With more than 200 golf courses throughout Scottsdale and the surrounding area, there’s something for every golfer. You can play the same course that the PGA Tour plays each February; you can take on a par-3 course that’s lit up for night play; enjoy courses just steps away from your room at luxurious resorts; or tee it up at a no frills municipal facility that’s fun in its own right. Something they all have common – except for that par-3 course – are par 5s. You might assume that these holes, the longest on a course with some stretching more than 600 yards, must be the toughest. Well, yes and no. With smart club selection, precision execution, and a dose of patience, the potential sting of these behemoths on your scorecard can be reduced to a par or hopefully even a birdie. Here’s our list of some of the toughest par-5 holes in Scottsdale.
No. 9, ACACIA COURSE, KIERLAND GOLF CLUB
The Acacia nine has three par 5s, and the ninth hole is the star. At 531 yards from the tips, it’s the second-longest of the trio, but it’s the only one with water that can come into play on the second and approach shots. That giant lake will be on your left, so better to stay right the whole way, although a steeply inclined hill on that side does kick balls left. Enjoy the view from the tee, which is the highest point on the entire property. Straight ahead is The Western Kierland Resort & Spa, with its open-air Antidote bar overlooking the ninth green, a perfect place to celebrate with a post-round cocktail.
No. 18, RAPTOR COURSE, GRAYHAWK GOLF CLUB
A hole where left is right, and right is wrong! The water you see in the distance on the right side is reachable off the tee only by the longest of hitters, so not to worry for most of us. But that hazard surely comes into play on the second and approach shots for everyone. Avoid it by staying to the left where there is more room than you might think. This is one of the best 18th holes in the state, which makes a good score here even more enjoyable. And the clubhouse, visible to the right of the green and home to two restaurants (the Quill Creek Café and Phil’s Grill), is an ideal choice to recap the best shots of the day.
No. 14, SAGUARO COURSE, WE-KO-PA GOLF CLUB
Decision time here thanks to a split fairway. Do you go up the wider fairway on the left that essentially makes this a three-shot hole? Or do you get aggressive and go down the more narrow right side, where an excellent drive gives you a better chance, if still slight for most, of reaching the green in two? In between those two options is desert landscape, so avoid that if at all possible. And the green here? Elevated and tough to hold–if you miss it, be sure to miss left. Whew! Take a deep breath here and look back toward the tee when you are done; on a clear day the view from there of Four Peaks in the distance is unforgettable.
No. 15, STADIUM COURSE, TPC SCOTTSDALE
During the annual WM Phoenix Open, this hole provides some calm before the storm known as the par-3 16th. But for the rest of the year, it’s a daunting par-5 to us non-professional golfers. The fairway is wider than it appears from the tee, but the pesky lake down the left side sometimes seems to have a ball magnet in it. Laying up on your approach is the very smart play seeing as you will next need to land your ball on the island green surrounded by water. It’s one of the easier holes for the pros during the tournament, but for the rest us? Stay dry if you can!
No. 3, MONUMENT COURSE, TROON NORTH
Even though it plays 556 yards from the back tees, this par-5 beauty is more about angles than distance, especially off the tee. Why? Because the course namesake–a giant boulder standing 25 feet tall–is smack dab in the middle of the landing area for tee shots. Hitting that monstrosity with your tee shot might seem fun, but the wrong bounce off is no laughing matter when it comes to your score on this hole. A precise shot to the right of it can cut down on the distance of your next shot while at the same time increasing the odds of losing your ball in the nearby desert. Playing left of it is much less risky but makes this a true three-shot hole to reach the green. A birdie here is well worth reliving afterwards, especially if you are staying right on property in the new Scottsdale Troon North Golf Villas opening in early 2026.
