The Saguaro Course, the second 18 at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club near Scottsdale, Arizona, was a departure from both its predecessor, the Cholla Course designed by Scott Miller, and Coore & Crenshaw’s own 36-hole layout at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale. Coore & Crenshaw had a unique topographical canvas at We-Ko-Pa, far more dramatic than the land they worked with at Talking Stick. However, they aimed to preserve walkability, an attribute noticeably absent from the Cholla Course. They crafted a strategic, walkable course over diverse terrain, making We-Ko-Pa one of the best public golf options in the greater Phoenix area, if not the best.

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Take Note…

Scottsdale Trails. The Saguaro Course, a rare walkable course in the desert, boasts meticulously maintained trails, making for a pleasant stroll.

The importance of a “desert club.” For those unaccustomed to desert golf or concerned about how their clubs look, bringing a less valuable club to We-Ko-Pa is wise. The desert can be brutal to golf equipment, and it’s inevitable that a shot or two will land in the waste. Save your primary clubs by having a spare to hack it out with.

Wrecking crew. Built in the early 2000s, We-Ko-Pa was fortunate to have a veritable dream team manning the bulldozers. The crew included esteemed Coore & Crenshaw shapers and associates like Rod Whitman, Dave Axland, Jeff Bradley, Jim Craig, Dave Zinkand, and Jimbo Wright.