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Now that the golf circus - the WM Phoenix Open - has left town, it's time for Phoenix and Scottsdale to focus on the true core of its success: the snowbirds who love golf.
We consider Phoenix/Scottsdale one of the top 10 destinations in the world - and one of the top golf winter golf destinations in America. It's got all the courses, golf resorts, restaurants and nightlife hangouts to entertain every age of golfer. Whether you're planning on visiting Arizona's Valley of the Sun for the first time or the 50th, it's good to keep track of what's new and exciting.
The rhythm of the golf season plays out in the same fashion every year in the Sonoran desert. Golf facilities and resorts spend the summer months renovating and updating for the upcoming high season. Once the overseeding process of the golf courses is completed in late October/early November, it's go time gearing up for the surge of visitors from December through April. Although some of the "news" in this story is more than six months old, the upgrades and changes are 'new' to snowbirds visiting this winter, so we've included them as well.
Nobody offers more golf packages to Arizona than GolfPass. If escaping the snow and cold sounds like a good idea, you can price-shop by clicking the photo below.
Once you've booked your package and are ready for your winter golf getaway to Arizona, here's what's new for golfers in Phoenix/Scottsdale:
Grass Clippings becomes the place to be after dark
We're big fans of night golf and short courses, so what better way to get your fix than at Grass Clippings Rolling Hills, which recently hosted the Good Good GolfNow Desert Knockout in Tempe.
In addition, Grass Clippings sports a new Toptracer Range as of Nov. 1, 2024, featuring 35 hitting bays, including 25 covered bays with Toptracer technology and monitors as well as 10 uncovered hitting bays. A full-time range host helps guests download the free Toptracer Range app, explain gaming options and answer questions. A new sound system, a full-service bar and the Taco Del Valle Lalocura food truck create a fun atmosphere. During hotter months, a misting system will help keep golfers cool and comfortable.
Also new is the Glenrosa Bar, an outdoor gathering and entertainment venue with a Sonoran beach theme located next to the 15,000-square-foot putting green. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Glenrosa Bar is stocked with 12 televisions, six fire pits and comfortable seating for 100-plus people. Up next is the Glenrosa Restaurant, which will open later this year.
More Night golf at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes added lights to its #miniDunes course in April 2024. Located on the club’s practice range, #miniDunes is a six-hole short course that originally opened for play in 2014 and has holes that range from 60 to 115 yards. Fifteen poles with 88 LED light fixtures shine down and illuminate the golf course, which serves as a range during the day.
Rounds are unlimited, as guests can play 6, 12, 18 holes or more for just $35 (weekdays) and $39 (Friday-Sunday), with times starting in the afternoon, before sunset and playing into the night. #miniDunes is a beginner-friendly golf course, while also providing golfers who are more advanced the ability to sharpen their short games.
Arizona's Top 100 Package
Greens renovation at Tubac Golf Resort & Spa
Although outside of the Valley of Sun south of Tucson, Tubac Golf Resort & Spa is worth having on your winter-getaway radar as well. Most famous for the filming of the movie 'Tin Cup', Tubac recently completed a greens renovation on its Rancho nine, planting new Dominator Bentgrass greens. With Tubac’s Otero nine undergoing a similar greens renovation in 2023, the 27-hole property in the Santa Cruz River Valley now has 18 holes with Dominator Bentgrass greens, currently rolling smooth and pure on the Stimpmeter. The Anza nine will be redone in 2026.
“Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive since we reopened Rancho, with players praising the course’s exceptional conditions,” said Tubac Golf Resort & Spa General Manager Hank Swiggett. “Bentgrass greens are known for delivering smooth and consistent putting surfaces as the short blades and dense growth allow the ball to roll true."
Course/clubhouse renovation at The Club at Starr Pass
The Club at Starr Pass in Tucson is currently undergoing a course and clubhouse renovation that is expected to be completed by April. The 27-hole facility will soon feature 9 holes transitioned to Bermuda grass, enhancing playability, turf quality, and sustainability through reduced water usage. The club will also complete an extensive de-vegetation project, restoring native plant species and enhancing the natural landscape. Alongside the course enhancements, the fully renovated clubhouse is being redesigned to feature luxurious new locker rooms and a dedicated member lounge.
Renovated Fairway Suites at Wigwam Resort
By March, the Wigwam Resort will introduce their renovated Fairway Suites, which now feature private patios with firepits, overlooking its Blue and Gold championship golf courses in Litchfield Park. From fireside chats to sunset views, the new fire pits offer a nice way to connect, relax and savor the beauty of the surroundings.
New Adobe Bar & Grille at the Arizona Biltmore
The Arizona Biltmore Golf Club opened its new Adobe Bar & Grille with nice views of the Estates Course in May 2024. It's the centerpiece of club's new 19,400-square-foot clubhouse, which is also home to a grab-and-go market known as The Pantry, a golf simulator room, private meeting spaces, as well as 6,000 square feet of event space in The Ballroom. The Adobe Bar & Grille features a dining room, center bar and communal tables for gathering. Large doors open to an expansive patio equipped with misting systems, heaters and firepits that allow the space to adapt with the seasons.
Rebranded Grand Hyatt opens up a private-club experience in Scottsdale
A $115-million renovation, unveiled in November 2024, has turned the local Hyatt Regency into Arizona's first Grand Hyatt, the hotel chain's second-highest level of hierarchy (Park Hyatt being the top). The Grand Hyatt Scottdale's nearly 500 rooms, dining concepts and common areas have all been overhauled. Our Tim Gavrich reviewed the changes - including the brand-new, Italian-accented steakhouse called La Zozzona - and played the adjacent private club, Gainey Ranch, as part of a stay-and-play in December.
Where do you stay and play when you visit Phoenix/Scottsdale? Let us know in the comments below.
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