McDowell Mountain GC: #18
View of the 18th hole from McDowell Mountain Golf Club
GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.0
1071 Reviews (1071)
5 Stars
381
4 Stars
452
3 Stars
138
2 Stars
60
1 Stars
40
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.7
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.0
82.4%
Recommend this course
893 out of 1071 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
40 Reviews (40)
5 Stars
20
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.2
Value
3.9
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.6
92.5%
Recommend this course
37 out of 40 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
60 Reviews (60)
5 Stars
28
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.0
Value
3.9
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.4
86.7%
Recommend this course
52 out of 60 reviews
Read Reviews
frame.svg
AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
circle-star.svg
Course Highlights
Exceptionally friendly staff and a well-designed layout create a challenging yet fair experience that keeps golfers returning. The practice facility is top-notch, and the course delivers strong conditions and solid value for money.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Desert
Par 72
Length 7118 yards
Slope 133
Rating 73.1

Nestled in the heart of Scottsdale, McDowell Mountain Golf Club offers a premier golf experience surrounded by breathtaking desert landscapes and panoramic mountain views. Known for its exceptional course conditions, friendly atmosphere, and signature Arizona scenery, the club blends challenging play with unmatched beauty. Whether you're here to test your game, enjoy a casual round with friends, or take in the spectacular sunsets from our clubhouse patio, McDowell Mountain Golf Club delivers a true desert golf experience that is both memorable and inviting.

Book a Tee Time at
McDowell Mountain Golf Club
Powered by GolfNow.com

Course Details

Year Built 1999
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens TiffDwarf Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Randy Heckenkemper (1999)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
GPS Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes - "McDowell Mountain Learning Center"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Yes
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Collared shirt required, no denim

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Conference Facilities, Banquet Facilities
The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
golf ball.svg
$120 in monthly tee time promo codes
waivedfees
12 rounds of waived fees
redeemtrophy
GolfPass Member Pricing
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection

Reviews

4.0
1071 Reviews (1071)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 61
Patio Dining 55
19th Hole Scenic Views 35
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 81
Undulating Greens 55
Elevation Changes 46
This course/club is great for:
Locals 70
Advanced Golfers 62
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 54
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 81
Worth the Drive 45
In the 'Burbs 42

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Very enjoyable

Nice track. The conditions were very good for this time of year and the layout was very enjoyable. The staff could not have been more outstanding, they made you feel welcome from the minute you set foot on the course. Very similar feel to Longbow, another excellent AZ track.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Conveniently located, nice course for two women, great staff.

The greeting from the young man who checked us in was so friendly and efficient. The new clubhouse is great. The outside staff are just as friendly and helpful. The staff in the cafe are equally as friendly and helpful. The course was well maintained, pace was perfect and very convenient for us.Two women who had not played in a very long time, had a great day of golf. We'll be back.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 35
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great shape for triple digit temperatures!!

Mc Dowell is a great course with different challenges all around. A yardage book will help, although the markers needed some trimming from the grass growing around as they were a bit difficult to find. A nice layout with plenty of room to work the ball and get rewarded. The greens were a bit slow. Nice clubhouse. On a down note communicating that there's no beverage cart would be helpful.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

In good shape.

Would be nice to have iced towels on the cart in summer.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 27
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

nice facility,friendly staff

fun course,back nine seems tighter than the front.greens were quite bumpy,but overall a pleasant time.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 45
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course will play here again

I found this a challenging course. It is well maintained and the greens were true. It requires accurate tee shots and choosing the right club. There are many hazards well placed that must be confronted, with a risk reward factor.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Excellent challenge, beautiful desert course and top class restaurant at a good price

I recently played McDowell Mountain for the first time and really enjoyed my round. The course was very well maintained with smooth greens and well defined rough. Outside of slightly unpredictable bunker conditions, I found the course to be an excellent challenge. The staff was incredibly helpful and the food from the restaurant afterwards was superb. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable experience!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun course, poor guest service

We have played this course when it was Sanctuary and the new physical improvements are fantastic. Fairways in good shape, challenging, but not punishing holes, very playable for both recreation and competition. However, we were extremely disappointed with the lack of guest service. Only one person per area at bag drop (unloaded and setup our own bags while the employee chatted on his phone), cashier in club house appeared to do the best he could, but at 0700 he was overwhelmed which cost us nearly 15 minutes of warmup while waiting to pay.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Better than expected...

1st time playing the course. The course layout was much better than I had anticipated. Greens where a little bumpy, but had been aerated a few weeks ago. Would definitely play again.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 35
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excellent course

Considering that I played during the heat of the summer, The course was in pristine condition. With the recent course renovation this course has been elevated to a level comparable to the top courses in the area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

great layout for a challenge..nothing real easy..

when we went to check in...the staff member was on the phone and ignored my friend and I for at least 5 min. When my friend spoke up after the first 2 min...he turned his back to us and continued talking. He never paused to say, I'll be with you shortly, but instead , completely ignored us. After he got off the phone he was abrupt with sign in, and our request for range balls. You could tell he didn't want to be bothered with courteous service that day! I had to hold my friend back from a full verbal chastisement he wished to deliver to the representative.
The greens were freshly punched that day and putting was bumpy. The course was in great shape other than the greens. I still enjoyed the round.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Right handed golfer friendly with wide landing areas

Challenging layout from the tips with generous landing spots. Greens were in excellent shape for this time of year (June)

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Overall a great course!

