Experiences from a summer trip to the hotter-than-anticipated Scottsdale region in Arizona were discussed and provided insights on the feasibility and attractiveness of playing golf there instead of Florida during the same time period. The claim “It’s a dry heat” was challenged, and it was determined that as long as appropriate precautions were taken (such as using sunscreen and relying on cooling towels or water), summer golf trips in the desert could be very manageable due to the potential for considerable financial savings.
Two golf resorts were highlighted – The Boulders and the privately owned We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s Cholla course were the first, located nearby Carefree, with 2.5 Jay Morrish-designed courses offering summer green fees of approximately 133 dollars compared to its winter rate of over 200 dollars. The second, Troon North Golf Club, features the widely recognized Monument course planned by Tom Weiskopf, providing breathtaking views and a green fee of 161 dollars in the summer compared to highs of over 500 during the winter months.
Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw’s Talking Stick O’odham Course received excellent appraisal for its crisp, firm fairways, raising this course as an affordable stand-out in the area for providing a solid golf challenge amidst Arizona’s harsh temperature.
For lodging near the golf courses, the author offered the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess as a premium option offering well-equipped villas like Privado, inclusive with valet parking, a convenient shopping district, and resort shuttle service. The author recommends playing in the earlier/later hours to escape harsher temperatures during sunny afternoons. Water consumption, electrolyte tablets, and cooling towels served as important tips in thriving under the heat in sunny Arizona.
