Few resort courses in the American Southwest carry quite the visual weight of the Phoenician. Draped across the lower slopes of Camelback Mountain in the heart of Scottsdale, the course plays against one of the more dramatic backdrops in American golf — rugged red rock rising sharply behind the fairways, the sprawling valley floor stretching out below. The Phoenician resort itself has long been one of Arizona's flagship luxury properties, and the golf course matches that ambition in presentation if not in sheer length.
Scottsdale sits at the center of a genuinely serious golf destination. The desert here isn't mere decoration — saguaro cactus, brittlebush, and rock formations define the boundaries of nearly every hole, and errant shots aren't just penalized, they're swallowed whole. The heat from late spring through early fall shapes how and when serious rounds get played, with early morning tee times practically mandatory from June onward.
The par-71 layout suits a resort audience well — approachable enough to enjoy after a day by the pool, but with enough terrain change and desert carry to keep better players engaged.
