The Monster of Fourteen
The 14th hole, at a brutal 609 yards, snakes through boulders and native desert scrub, challenging even the best to escape with par. It’s a beast that defines the Pinnacle round and often ends up in post-round war stories.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Troon North Golf Club – Pinnacle Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
Established
1995
Architect
Tom Weiskopf & Phil Smith
Access
Resort
Par
Par 71
Length
5,259 – 7,009 yds
Green Fees
$$$$
More at Troon North Golf Club
The verdict
A Pinnacle of Desert Resort Play
Troon North’s Pinnacle Course is a resort masterpiece, blending dramatic Sonoran desert beauty with strategic, playable shotmaking tests. The routing offers elevated vistas, creative greens, and thrilling risk-reward choices in a luxury Arizona setting. If you want the boldest shots in Scottsdale, it’s a must on any Southwest golf trip.
Course DNA
Difficulty
83
Scenery93
Conditioning86
Shot Variety78
Walkability62
Green Complexity84
Wow Factor85
Design Quality83
Don't miss
Make time for a sunset round—late daylight on the granite boulders and cacti creates an unforgettable Sonoran glow.
At a glance
Quick facts
Setting
Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale foothills
Elevation changes
Dramatic throughout, multiple elevated tees
Clubhouse access
Modern desert lodge, panoramic views
Bunker count
Over 50, all dramatic
Dress code
Standard resort—collared shirt required
Pace of play
4.5–5 hours peak, smoother midweek mornings
Practice facilities
Expansive: range, putting, short game
The design
The architecture
The Pinnacle Course is Tom Weiskopf’s vision of modern desert golf: bold carries, generous landing areas framed by cactus and boulders, and huge, contoured greens that present heroic as well as cautious lines. The routing dances across ridges, slides past epic granite outcroppings, and showcases the essential drama of the Sonoran Desert landscape. It’s a masterclass in risk-reward strategy—tempting you to bite off just a little more than you should—pairing playability for resort guests with tests that keep even low handicappers on alert.
Weiskopf’s hallmark is tempting risk and rewarding bold, precise play—on Pinnacle, these ideas are embedded in every hole.
Defining features
- Elevated tee shots with endless desert views
- Rocky outcrops and arroyos as strategic hazards
- Fast, sloping multi-tiered greens
- Bunker complexes embedded in the natural terrain
- Flexible tee boxes for all skill levels
- Distinctive par 3s set into desert amphitheaters
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 3
Boulder Gauntlet
PAR
4
YARDAGE
468
A long, demanding par 4 with native desert left and right, granite outcroppings shaping the fairway, and an elevated green. The length and desert pinching create one of the strongest tests early in the round.
Play it smart
A solid drive favoring the left side opens up a playable angle; the approach must carry to a firm, elevated green that sheds miss-hit shots.
Where it bites
Miss left and you’re chipping from desert waste; short sides invite big numbers.
Course management
Shots to think about
Driving on holes with forced carries over desert washes
Pick a conservative target and avoid the temptation to cut too much off the carry, especially into the wind.
Approaching multi-tiered greens from the rough
Aim for the safe section of green—short-siding here can mean triple bogey territory.
Playing the par-5 14th
Don’t get greedy; three smart shots and a good wedge is the percentage move, unless you’re very long and straight.
Handling downhill and sidehill lies
Club down and focus on solid contact—a desert flyer can turn a safe approach into a cactus expedition.
Chipping from tight fringes to fast greens
Use the back of your stance and keep wrists firm—the right touch saves strokes around these slick putting surfaces.
Club selection on short par 3s
Trust yardage and factor in wind; over-clubbing is better than risking the deep front bunkers.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Pristine, fast greens and manicured desert surrounds; fairways lush against the stark native landscape.
Pace
4.5–5 hours is common in season, with best pace midweek or early morning.
Vibe
Upscale, vibrant, and social, with a laid-back Arizona resort energy.
Dress code
Collared shirt required; standard resort golf attire.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Beat the Heat
Early tee times are your friend, especially in high season—prime reservation windows fill fast.
