McDowell Mountain GC: #18
View of the 18th hole from McDowell Mountain Golf Club
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Rating Index Rating
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4.0
1048 Reviews (1048)
5 Stars
370
4 Stars
444
3 Stars
136
2 Stars
59
1 Stars
39
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.7
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.1
80.0%
Recommend this course
872 out of 1048 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
18 Reviews (18)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
3.8
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.5
94.4%
Recommend this course
17 out of 18 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
55 Reviews (55)
5 Stars
23
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
5
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.8
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.2
81.8%
Recommend this course
45 out of 55 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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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.

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McDowell Mountain Golf Club
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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
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10 rounds of waived fees
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$120 in tee time credits
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Reviews

4.0
1048 Reviews (1048)

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.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great challenge

This course is a great challenge with possibility to score. Also excellent facility for practice before your game.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Good Desert Style Course

This is the third time I've played this course during a visit to the Scottsdale area. The first 2 rounds were prior to the name and ownership changes. The most recent round is after some course improvements and ownership change. They made the course more playable. The blind forced carries have been eliminated and the front and bank 9 have been swapped. You now start on the old number 10 and finish on the old number 9 hole. This seems to been a good change.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Another great round of golf on a beautifully laid out course.

This is the 6th year in a row that I have came to Arizona Bike Week and the 6th year in a row that I have played the Sanctuary/McDowell Mountain course and I've enjoyed it each time. I like the changes they have made, too. The fact that I could get reduced rates through Golf Now made a great weekend even better. I always recommend it to my friends.
The Lord willing I will be back next year.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Improved

This is the original "Sanctuary Course", and it is improved but is not matured yet and the afternoon greens were very hard and good shots barely made a dent in the greens. Good layout and is back in nature with no houses around.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 49
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Horrible service

Was supposed to tee off at 206. No carts available and had to ask what was going on at 210. No one seemed to know or care. Horrible service. Finally got to the tee at 245. The course itself was ok. The greens had ball marks all over them. No one fixes ball marks. Late day the greens were bad. The only saving grace to the day was a guy in my group getting a hole in one on 14. The bar/restaurant in the evening overlooking the city was spectacular.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Beautiful challenging course

We enjoy the pace of play, just 4 hours with a tee time at 10 am.
The course is difficult and in very conditions. For the first time this year, we found a really option to select from 7 possible tees. Like that, everybody can really play the course that fits his game.
Very good idea.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Great time with friendly staff.

I love this course. Scenic and difficulty can be determined by which tee you use. Greens are large but offer plenty of undulation. Fairways and greens were in good condition although heavy play during this time of year.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Great pace of play

Great pace of play, especially for a holiday Friday. Had a tee time for noon and managed to get out a couple minutes early. Definitely was expecting to be out there for more than 4 hours so was pleasantly surprised by the pace of play. Greens were quicker than we had experienced at some of the other courses in the area so took a bit of getting used to.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0

Very Hot Course

The course is in a valley bottom so very warm and no breeze

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

course is over priced..If you can get it for les than 50 it's a fair price.

Well 'Joe' the cashier is more interested in talking on the phone, than face front customers..The course itself was very nice. Will go again..Pace was ok..

Conditions Excellent
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

The course was in great condition.

Love this course, the club house is very inviting. The
course is challenging, but not impossible for average
golfers.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

The course was in great shape.

I was very impressed with the course condition. This is desert golf at its finest. All parts of the course are well maintained, including the non- hazard/desert wash areas. The morning ranger rushed us a bit. His manner was a bit harsh, he could have just asked us to pick up the pace. Otherwise the staff was very helpful and friendly. Golfers of every level can have a good time at this course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Nice course, worth it if you can get a good deal.

This relatively new course, partly owned and designed by Phil Mickleson, is a nice golf experience that is worth a shot if you can get a good deal. It is truly designed to be both favorable to the novice golfer while also providing a challenge to better players. The backdrop of the Mcdowell Mountain preserve also makes for a pleasant backdrop to the round. My only complain would be that they don't provide free range balls before the round, which is rare for courses at this price range.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

The course was great

I got a great twilight rate and finsihed with-in 4 hours. Plus the course was in great shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great coarse

Great coarse and a great price on golf now. I will play it again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

great course, pace of play, staff and weather all helped to enjoy

great; course, pace of play, staff and weather all help for an enjoyable round ! loved the patio too!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great course with great views

There is not a better course for the money.
I only paid $35 twilight. If you are only going to play one course when your in AZ. this course is the one to play.

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

Absolutely Beautiful!!!

This course was amazing! Course layout was great, conditions were impeccable and views were breath taking! Great practice facility and friendly staff. Nice clubhouse too with good food!
My husband and I played this course and will definitely go back again next year!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Liked the course and the people.

I found the ability to slide the markers above difficult - they seenmed to go from average to excellent with no ability to go partway??

We found the course challenging but not the most difficult available. The fellas we played with paid less - they were on some sort of SW Card for fequent golfers - so value was good but not Great as i have indicated but better than average.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Course was in good shape and playable

The new clubhouse is beautiful, but they need to work on the service. We went to the bar to grab some drinks 15 minutes before our tee time and had to let a group go in front of us. It wasn't that busy either. I wanted to grab a quick dog at the turn and had to go back to the main bar at the clubhouse. Quicker than the drinks before we teed off, but not as quick as you would like to maintain pace of play. They need a "Quick service" window on the south side of the clubhouse. Course and staff were great, so not a big deal. Just passing along some friendly feedback on the new setup. They will get it worked out.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
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