350 non-guest / $275 guest (2025) |
Temperatures are NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Palm Springs rates from Green Fee Tracker; Shadow Creek and Black Desert from The Golf News Net (2026 and 2025 respectively).
Tucson
Tucson sits a little higher than Phoenix, so mornings are colder (a 41°F average January low) but the afternoons are just as good. The golf leans toward big resort courses in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains: Ventana Canyon’s two Tom Fazio courses, Omni Tucson National and the Jack Nicklaus courses at Dove Mountain, which hosted the WGC Match Play from 2009 to 2014. It’s quieter and cheaper than Scottsdale in February, and the best choice for couples. See our Tucson golf trip guide.
Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley
Palm Springs is Scottsdale’s great rival for winter golf, and slightly warmer: NOAA’s normals give it a 70.5°F average January high, with only two or three rainy days a month. PGA WEST in La Quinta is the headliner, and its Pete Dye Stadium Course hosts The American Express (January 18–24, 2027). The courses are more alike than Scottsdale’s, but the valley is an easy drive from Los Angeles and a strong couples’ destination.
Our Palm Springs golf trip guide covers the valley course by course.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is cooler than the other desert destinations in midwinter (59°F on average in January), and its golf is best in October, November, March and April. Its one unique course is Shadow Creek, Tom Fazio’s 1989 fantasy of a North Carolina forest on flat desert, which cost $1,250 in 2026 and is open only to guests of MGM Resorts hotels, limo transfer included. Beyond that, the city has plenty of solid resort and public golf, and some good value an hour or so away in Mesquite.
See our Las Vegas golf trip guide, and our Shadow Creek green fee guide for the booking details and caddie conflict (sources disagree on whether the caddie is included).
St. George, Utah
St. George, in Utah’s red-rock country about two hours from Las Vegas, has become a serious golf destination. Black Desert Resort, Tom Weiskopf’s final design, opened in 2023 on black lava fields; its 2025 rack rate was $350 for non-guests and $275 for resort guests, including cart, forecaddie, food and drink and range. Sand Hollow has one of the most dramatic settings in the Southwest. St. George is best from March to April and October to November; midwinter is noticeably cooler than Phoenix. See our St. George golf trip guide.
Sedona
Two hours north of Phoenix and more than 4,000 feet above sea level, Sedona is a different climate: cooler than Scottsdale in winter and much more comfortable in late spring and early fall, when the valley is hot. Its golf is less about great architecture than about the setting, with red-rock buttes behind nearly every green. It works best as a one-night side trip from Scottsdale, or as the base for a couples’ trip where golf is one of several things on the list.
A four-day Scottsdale golf itinerary
This is the trip we’d plan for a group of four or eight golfers on a first visit in November or March. It mixes the famous courses with value rounds and keeps the driving short.
- Day 1: Arrive at Phoenix Sky Harbor by midday. Check in, then play the Champions Course at TPC Scottsdale or Talking Stick in the afternoon as a warm-up. Dinner in Old Town.
- Day 2: We-Ko-Pa. Saguaro in the morning, Cholla in the afternoon if the group has the legs. Both are about 40 minutes east of Old Town on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
- Day 3: North Scottsdale. Troon North (Monument or Pinnacle) in the morning, then an afternoon at the pool. Book a late tee time on the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale if you want a second round.
- Day 4: One last round, then fly home. Grayhawk or the Boulders in the morning, with a mid-afternoon flight. Phoenix Sky Harbor is 20–40 minutes from most of the courses.
For a longer trip, add two days in Tucson on the way in or out. Our winter golf destinations guide compares Scottsdale with Florida and California for the same months.
Every guide in our Scottsdale and desert golf series
This page is the hub for our desert golf guides. New guides go live every few days, and each title below becomes a link on the day it publishes.
Planning a Scottsdale trip
- Scottsdale golf packages, compared
- Scottsdale golf trip cost: a per-golfer budget
- The best time to golf in Scottsdale, month by month
- Arizona golf overseeding schedule, course by course
Scottsdale’s courses
- The best golf courses in Scottsdale you can play
- TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course: booking, pricing and the 16th
The desert circuit
- Tucson golf trip
- Palm Springs golf trip
- Las Vegas golf trip and the Shadow Creek green fee
- St. George, Utah golf trip
Related guides
- Winter golf destinations · Buddies golf trip · Best golf resorts in the US · Best golf destinations in the US
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month for a Scottsdale golf trip?
November or March, for the best balance of weather, course conditions and price. December to February has the most reliable weather and the highest prices, with February the peak. Avoid late September to early November, when courses close in rotation to overseed their fairways.
How many golf courses are in Scottsdale?
More than 50 in Scottsdale itself and another 150 or more in the greater Phoenix area, according to Experience Scottsdale. That’s more than 200 courses within about an hour’s drive of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
Is TPC Scottsdale open to the public?
Yes. Both the Stadium Course, home of the WM Phoenix Open, and the Champions Course are public. The Stadium Course closes around the tournament, which runs February 8–14, 2027, and prices vary with the season and time of day.
When do Scottsdale golf courses overseed?
From about mid-September to early November. Each course closes, or plays on temporary greens, for one to three weeks, and courses stagger their dates so some are always open. Late October to early November, once the rye grass has grown in, is the best-value window of the year.
