Scottsdale's a smorgasbord of desert golf

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- While most of the country's golf courses remain in a deep winter slumber November through March, the courses of the High Sonoran Desert in Arizona are rocking.

"Scottsdale is a great place for golf," said Dave Karcher, who was visiting in February from Reston, Va. "You have nice choices. You have different styles. You go [to] The Boulders (in Carefree), it's always in great shape. Troon North is one of my favorites. Eagle Mountain is not as forgiving but it's scenic."

Scottsdale is a golf paradise of the highest order. Those looking for true desert golf will get their fill at Troon North, The Boulders, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, SunRidge Canyon and The Phoenician.

The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale and the Talon and Raptor courses at Grayhawk have hosted the PGA Tour pros. The ladies of the LPGA Tour have teed it up at the Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in nearby Apache Junction, the Papago Golf Course in Phoenix and the Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix. It's hard to go wrong in the Arizona desert.

Troon North Golf Club - Pinnacle Course

The par-3 16th on the Pinnacle Course at Troon North Golf Club is called "Post Card" for a reason.

Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf

The Phoenician - Canyon golf course

A golfer tees off on the first hole on the Canyon nine at The Phoenician.

Courtesy of The Phoenician

Talking Stick Golf Club

Talking Stick Golf Club's courses are user friendly but still challenging.

Courtesy of Talking Stick G.C.

TPC Scottsdale - Stadium Course

Fans line the par-3 16th hole during the Waste Management Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course.

Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf

TPC Scottsdale - Champions golf course

The split fairway of the Champions Course at TPC Scottsdale makes an interesting par-5 fourth hole.

Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club - Cholla Course

The third hole is the first of many strong par-3s on the Cholla Course at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club.

Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf

Grayhawk Golf Club - Raptor Course

The par-3 eighth hole on the Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club is called "Aces & Eights."

Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf

Troon North Golf Club - Pinnacle Course

The 10th hole on the Pinnacle Course at Troon North Golf Club plays toward Pinnacle Peak.

Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf

The Boulders - South golf course

Rosie's Rock looms - or tilts - over every golfer who tees off on the seventh hole of the South Course at The Boulders.

Courtesy of Boulders Resort

SunRidge Canyon Golf Club

Many tee box locations at the SunRidge Canyon Golf Club feature large boulders beside them.

Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf

Superstition Mountain Golf and C.C.

Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club now offers public play but still maintains its private-club standards.

Courtesy of Superstition Mountain Golf and C.C.