Arizona Golf Courses - Westin Kierland Resort and Spa

Grayhawk Golf Club's Raptor course offers a very enjoyable challenge of desert golf. The Raptor Course meanders over the gentle hills and across natural washes that are typical of this corner of the Sonoran Desert.

Raptor is played with the backdrop of Scottsdale's McDowell Mountains, with Saguaros, Palo Verde, Ironwood and Mesquite trees surrounding.

Typically, Raptor's fairways are generous for a desert golf course, with well-placed fairway bunkers. The greens are also elevated, generous in size and undulating, surrounded by grassy roll-off areas and deep bunkers. Fazio utilised water sparingly, but where it does come into play, he created hazards that add drama as well as aesthetic value to the golf course.

The Raptor course is generally considered to be one of the finest daily-fee golf courses in Arizona and is listed among the "Top 100 You Can Play in the U.S." by Golf Magazine.

Mike Weir won the inaugural Fry’s Electronics Open in 2007 at Grayhawk, edging out Mark Hensby on the final hole to win. "The Raptor Course at Grayhawk is a great place to host a golf tournament, and as defending champion, I look forward to returning this fall," Weir said. Famous members include Phil Mickelson. Grayhawk is also the venue for Peter Kostis and Gary McCord’s golf school.

Kierland Golf Club is made up of 3 loops of nine with the Mesquite/Ironwood being the toughest 18.

The golf at Kierland is a little less desert style than the courses at nearby Troon North but cactus, lakes and desert rough still await errant shots.

At Kierland Golf Club, every guest is treated as a member. With its spacious 27-hole layout and food and beverage service, the club is ideal for groups and tournaments as well as individual play.

The TPC Scottsdale Stadium course was custom-designed to stage the PGA Tour’s legendary Waste Management Phoenix Open – the largest spectator golf event in the world.

During the tournament the enthusiasm of the fans that surround the 16th hole gives the short par-3 a “stadium” atmosphere and creates one of the most exciting settings in professional sports.

During the remaining 51 weeks of the year visitors to Scottsdale can test their skills on the same perfectly maintained fairways. The course winds dramatically through its desert terrain, with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and water hazards dotted around.

Named one of the “Top 10 Public Golf Courses in Arizona” by Golf Digest.

"One of America's Best Courses" - Golfweek Magazine.

Talking Stick North Golf Course has been ranked either first or second among the top courses in the state of Arizona for four consecutive years.

The North Course, designed by legendary former Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, is a Scottish links-style layout with thick rough and clever and deep bunkering.

Crenshaw designed its broad, angular holes to reward thoughtful play through the rise of its many options according to skill levels. Its low-profile, slightly crowned greens and close-cropped approaches encourage running as well as aerial assaults.

Any visiting golfer to score a Hole-in-One at Talking Stick will be presented with a commemorative flag and featured on the club's Hole-in-One Club webpage.

Troon North Golf Club stands as the hallmark of the desert golf experience, stretching through the natural ravines and foothills in the high Sonoran desert in the shadows of Pinnacle Peak. The challenge, visual sensation, and special ambience of Troon North sets the standards by which all others are measured and the immaculately groomed golf course and exceptional level of customer service create the renowned "Troon Golf Experience."

Troon North's Monument course is set amid the Sonoron Desert and wraps around the northern slopes of Pinnacle Peak.

The dramatic terrain creates a striking setting for an unforgettable desert golf experience.

Troon North Golf Club stands as the hallmark of the desert golf experience, stretching through the natural ravines and foothills in the high Sonoran desert in the shadows of Pinnacle Peak. The challenge, visual sensation, and special ambiance of Troon North sets the standards by which all others are measured and the immaculately groomed golf course and exceptional level of customer service create the renowned "Troon Golf Experience."

The Pinnacle Course at Troon North is also rated highly – a classic desert course with holes weaving their way through desert grasses, rocks, cactus and desert.

Open since December 2001, the Cholla Course at We-Ko-Pa is widely recognised as the quintessential desert golf course and was named by Sports Illustrated as one of the 10 best new public courses in the world shortly after its debut. Since then, Zagat Survey 2006-2007 gives Cholla its highest rating among all Arizona courses.

Located on land owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, We-Ko-Pa (Yavapai for “Four Peaks”) is routed through unspoiled Sonoran desert, free from residential or commercial buildings. In fact, there is not even an out-of-bounds stake to be found on this course where endless mountain vistas provide the backdrop.