Rankings: 

8th    

The Takeaway:  Saguaro focuses on the walking golfer in its routing though the elevation changes make it a more difficult walk than the flat courses in the valley. The visuals and hole designs rival any course in the greater Scottsdale area and the conditioning is fantastic. While some will love the number of half-par holes, others may not, but all will be challenged. We-Ko-Pa joins Troon North as the must-play public courses in Arizona.  Grade B+

Quick Facts

Designer:  Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in 2006

Cost:  $75.00 - $235.00 (includes cart) Click for current rates

Phone Number:  (480) 836-9000

Course Website:  Official Website - Visit We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro)'s official website by clicking on the link provided.

Directions:  Get here! - 18200 East Toh Vee Circle, Fort McDowell, Arizona  85264 – UNITED STATES

Photos:  See additional photos of We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro)

What to Expect:  We-Ko-Pa is a 36 hole upper end public facility located 30 miles northeast of Phoenix in Fort McDowell. The facility opened originally with Scott Miller's design (Cholla) in 2001 and followed that up with Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw's 2006 design (Saguaro). The courses are free from residential development and enjoy seclusion with expansive vistas of the Sonoran desert where players need only focus on the views and the golf. While national magazines tend to anoint Saguaro as the superior track, you may be surprised how many players at We-Ko-Pa give Cholla the nod as the best course on the property. Both courses enjoy movement in the topography which allows for some superior hole designs and visuals compared to the flat courses in Arizona's desert. While both courses boast generous fairways and greens, Cholla has a more target golf inspired theme while Saguaro went old school with its links approach that favors greens spilling into neighboring tees in order to create a superior walking experience. Hole yardages are more traditional on Cholla while Saguaro features numerous half-par holes which is often favored by those that prefer match play to stroke play competitions. The greens are more undulated at Saguaro and the conditioning at both courses is about as good as anything you'll encounter in the illustrious Valley of the Sun. Public or private, We-Ko-Pa offers one of the best golfing experiences in the Grand Canyon State with an impressive combination of visuals, strategy, and fun.

By the Numbers

Individual Hole Analysis

Signature Hole:  14th Hole – 538 Yard Par 5 – The best risk/reward par five on the property is this uphill hole that features two separate fairways. A tee shot to the island fairway on the right will significantly reduce the length of the hole and essentially requires players to go for the green in two, especially considering how welcoming the opening to the putting surface is from this angle. From the continuous fairway on the left players face more bunkering and length to contend with as they climb their way to the green. With a series of bunkers and a sloped angle to the green to consider, players need to play to their strengths on this hole to score well.

14th Hole at We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro) (538 Yard Par 5)

Best Par 3:  15th Hole – 255 Yards – Coore and Crenshaw save some of their longest and most difficult holes for the final stretch at We-Ko-Pa and this lengthy par three is evidence of that. Measuring over 250 yards from the tips, this one-shotter plays downhill to a green with an open front thus allowing players to safely play short of the putting surface if they so desire. The fairway slopes from right to left so tee shots played to the right side can utilize the terrain to help bound their ball towards the green. This is a pretty heroic hole down the stretch and will draw blood more often than not in match play.

15th Hole at We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro) (255 Yard Par 3)

Best Par 4:  10th Hole – 337 Yards – The back nine kicks off with a great birdie opportunity with this short par four. The line at the green plays straight over the large fairway bunker on the right and towards the small pot bunker fronting the putting surface. Coore and Crenshaw do a great job here with four bunkers near the green to contend with but don't eliminate the intrigue of taking a rip at the green with your tee shot. With the hole turning slightly to the right, this is a great chance to hit a drive on, or near, the green and card a birdie.

10th Hole at We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro) (337 Yard Par 4)

Best Par 5:  4th Hole – 631 Yards – While Saguaro features plenty of short holes to take advantage of, those are contrasted by some lengthy offerings like this 631 yard three-shotter that demands players to stay on their 'A' game. A drive of nearly 260 yards is required to carry the centerline bunker that can quickly put an end to any aspirations of reaching this green in regulation. After clearing the bunker, the fairway moves downhill and to the left with bunkers flanking the entrance to the green. Fortunately the wide fairways accommodate the length, but this early offering let's players know that Coore and Crenshaw mean business at Saguaro.

4th Hole at We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro) (631 Yard Par 5)

Birdie Time:  7th Hole – 331 Yard Par 4 – At just 331 yards from the tips and 290 from the whites, this "grip it and rip it" hole features an extremely generous fairway protected by a pot bunker in the middle of the fairway 275 yards out. Even a poor tee shot will leave you with a scoring club in your hand and a chance to go pin seeking. Of the four short par 4s on the course, this is the most vulnerable so make sure to take advantage of it.

7th Hole at We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro) (331 Yard Par 4)

Bogey Beware:  18th Hole – 508 Yard Par 4 – Coore and Crenshaw test your endurance and mental fortitude down to the end by making the course's longest par four also it's closer. While the hole plays downhill in order to offer some reprieve, players have to decide if they can hit their tee shot over 250 yards to carry the fairway bunker on the left without having their ball finish in the desert waste area lining that side of the hole. Going to the right lengthens the approach shot and leaves players staring at the greenside bunker at the front right of the green. You don't want to be leaking oil coming down the stretch otherwise this hole could go from bogey to "other" in a hurry.

18th Hole at We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro) (508 Yard Par 4)