How much is a Scottsdale golf package?
Operators advertised Scottsdale golf packages from about $965 per golfer in September 2026. Peak-season packages at the top courses and resorts cost much more, and summer and shoulder-season packages much less.
Do you need a cart to play golf in Scottsdale?
At most courses, yes, since desert courses have long distances between greens and tees and many require carts. We-Ko-Pa’s Saguaro course is one of the few that’s comfortable to walk. In summer, ride regardless.
Is Scottsdale or Palm Springs better for a golf trip?
Scottsdale has more great courses, a livelier nightlife and nonstop flights from more cities. Palm Springs is slightly warmer in January (70.5°F against 68°F), quieter and an easy drive from Los Angeles. For a buddies trip, Scottsdale; for a couples’ trip, it’s close.
How far is Tucson from Scottsdale?
About two hours by car, southeast on I-10. Tucson is cheaper and quieter than Scottsdale in peak season, with big resort courses in the foothills, so many groups add two days there to a Scottsdale trip.
Where should I stay for a Scottsdale golf trip?
Old Town Scottsdale if the group wants restaurants and nightlife within walking distance; a North Scottsdale resort such as the Fairmont Princess, the Boulders or the Four Seasons at Troon North if you’d rather be near the courses; and a rental house for eight or more golfers, which usually costs less per head than hotel rooms.
Is it cheaper to ship golf clubs to Scottsdale or fly with them?
If your clubs are your only checked bag, flying is usually cheaper, at about $45 each way on most US airlines. If they’d be a second bag at $55 each way, shipping is close: Fairway Freight’s 2026 guide puts Illinois to Scottsdale at about $90–$140 each way.
What is desert target golf?
A style of course where the fairways and greens are islands of turf laid through natural desert, with little or no rough in between. Miss the grass and the ball is in cactus, rock or sand, usually played as a penalty area. It rewards accuracy over distance and punishes a wild driver.
What are the best public golf courses in Scottsdale?
For serious golfers, We-Ko-Pa’s Saguaro course (Coore & Crenshaw), Troon North’s Monument and Pinnacle, and TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course. For value, Talking Stick’s two Coore & Crenshaw courses and the Papago municipal course in Phoenix. Grayhawk and the Boulders are the best-known resort-style options.
Is spring training a good time for a Scottsdale golf trip?
It’s a fun time and an expensive one. Fifteen Major League Baseball teams train in the Phoenix area in the Cactus League from late February through March, so hotels, rental cars and restaurants fill up. Combine it with golf if you love baseball; otherwise, go in November or April.
Do Scottsdale golf courses have a dress code?
Most do. Expect collared shirts, golf shorts or trousers rather than denim or gym wear, and soft-spike golf shoes. Resort and high-end daily-fee courses enforce it more strictly than municipal courses. When in doubt, check the course’s website before you pack.
A Scottsdale golf trip is easy to get right if you respect the calendar: go between November and April, check the overseeding and tournament dates, and mix a couple of famous rounds with value courses. Do that and it’s the most reliable winter golf trip in America, with the best nights out of any of them.
If you’re thinking about timing a Scottsdale trip around the WM Phoenix Open (February 8–14, 2027), know what you’re signing up for. TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course closes for the event, the whole valley’s tee sheets and hotels are at their busiest, and Saturday at the 16th hole is closer to a football tailgate than a golf tournament. For how tickets work for the Phoenix Open and every other big event, including the 2027 majors, see our guide to golf tournament tickets and travel.
Scottsdale and Pebble Beach are the two West Coast golf trips most groups argue about. Scottsdale wins on volume, weather and nightlife from January to April; Pebble wins on the single most famous round in American public golf, at $695 plus a two-night resort stay to book ahead. Our Pebble Beach golf trip guide lays out the real cost and the cheaper Monterey Peninsula courses that make it work.
Sources
Official pages and climate data, checked September 11, 2026 unless noted.
- Experience Scottsdale, golf in Scottsdale: experiencescottsdale.com
- Experience Scottsdale, when to plan a golf trip: experiencescottsdale.com
- PGA Tour, 2027 schedule announcement (August 26, 2026): pgatour.com
- WM Phoenix Open: wmphoenixopen.com
- NOAA 1991–2020 January normals by city, via Current Results: currentresults.com
- Also consulted: 2026 Arizona overseeding schedules from Arizona Golf Vacations and Golf Scottsdale Arizona; Troon North summer pricing as reported in 2026; Golfbreaks US Scottsdale packages (September 2026); JEL Golf Travel 2026 cost tiers; Palm Springs NOAA station normals; PGA WEST ranges from Green Fee Tracker; Shadow Creek and Black Desert pricing from The Golf News Net.
Image credits
| Image | Credit and license |
|---|---|
| We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Saguaro course, 15th hole (featured) | Photo by Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Cholla course, 3rd hole | Photo by Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| TPC Scottsdale golf ball | Photo by Dan Perry from Atlanta, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| Saguaro beside a desert cart path, Arizona | Photo by Albert Boneta, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| The Phoenician, Canyon course, Scottsdale | Photo by Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| Golf course on the valley floor, Palm Springs | Photo by Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| Wynn Golf Club, Las Vegas | Photo by dpursoo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. |