McDowell Mountain Golf Club
Rating Snapshot
About
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.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 71 | 7072 yards | 73.3 | 137 |
| Gold | 71 | 6407 yards | 70.2 | 131 |
| White (W) | 71 | 5724 yards | 71.6 | 129 |
| White | 71 | 5724 yards | 67.0 | 118 |
| Red (W) | 71 | 4880 yards | 68.1 | 109 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 73.1/133 | 429 | 366 | 225 | 575 | 402 | 394 | 432 | 191 | 542 | 3556 | 440 | 448 | 380 | 532 | 161 | 520 | 339 | 234 | 508 | 3562 | 7118 |
| Black/Gold M: 71.4/131 | 397 | 366 | 196 | 541 | 402 | 394 | 404 | 163 | 542 | 3405 | 422 | 421 | 380 | 532 | 161 | 503 | 339 | 201 | 382 | 3341 | 6746 |
| Gold M: 70.3/128 | 397 | 331 | 196 | 541 | 374 | 337 | 404 | 163 | 524 | 3267 | 422 | 421 | 353 | 498 | 132 | 503 | 310 | 201 | 382 | 3222 | 6489 |
| Gold/White M: 68.4/123 | 368 | 331 | 147 | 541 | 374 | 337 | 360 | 163 | 510 | 3131 | 404 | 390 | 353 | 498 | 132 | 494 | 310 | 156 | 347 | 3084 | 6215 |
| White M: 66.7/115 W: 72.2/126 | 368 | 303 | 147 | 503 | 332 | 271 | 360 | 153 | 510 | 2947 | 404 | 390 | 310 | 466 | 99 | 494 | 266 | 156 | 347 | 2932 | 5879 |
| White/Red M: 64.8/110 W: 69.5/121 | 336 | 303 | 147 | 461 | 332 | 271 | 308 | 153 | 471 | 2782 | 316 | 309 | 310 | 435 | 99 | 455 | 266 | 156 | 327 | 2673 | 5455 |
| Red M: 62.7/107 W: 67.5/113 | 336 | 250 | 109 | 461 | 298 | 240 | 308 | 94 | 471 | 2567 | 316 | 309 | 266 | 435 | 69 | 455 | 239 | 102 | 327 | 2518 | 5085 |
| Junior M: 60.0/103 W: 62.6/104 | 265 | 190 | 71 | 368 | 250 | 156 | 304 | 76 | 350 | 2030 | 307 | 229 | 209 | 363 | 63 | 281 | 138 | 102 | 302 | 1994 | 4024 |
| Handicap | 3 | 17 | 15 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 2 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Conference Facilities, Banquet FacilitiesReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by Jim3650172 on 03/01/2024
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Photo submitted by Mark6710631 on 10/19/2022
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Photo submitted by Mark6710631 on 10/19/2022
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This is the landing zone on a par 4. Brutal “fairway” lie. Photo submitted by dubjac on 09/05/2022
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Photo submitted by dubjac on 08/29/2022
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Photo submitted by WGAgolf on 05/24/2022
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Photo submitted by ja24martino on 12/09/2021
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Back nine Photo submitted by u314161204123 on 03/11/2021
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Photo submitted by Dansgolf on 03/03/2015
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Photo submitted by Dansgolf on 03/03/2015
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#5 approach shot. Cool shot with the mountain in the background. Photo submitted by ryantjeerdsma on 09/24/2013
McDowell Mountain
Average course. Expensive for the course quality, pricey food and drink, crowded practice facility. Pace of play a bit slow. Most of course is between power lines and a canal.
Over Priced
Never again, since Arsis took over this course is a joke. This track should be $79 not $179.
SOOOOO many better course in the same area.
We are disappointed to hear we missed expectations. We do hope to welcome you back and provide a 5 star experience.
Nice Course - Lazy Personnel
The golf club and cart assistance people were both lazy - nowhere to be found - and surly. All other people were nice.
Thank you for your review and feedback. Great to hear you found the course to your liking, but our apologies for the missed expectations regarding service & personnel. We do hope you will choose to return and allow us an opportunity to provide a great experience.
Nice vacation
This was my first time playing a desert course and it was fun. I had to work hard off the tee box. Our second shot on ten was a bit nerve racking with driving range balls bombing in but other than that it was enjoyable.
Thank you for the review and feedback. Great to hear you had an enjoyable visit, we hope to welcome you back soon.
We appreciate the review. Thanks for taking the time. Have a great day!
We appreciate the review and hope to see you back soon and make it 5 stars!
Wonderful to see your 5 star review, we look forward to a return visit in the near future!
Great/fun course
We have played this course many times and it’s always fun. Multiple tee boxes allow you to “bite-off” as much as you want. Pace of play seemed slow….but it was mid-day Saturday and we finished in 4:40. (not bad at all !). Course was in great shape and made for a fun day !
walt10008g,
Thank you for the positive feedback. Pace of play is very important to us and will be a continued point of focus. We hope to welcome you back soon.
First time playing this course and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice layout, good condition. I wont comment on value for money as all the courses in Scottsdale are very pricey..
libbytiberi,
Great to hear you enjoyed our course!
Bunkers full of rocks and no GPS.
This is a great $75 to $85 course with a couple of standard upgrades., Definitely not $220, even in March. Every bunker was a gravel pit, full of 1/2" rocks. The carts are old, but clean. No GPS on the cart and the course isn't well marked. The fairways are in great shape and the greens are fast but true. Bring a helmet for the 18th hole, the driving range doesn't have nets so your dodging balls the entire hole. Not safe, I can't believe someone hasn't been seriously hurt. Too bad, this course is fun and the clubhouse was very nice.
Great to hear you enjoyed the course and clubhouse overall. We appreciate the feedback on missed expectations as we are always looking to make improvements!
Great Work
Your hard work and attention to details will comeback soon
Thank you for the 5 star review. We hope to have you return soon.
Great Course.
Great golf course. There was a group of beginners in front of us that were backing up the entire course. The martial stayed near them and helped them along to make the back nine very nice and playable! Only complaint is my brother in law shot even par and beat me by 3.
Great to see your 5 star review. Good luck beating your brother in law on the next round!
Thank you for the 4 star review. We look forward to making it 5 stars on your next visit!
Thank you for your review, we look forward to welcoming you back soon.
Thank you for the review. We hope to see you back soon to take those 4 stars to 5!
Great to see your 5 star review. We hope to have you back again soon!
Can’t think of anything bad to say about this place! Played early am! Never felt rushed, never had to wait on a hole. Conditions were nearly perfect, will definitely be back!
Thank you for the 5 star review and great comments!
We look forward to providing another 5 star experience in the near future!
Not very accommodating
A couple of items set the day for us. First, they do not make any accommodations for individuals that need some assistance getting to their ball. Many courses will allow a cart to move around the green for easy access. Especially when there are mounds around the green. They would not allow a ride along, because there were not enough carts, GET MORE CARTS!
Pace of play on the back nine came to a stop. It was backed up 2 2 groups per hole for almost every hole.
These are easy fixes and would make the course more enjoyable and maybe worth the cost.
Broymara,
Thank you for the feedback as we are always looking to provide the best guest experience possible. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back soon.
Thank you for the 5 star review!
We look forward to making it 5 stars on your next visit!
Scottsdale North Swing Package
Arizona's Top 100 Package
Troon Trio Package
Putting World Golf Experience Package
Thank you for the review. Our apologies for any missed opportunities. We do hope to see you back at a future date and exceed expectations.