With two award-winning golf courses set in the untouched Sonoran Desert just outside Scottsdale, Arizona, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club is truly Arizona’s Ultimate Golf Experience. Both the Scott Miller designed Cholla course and the Coore/Crenshaw designed Saguaro course are among the very best in the southwestern United States as judged by both golf media and players alike. Their unique differences set them apart from other 36-hole facilities in the Scottsdale area, and with no homes, roads, businesses or development of any kind, at We-Ko-Pa, it’s just you, your ball and the sights and sounds of nature.
Unspoiled. Unrivaled. Unbelievable The Saguaro Course at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club combines distinctive desert-golf traits with the timeless traditions of links-style design. It’s built for walking – extremely rare for the area – with greens situated near to the next tee. It follows the natural movement of the land, they didn’t move much dirt, and the playing corridors are wider when compared to traditional desert design.
Arguably the most prolific designers of their generation, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed the Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa in line with their classic, minimalist design philosophies. Hardly any dirt was moved to create Arizona’s No. 1 ranked public course, meaning the elevation changes, meandering hole design and natural bunkering reflect and preserve the ancient land on which it was built. The duo allowed the natural forces of the land to have their effect on how the game played, and that design tenet is evident to players throughout the round.
The Cholla Course at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club offers a dramatic test of golf that plays through shady arroyos, over desert ridges and amid some of the most picturesque Sonoran Desert on the planet. For this reason, Cholla is widely considered as one of the most pristine desert golf experiences in the Southwest with nothing to spoil the sweeping views of the nearby river valleys, Red Mountain, Four Peaks and the rest of the majestic Superstition Mountains. The aesthetic charm of Cholla appeals to golfers just as much as its strategic challenge.
Cholla is clearly one of Miller’s best designs and embodies some of well-known architect’s favorite philosophies. With clear landing areas and well-defined, noticeable trouble, Cholla weaves through ancient land with a clear risk/reward line on every shot while staying true to the natural land and its gifts.
Desert courses, Miller says, should still allow the traditional recovery shot. “When you’re playing a traditional course out East and you get in trouble in the rough, you can either be a hero and hit through the trees or you can chip out to the fairway and take your penalty. But when you hit into the brittle bush in the desert, it’s often just unplayable. That’s why we give players saving bunkers. We give them the option of strategy. We all like to be challenged, but we want enough area to play.”
A great meal should never be an afterthought. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite before your round, refueling after your round or simply stopping in for a bite because you’re in the area, the We-Ko-Pa Grille provides an eclectic and delicious menu on par with some of the best restaurants in the area. Top it off with incredible patio views, impeccable service, premium cocktails, local favorites and fresh ingredients and you have a recipe for the perfect golf dining experience.
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