02
Pack Extra Balls
Native desert lines every hole; if you get wild off the tee, be ready for ball-hunting or to reload.
03
Master Green Speed
Book some extra time on the practice green—the actual course runs slick and slopes can be deceptive.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1995
Pinnacle Course opens to acclaim as Tom Weiskopf & Phil Smith’s bold new Sonoran layout.
- 2007
Weiskopf leads major renovation and routing re-sequencing across both Troon North courses.
- 2010
Listed among America's Top 20 public courses in Golf Magazine's Top 100 You Can Play.
- 2020
Named Arizona's top public course in multiple travel rankings and league roundups.
- 2025
Remains a fixture in Arizona’s Top 15–20 public courSES by Golf Digest, Golfweek, and others.
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Desert Glow at Dusk
A sunset round on the Pinnacle’s finishing stretch delivers a surreal light show, as the rocks glow and shadows leap across the fairways. Many returning visitors book late-evening tee times just for this experience.
Playability Amid the Boulders
Despite the intimidating desert hazards, guests rave about how the wide fairways and forgiving tee options make the Pinnacle Course more playable than it appears. It’s strategic, not punishing—if you think your way around.
Greens Built for Drama
Pinnacle’s sweeping, multi-tiered greens have surprised and delighted players for decades, both rewarding solid approach shots and punishing the reckless. Staying under the hole is a mantra repeated throughout the round.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The Pinnacle Course’s striking boulders are natural—in fact, routing was shaped around them instead of blasting them away.
2
Tom Weiskopf, the lead designer, has more award-winning Arizona courses than almost any modern architect.
3
Pinnacle’s greens often run at 11 or better on the stimpmeter, making putting a true adventure.
4
Despite being a repeat 'Top 20 You Can Play' course, it has never hosted a PGA Tour or major championship.
5
Coyote, jackrabbit, and roadrunner sightings are routine—bring a camera as well as clubs.
Build the trip
The best of Scottsdale’s public desert golf
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (Saguaro)
Public
Superb desert routing, dramatics and pure-tee conditions just 30 minutes away.
TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course
Public
Play where the pros battle every winter—PGA Tour host, energetic setting.
Grayhawk Golf Club (Raptor)
Public
Tour-tested daily-fee golf with slick greens and fast pace.
Talking Stick Golf Club (O'odham)
Resort
Pure resort golf on wide fairways—ideal for a duo buddy trip.
Golf Club of Estrella
Public
More remote west-side escape with rolling terrain and Nicklaus flair.
Stay in North Scottsdale or the Kierland/Quarter corridor for the best access to Pinnacle and the other top desert resort courses.
Course DNA
If You Like Troon North Golf Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.6
The Golf Club at Black Rock
Coeur d'Alene, IdahoScenery
Why it matches: If Troon North Golf Club – Pinnacle Course is your kind of course, The Golf Club at Black Rock is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience.
Strong DNA Match8.3
The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards
Sunset, South CarolinaScenery
Why it matches: What links these two? Makes the landscape part of the experience — a familiar feeling, expressed in The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards's own setting.
Strong DNA Match8.3
Spanish Peaks Mountain Club
Big Sky, MontanaScenery
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Spanish Peaks Mountain Club shares a memorable sense of place, making it a compelling counterpart to Troon North Golf Club – Pinnacle Course.
The architect's other work
More from Tom Weiskopf
Black Desert Resort
Ivins, UtahLava-lined drama in Utah’s red-rock desert
Forest Dunes Golf Club
Roscommon, MichiganNationally ranked, bucket-list Michigan destination
Snake River Sporting Club
Jackson, WyomingJackson Hole’s elite mountain-river golf escape
Northwood Club
Dallas, TexasClassic Dallas challenge that tested the world’s best.
Black Bull Golf Club
Bozeman, MontanaMontana’s premier private championship test
Frost Creek
Eagle, ColoradoStrategic Rockies golf with unforgettable mountain vistas
Community Sentiment
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