There’s the big buddy trip, which can last as long as a week – depending on your marital status and/or your spouse’s tolerance. Then, there’s the “mini-bud,” 48 hours of as much golf as you can play with minimal days off from work or being away from home. In this case, we go from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon – one vacation day and back home by Sunday night.
One of the prime destinations to pack in a great deal of quality golf and food in a compressed amount of time is Scottsdale, Arizona. Located only 12 miles from the center of Phoenix, Scottsdale is the desert golf mecca, home to 73 public courses in a 15-mile radius. A number of courses are nationally-ranked, which makes choosing difficult if you’ve never been to Scottsdale.
If that’s the case, allow us to help:
First stop is Papago Golf Course, located just two miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Designed in 1963 by Billy Bell, who was Torrey Pines’ architect, Papago is a sturdy, honest golf course. It has the reputation as a favorite of the best players in the Phoenix area, who gather there regularly for big, competitive games.
You’ll want to hit some balls on the range before you play and not just to stretch your back and neck from the ride to Phoenix. The backdrop is no less than stunning, with Camelback Mountain almost straight in front of you. During your round, you will also experience views of the Papago Buttes and downtown Phoenix.
Papago is also the home of the Arizona State University men’s and women’s golf teams, housed in the gorgeous Thunderbirds Golf Complex. Designed by alumnus Phil Mickelson and built in 2018, the practice facility is adjacent to Papago’s main driving range.
Perhaps the best part of Papago is its staff, led by general manager Daryl Crawford, whose twin brother Derek is the club’s tournament director. You won’t find two finer people, not just in Phoenix/Scottsdale golf but anywhere.
Dinner is easy on arrival day, as Lou’s Bar & Grill is next to the Papago Golf Shop as part of Lou Grubb Clubhouse. Lou’s was created not merely as a golf course restaurant but as a neighborhood spot, which happens to overlook a golf course. There’s patio seating and an open bar area. Sunset over Camelback Mountain is not to be missed. The menu is casual, from burgers and sandwiches to pizza. But if a steak is what you’re craving, Lou’s can take care of that, too.
It’s a good idea before you go out for your round to get your name on the dinner list at Lou’s, so you won’t have to wait for a table.
If 36 holes on Saturday is on your golf menu, a number of options are available, but on this trip, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club is the choice. You can certainly drive from your first 18 to your second, but with two highly-acclaimed courses in one spot, why get back in the car?
We-Ko-Pa, which translates to “Four Peaks Mountain,” is located in nearby Fort McDowell on tribal land of the Yavapai Nation in the Sonoran Desert. It is home to the Cholla and Saguaro courses, each with its own personality but equal in their shot values, playability and scenery.
The Cholla, which opened in 2001, was designed by Scott Miller, who spent 10 years as a design associate with Jack Nicklaus. The course moves through washes, arroyos and over ridges, all with great views of the surrounding mountains. The Cholla is ranked among Arizona’s top five public courses every year and has spent time on national top-100 lists.
The Saguaro, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is perennially the No. 1-ranked public course in Arizona and is regularly among the top 100 in the America. The Saguaro, with wide fairways and challenging green complexes, follows the natural contour of the land. Walking is available at Saguaro and push carts are provided but if you’re going to play 36, you might want to conserve energy.
The local rule when playing desert golf is to treat it as you would a penalty area and take a drop where your ball last crossed grass with a one-stroke penalty. It is permissible go into the desert and play your next shot but the terrain is rough and the vegetation can attack you.
The advice for desert golf trip is: (1) put an old 9-iron or wedge in your bag to play from the desert so you don’t scratch or ding your gamers; and (2) steer clear of the cacti, particularly the jumping cholla, which can literally jump on you if you get too close.
Saturday night in Scottsdale comes with a long list of candidates for dinner. Bourbon & Bones, a traditional chophouse, and Old Town Tortilla Factory, an upscale Mexican/Southwestern restaurant, are both located in Old Town Scottsdale. If neither is what you’re craving after 36 holes, you won’t have any trouble finding what you’re looking for in Scottsdale. Reservations are always recommended.
Getaway day begins with the trip’s final round, this one at Troon North Golf Club, which also has 36 holes — the Monument and Pinnacle. Both are highly-ranked and choosing between the two is difficult if you have only one round to play. On this Sunday, it’s the Monument, designed by the late Tom Weiskopf and considered one of his best creations.
Pinnacle Peak is the main visual attraction at Monument but giant granite boulders that are scattered throughout the course are a striking feature at this traditional desert course. Monument is one of the toughest public courses in the Scottsdale area but you shouldn’t feel too beaten up by the time you finish.
That is, unless 72 holes in 48 hours doesn’t get to you first.