Best Scottsdale Golf Courses for Low Handicappers
Playing at a scratch or single-digit level? These Scottsdale golf courses are built to challenge advanced players.
July 22, 2025 • 6 min read
By Ryan at 18Away
If your group includes single-digit players or serious competitors, you’re probably not looking for a casual hit-and-giggle round. You want testy layouts, firm greens, and a real chance to get beat up by the course.
Good news: Scottsdale has several public-access courses that challenge even elite-level players. Here’s where to book if you want all the bite, and none of the fluff.
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Quick Answer: Best Courses for Low Handicaps in Scottsdale
Top picks include Troon North, TPC Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa Saguaro, and Quintero. These tracks bring tight landing zones, fast green speeds, length from the tips, and tour-quality conditions.
What Makes a Course Low Handicapper Friendly?
We’re talking:
- Firm, fast greens that demand spin control
- Strategic bunkering and forced carries
- Tough tee shot angles with narrow sightlines
- Course ratings above 72 and slopes pushing 140+
- Multiple tee boxes with 7,000+ yard options
See the courses, hotels, and nightlife we recommend for the perfect 3-day getaway.
Top Scottsdale Courses for Serious Players
1. Troon North – Pinnacle Course
North Scottsdale | $$$
A shotmaker’s dream. The Pinnacle layout has teeth from every angle, with tight desert corridors and fast, subtle greens. You’ll need a full game and focus.
Related: Best Public Golf Courses in Scottsdale for Groups
2. We-Ko-Pa – Saguaro Course
Fort McDowell | $$$
Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Saguaro plays firm, strategic, and favors players who can shape shots and think ahead. Greens run fast and true.
Related: Scottsdale Golf Courses with the Best Views
3. TPC Scottsdale – Stadium Course
North Scottsdale |$$$+
Home of the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Open, this is your chance to walk in pro footsteps. From the tips, it's 7,261 yards of testy bunkers, tricky runoff areas, and tournament-style setups.
Bonus: Play from the championship tees and see if you can hang under pressure.
Planning a Scottsdale golf trip? Get the 3-day golf trip itinerary, which includes hotels, courses, nightlife, and more.
4. Quintero Golf Club
Peoria (45 min NW) | $$$
One of Arizona’s toughest public tests. Long par 4s, elevation changes, and intimidating tee shots make Quintero ideal for low caps chasing scratch performance.
Related: Best Desert-Style Public Golf Courses in Scottsdale
5. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes
Maricopa (1 hr south) | $$
A true player’s course co-designed by Fred Couples. It stretches over 7,500 yards from the back tees with open desert winds, penal fescue, and a championship pedigree.
Pro Tip: Book a morning round to avoid desert gusts.
Bonus Picks: Worth a Spot in Your Rotation
- Grayhawk – Raptor Course: High slope, deep bunkers, and a past PGA Tour host
- Papago: Surprisingly demanding layout with firm greens and length
- Longbow Golf Club: Eastern edge of town, but sneaky tough with tight lines and OB lurking
Advanced Golfer Tips for Scottsdale
- Bring high-spin wedges — firm greens make hop-and-stop approaches key
- Avoid beginner-heavy courses — pace of play can kill momentum
- Play early — greens are truest in the morning before they bake out
- Check slopes & ratings — anything over 135 will test your skills
More Scottsdale Golf Trip Guides
- Best Time of Year to Golf in Scottsdale
- Scottsdale Golf Trip Cost Breakdown
- Where to Eat After Golf in Scottsdale
- Best Places to Stay for a Scottsdale Golf Trip
Planning a Scottsdale Golf Trip?
Still deciding? Take the Golf Trip Quiz to get matched with your perfect trip plan.
Written by Ryan from 18Away, your go-to golf trip planner.
These courses are lifesavers when plans change, or when you didn’t make any at all.
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