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Rating Index Rating
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3.9
918 Reviews (918)
5 Stars
319
4 Stars
399
3 Stars
122
2 Stars
49
1 Stars
29
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.6
Layout
4.3
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.1
80.5%
Recommend this course
772 out of 918 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
39 Reviews (39)
5 Stars
12
4 Stars
24
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
3.8
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.7
89.7%
Recommend this course
35 out of 39 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
98 Reviews (98)
5 Stars
32
4 Stars
48
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
6
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.1
Value
3.6
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.4
82.7%
Recommend this course
81 out of 98 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Desert
Par 71
Length 7072 yards
Slope 137
Rating 73.3

McDowell Mountain Golf Club (formerly known as Sanctuary Golf Course) provides an eco-friendly option in Scottsdale - a pretty setting, too, on the McDowell Mountains' western slope. The golf course was designed by the architect Randy Heckenkemper, who turned what had been the Bureau of Reclamation's storm-water-retention area into a top Scottsdale golf course, with 6,624-yards of par-71 golf laid out over what truly tries to be a sanctuary for the indigenous flora and fauna.

McDowell Mountain Golf Club's signature hole is the 18th, a 516-yard par 5 that allows you finish your round of golf in risk-reward style, with an eagle or birdie practically begging to be attempted - though it might be just as easy to double-bogey. A bunker on the right guards a skinny landing area, while a wicked wash awaits on the left, but, hit that drive right, and you might just make the green in two.

After your round of golf on the golf course, head back to the restaurant, where you can take your breakfast or lunch daily in the dining room or on the patio - and take in vistas of the golf course and Camelback Mountain.

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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. Closed: 9/30 - 10/16.
Architect Randy Heckenkemper (1999)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes
GPS 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

Reviews

3.9
918 Reviews (918)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 60
Patio Dining 55
19th Hole Scenic Views 34
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 80
Undulating Greens 55
Elevation Changes 45
This course/club is great for:
Locals 69
Advanced Golfers 61
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 53
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 80
Worth the Drive 44
In the 'Burbs 41

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 03/06/2024

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience at McDowell Mountain Golf Club. We look forward to your next visit.

Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course. Overpriced

I enjoyed my round at McDowell Mountain but $244 was too much to spend. I’ll look for cheaper price next year.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

McDowell Mountain golf

Great course. Greens, tees and fairways in good shape. Staff very friendly. Would play there again. Only problem was price. $244 is very high considering my resident playing partner paid $30.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Old Mac

Excellent course. Well maintained. Getting expensive.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great

Awesome course staff was amazing especially Tito. Who really went overboard to make it a great experience

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/17/2024

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with a review of your experience. I am glad to know our team made your experience great! We look forward to your next visit to the club!

Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/17/2024

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with a review of your experience. I am pleased to hear that our team made your experience outstanding and we look forward to seeing you on your next visit to the club!

Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/09/2024

Thank you for posting your positive review and experience at McDowell Mountain Golf Course. Our team is committed to providing high-quality customer service, and we’re thrilled to hear that we made a good impression on you. We hope you’ll visit us again soon.

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good course that’s needs some TLC

Has a great golf trip with friends, played a round here. Staff and facilities are good, pace of play was good as well.. most of the course was in good shape. Some of the green felt like needed some restoration and some sand traps were muddly (with puddle of water). Overall it was a good experience.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/09/2024

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with a review of your experience and glad you had a great visit to McDowell. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Good Public Course

I am a fairly good golfer, 4 handicap, and have played many courses. I was looking to play something in Scottsdale while there for the Barrett Jackson auction. I was nervous about McDowell as I have never played there. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The course was in good condition...not country club quality, but good condition considering it was a public coures. Typical public course issues, not enough ball marks or divots in the fairway fixed by inexperienced golfers. Howerver, the greens were challenging as was the course layout. Maybe a little pricey for public course, but everything in that area is a lot. I would recommend this to friends.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/09/2024

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with a review of your experience. We look forward to seeing you again soon and please reach out to us if you need anything!

Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Arizona Golf

Jimmy in the pro shop was one of friendliest people I’ve met. The starter was helpful. Ranger on the course awesome. Top notch
Thanks for sharing your course with me
Steve Rogers

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/09/2024

Thank you for posting your positive review. Our team here at McDowell Mountain Golf Club is committed to providing high-quality customer service, and we’re thrilled to hear that we made a good impression on you. We hope you’ll visit us again soon.

Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 25
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Very enjoyable course

I had played this course just a couple of times prior. They seemed to have improved the range hitting surfaces so there is grass . The tee boxes, fairways and green were in good shape! I don’t recall waiting more than a few minutes any time during the round. If there is one improvement really needed, it’s the bunkers.

Staff was friendly and efficient and price was good for an in season rate.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
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