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Golfing in Scottsdale, An Easy Decision

Golf is a game of calculated decision making. Which club should I use on this shot? How much is this putt going to break? With the wind at my back, will I be able to hit it over the water, or should I lay up and play conservatively?

However, when seeking a destination to enjoy golf, the decision is actually quite simple – Arizona is a golfer’s oasis in the middle of the Sonoran desert.

The numbers don’t lie. The greater Phoenix area boasts average temperature of 72 degrees, sports nearly 200 golf courses and offers more than 300 sunny days a year on which to play them. Whether you are a weekend hacker out to enjoy the weather and spend time with friends, or a scratch golfer looking for a challenging round, the Valley of the Sun offers plenty of golf courses to fit your needs, skills and budget.

New Arizona residents and visitors often rave about the unique layouts and challenges of desert golf. Arizona golf courses celebrate the region’s beautiful and rugged topography, with layouts shaped by sandy washes, framed by cacti and shared with desert wildlife. While the scenery and breathtaking views may require you to pack a camera in your golf bag, Arizona’s desert courses – including designs from noted golf architects such as Robert Trent Jones, Sr.; Jack Nicklaus; Jay Morrish; Tom Weiskopf; and Tom Fazio – also require imaginative shot-making.

Scottsdale, a swank Phoenix suburb, is home to some of the finest golf courses in the United States. Lush settings such as Troon North, Grayhawk Golf Club and The Boulders Golf Club, sit within a three-wood and a chip shot of each other and draw thousands of locals and tourists each year to experience upscale golf at its best. However, while Scottsdale represents the Mecca of Arizona golf, great golf can be enjoyed throughout the Valley, even for low-handicap players with high-handicap wallets. The area offers scores of pristine, challenging and affordable municipal courses. During the warmer summer months, many of the upscale courses discount their greens fees significantly.

For those interested in learning the game, or honing their current skills, Scottsdale is the place to find some of the most prestigious golf schools nationwide. High-powered golf mentors such as John Jacobs, Jim Flick, Gary McCord and Peter Kostis have set up shop in Scottsdale to help PGA professionals as well as determined beginners become the best golfers they can be.

And, speaking of the best golfers, for those wanting to watch PGA stars square off, Scottsdale is home to the FBR Open (formerly known as the Phoenix Open). Held each year at the Tournament Player’s Club of Scottsdale, the FBR Open is known and beloved for its party atmosphere, regularly drawing more than a half-million golf (and people) watchers each year. Recent winners of the tournament have included golf headliners such as Phil Mickelson, Tom Lehman and Vijay Singh. The greater Phoenix area also hosts the LPGA’s Safeway International Golf Tournament.

Whether hitting the links to enjoy sunny Arizona morning, impressing out of town clients or just catching up with budies over a friendly 18-holes, locals and visitors agree, golf doesn’t get much better than Arizona’s Valley of the Sun.