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Fort McDowell, Arizona

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club - Cholla Course

A pristine desert masterpiece where target golf, dramatic terrain, and unspoiled Sonoran beauty create one of the Southwest's most unforgettable courses.

About the Course

The Cholla Course at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club offers a dramatic test of golf that plays through shady arroyos, over desert ridges and amid some of the most picturesque Sonoran Desert on the planet, widely considered as one of the most pristine desert golf experiences in the Southwest with nothing to spoil the sweeping views of the nearby river valleys, Red Mountain, Four Peaks and the rest of the majestic Superstition Mountains. The Cholla course is in the top-10 among public courses in golf-rich Arizona—making it a must-play. Designed by Scott Miller, the Cholla golf course opened in 2016. This is a target-style desert layout where every shot presents clear landing areas and well-defined, noticeable trouble, weaving through ancient land with a clear risk/reward line on every shot while staying true to the natural land and its gifts. With no homes, roads, businesses or development of any kind, at We-Ko-Pa, it's just you, your ball and the sights and sounds of nature. The course delivers strategic complexity paired with world-class conditioning and elite service, making it the ideal destination for a serious group golf trip where every hole feels distinct and every round becomes a story.

Why It's Great for Groups
  • ✦<cite index="2-1,2-2">Two award-winning golf courses set in the untouched Sonoran Desert just outside Scottsdale, Arizona, both the Scott Miller designed Cholla course and the Coore/Crenshaw designed Saguaro course are among the very best in the southwestern United States as judged by both golf media and players alike.</cite>
  • ✦<cite index="35-2,35-3,35-4,35-5">The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort recently launched new Golf Suites as a convenient and comfortable lodging option for stay-and-play vacations, each accommodating four to five guests in two deluxe rooms connected by a living room with a pullout sofa and kitchen, ideal for anything from casual buddy trips to corporate outings where groups can gather together after the round.</cite>
  • ✦<cite index="39-6,39-7">We-Ko-Pa Golf Club offers an impressive 36-hole package where you can play both award-winning courses – Cholla and Saguaro – for one low price.</cite>
  • ✦<cite index="47-25,47-26">While more challenging to walk due to some longer green-to-tee transitions and slightly more dramatic elevation changes than Saguaro, Cholla is still more walkable than most desert courses.</cite>
  • ✦<cite index="55-19">Summer offers the best rates ($69-109 for resort rates, $49-69 for Arizona residents) with maintained course quality that exceeds most competitors' winter conditions.</cite>
Courses on Property
⛳
Cholla Course18 holes · Par 72

<cite index="5-7">The 18-hole Cholla course features 7,225 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72.</cite>

⛳
Saguaro Course18 holes · Par 71

<cite index="3-2">The award-winning We-Ko-Pa Golf Club features the 6,966-yard, par-71 Saguaro Course.</cite>

✦
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Key Details
💰
Green Fees
$69–$309/person est.
🚶
Walking Friendly
Yes
🎒
Caddies Available
No
📅
Best Time to Visit
<cite index="52-1">Visit between October and May for ideal playing conditions and cooler desert temperatures.</cite> <cite index="55-12">The value sweet spot is March or November—perfect weather (60s-70s), excellent conditions, and rates $80-120 lower than peak.</cite> <cite index="47-28,47-29,47-30">Walking in summer is inadvisable unless you tee off at sunrise and have significant heat tolerance, as even fit golfers struggle walking 18 holes when temperatures hit 105°F, while October through April offers pleasant walking weather, with November through March being ideal.</cite>
DesertMountainBucket ListCart RequiredResortChampionshipWaterfrontHidden GemValue Play
Stay on Property
<cite index="35-1,35-8">Conveniently located 20 minutes from the airport, the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort features 246 contemporary guestrooms and suites designed with Native American traditions, bold Southwestern cuisine at the Ahnala Mesquite Room, luxurious spa treatments and salon services at the Amethyst Spa & Boutique, and a spacious heated outdoor pool with two whirlpools.</cite> <cite index="35-2,35-3">The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort recently launched new Golf Suites as a convenient and comfortable lodging option for stay-and-play vacations at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, each of the four newly designed golf-themed suites accommodates four to five guests in two deluxe rooms connected by a living room with a pullout sofa and kitchen.</cite>

<cite index="35-1,35-8">Conveniently located 20 minutes from the airport, the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort features 246 contemporary guestrooms and suites designed with Native American traditions, bold Southwestern cuisine at the Ahnala Mesquite Room, luxurious spa treatments and salon services at the Amethyst Spa & Boutique, and a spacious heated outdoor pool with two whirlpools.</cite> <cite index="35-2,35-3">The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort recently launched new Golf Suites as a convenient and comfortable lodging option for stay-and-play vacations at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, each of the four newly designed golf-themed suites accommodates four to five guests in two deluxe rooms connected by a living room with a pullout sofa and kitchen.</cite>

Nearby Lodging