Timing is everything when it comes to the golf swing. The same applies to green fees, especially in Scottsdale, one of the world’s best golf destinations. Just remember this: when the temperatures go up, the green fees go down. Way down. The inverse is true, however, and never more so than when the WM Phoenix Open comes to TPC Scottsdale each February, right in the middle of the peak season winter months. And with many courses using dynamic pricing, green fees can often vary by the day, if not by the hour. So here are a few tips to get the most bang for your golf buck when you come to Scottsdale golf courses.
SIZZLING SUMMER DEALS
If you can stand the heat – best to snag an early morning tee time, stay very hydrated, apply lots of sunscreen, and wear a big old hat – you will see substantial savings over peak season pricing. Like at We-Ko-Pa in Fort McDowell, just east of Scottsdale, where green fees plummet from a peak season cost of $299 to just $99 between mid-June and late August. Or Grayhawk Golf Club (above), where the Raptor Course can be as low as $102 in August, compared to over $350 during prime time. Grayhawk also offered a popular summer deal in 2024 called Crazy 8s: eight rounds for $399!
DOUBLEHEADERS
If 18 a day isn’t enough for you, some area courses offer discounted green fees for playing both of their courses on the same day or in the same week. Like Grayhawk, where you can spread your two rounds out among a five-day period. Or at We-Ko-Pa (above), where the price for booking two rounds at once is approximately 10% less than a single round. And on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the year, Troon North offers a 20 percent discount on the second round when played the same day.
MORE THAN A MUNI
Papago Golf Club has it all: a great location not far from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, a scenic driving range, a fun and walkable layout, and one of the best 19th holes in the country. And it’s a municipally owned course, which usually means lower green fees than what you will find at a semi-private or resort course. A round at Papago can range from $49 in the summer to just under $200 during the high season.
UNDER THE RADAR
With 200-plus courses in the Scottsdale area, there are some lower-profile (and lower cost) layouts that you might have heard of yet. Like Silverado Golf Course, a fun layout that closes with a par 3 over water. Or Continental Golf Course, a par-60 course that flows through Indian Bend Wash and offers a driving range on-site for some warm-up time or practice. Starfire Golf Club (above) has both an 18-hole course and 9-hole Starfire Mulligan short course layout, plus a driving range.
SHOULDER THE LOAD
Planning a trip to Scottsdale between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, or from April to early June? Welcome to shoulder season. Green fees during those periods do increase over summer rates, but are still lower than during peak season, like at The Boulders Golf Club, where rates from late August to early October are as low as $159 before rising to $289 during the winter and spring months. One tip: courses go through overseeding each Fall to change grass types and often close for two to three weeks, so plan accordingly.
TEE TIME CADDIE
Need help finding the lower greens for your Scottsdale golf trip? Check out GolfTroop.com which can handle every detail and save you money on your golf outing, too. Stay & Play packages include accommodations at a variety of area hotels and rounds of golf based on the number of days booked.
