Golf course architects have a tough job. Build too many short holes and better players ignore your effort. Create too many tough holes, and the average golfer will avoid the course. Finding just the right mix of both — essentially blending the beauties with the beasts — all while embracing the unique geological wonders that make Scottsdale a spectacular golf destination, is a skill possessed by only a few. Luckily, golfers coming to Scottsdale can see examples of both on multiple courses. Here are some holes that I look forward to playing and others I will hopefully conquer someday!
THE BEAUTIES
#11, Talon Course, Grayhawk Golf Club:
The tee area, complete with a swinging bridge leading to the back portion, is pretty cool. But it’s a box canyon that stretches from there to the front of the green that provides the challenge. And there’s a two-tiered green bordered by some deep bunkers.
#8, Pinnacle Course, Troon North Golf Club:
Called “McDowell Vista,” this uphill hole is fronted by a substantial bunker and framed by boulders on the left and a tall saguaro on the front right.
#16, TPC Scottsdale – Stadium Course (“The Coliseum”):
A short par-3 by yardage (about 162 yards), but unlike any other you’ll play. During the WM Phoenix Open, the 16th becomes “The Coliseum,” fully enclosed by temporary grandstands that house up to 20,000 fans.
#8, Raptor Course, Grayhawk Golf Club:
They call this hole “Aces and 8s.” It’s either feast — hence the ace — or famine, which could mean an infamous Snowman on your scorecard. A large, sloping mound on the left side of the green can both help and hurt your tee shot, depending on the day’s hole location.
THE BEASTS
#14, Stadium Course, TPC Scottsdale:
It doesn’t have the risk/reward flavor of either the 15th or 17th here, but this dogleg left, uphill par-4 is a beast, especially after it was renovated in 2014 by Tom Weiskopf.
#9 Gainey Ranch Golf Club – Dunes Course
An elevated tee gives you a great view of this 531-yard par-5, with The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa providing a backdrop. Tee shots usually funnel into the fairway thanks to steep mounding on both sides, but water up the left and a heavily bunkered green provide a stern test.
#18 Camelback Golf Club – Ambiente Course
This closing hole captures the essence of desert golf within Scottsdale’s city limits. The fairway snakes between native grasses and rolling terrain, with Camelback Mountain framing the approach. Strategic bunkering and a contoured green demand precision, while the panoramic views deliver a memorable finish.
#18, SunRidge Canyon Golf Club:
This finale to a six-hole stretch known as the “Wicked Six” is a dogleg left par-4 that plays uphill all the way. Reaching the elevated green often requires more club than you might think.