This was my first visit to McDowell Mountain and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. This course is enough of a challenge for a bogey golfer and not too boring for an above average player. The majority of holes are straight on but more than a few bunkers will keep you on your toes at all times. Everything was well maintained. The layout is very nice and takes advantage of the surrounding terrain. Water every few holes and restrooms on certain holes. I will for sure be back to redeem myself on the scorecard.....

-justin

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 55
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Great course

I hadn't played McDowell Mountain in years because of the severe difficulty of the old Sanctuary. They have made vast improvements in the course. It is very playable yet challenging at the same time. The course conditions were very good for this time of year. Fairways were bare in spots as were the greens, but nothing to affect playability. The greens have recently been aerated, but they were in good shape. The greens were consistently receptive to iron and wedge shots. The customer service was top notch. The starter went back to the clubhouse for me to get a yardage book because I hadn't played the course in such an extended amount of time. For the $29 rate I payed, I will definitely be back to the course.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 24
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good par 3's.

My wife likes this course because she can use so many different clubs. For me it's not quite like that. I'm trying to really it but the best part for me are the par 3's. Not cookie cutter 200 yds+. For the time of year it was in good shape.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE

Teed off at noon on Sunday and played the front 9 in just over an hour....great. Pulled up to the 11th tee and there were 4 groups on the tee box waiting behind a 6SOME!!!! I called the shope 3 times and talked to a female who kept saying the ranger would come out to fix things and NOBODY, I repeat, NOBODY ever came out. It took 3 hours and 10 minutes to play the back 9. Absolutely unacceptable. I have played here several times over the past month but I seriously doubt I will ever be back again.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great value

This is a really good lay out with a little difficulty. I would recommend this course to anyone of all levels.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good value, nice course, add to your list if playing multiple courses

We played many in Scottsdale. Added this based on GolfNow ratings. Not the best course we played...but was a great price for saturday and the course was in good shape. Not as challenging as some of the other courses we played...so a good change of pace. Greens a bit slower than some of the others...again, was in good shape and pace was good. Recommend you give it a try.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

needs more water stations

Good speed of play. I would like to see gps in carts

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Very Impressed

Heard through the grape vine that this place was bought by "lefty" and completely re-done from the course to the clubhouse. Course was in great condition, well maintained. Clubhouse was beautiful coplete with corn-hole boards outside on the patio. Food was good and drinks were reasonable. Staff was friendly. Overall just a really nice place. Would definitely play again if I was on vacation in Arizona and go back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Nearby Courses
Scottsdale, Arizona
Private
3.6
5
Scottsdale, Arizona
Resort
4.3639695315
1373
Scottsdale, Arizona
Private
0.0
0
Scottsdale, Arizona
Semi-Private
3.3556753761
3807
Scottsdale, Arizona
Resort
4.2695788375
744
Scottsdale, Arizona
Semi-Private
3.5207092176
975
Scottsdale, Arizona
Public
4.0810810811
37
Scottsdale, Arizona
Private
5.0
1
Scottsdale, Arizona
Public
4.2934482635
799
Scottsdale, Arizona
Public
4.2211875262
406
Scottsdale, Arizona
Public
4.2211875262
406
Scottsdale, Arizona
Resort/Private
4.1666666667
4
Golf Packages

Robb Report Best of Scottsdale Experience with Colin Montgomerie

$69,750 (USD)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ | This exclusive golf experience includes a 3 nights's stay at Four Seasons Troon North, 2 rounds of golf at Troon North Golf Club and a day with Colin Montgomerie.

Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $157 (USD)
LAS VEGAS, NV | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of SouthShore Golf Course, Reflection Bay Golf Course, Chimera Golf Course, and Rio Secco Golf Course.

Eureka Casino Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $157 (USD)
MESQUITE, NV | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Eureka Casino Resort and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Wolf Creek Golf Club, Conestoga Golf Club, Coyote Springs Golf Club, and Falcon Ridge Golf Course.

Best Western Mesquite Inn Stay & Play Package

FROM $177 (USD)
MESQUITE, NV | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Best Western Mesquite Inn and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Oasis Golf Club – Palmer Course, Oasis Golf Club – Canyons Course, Falcon Ridge Golf Course, and Conestoga Golf Club.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Stay & Play Package

FROM $157 (USD)
MESQUITE, NV | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mesquite and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Oasis Golf Club – Palmer Course, Oasis Golf Club – Canyons Course, Falcon Ridge Golf Course, and Conestoga Golf Club.
Now Reading
  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account