Arizona Summer Golf: Why It Can Be the Best Time to Visit Scottsdale
Think Arizona is too hot for golf? Think again. Discover why summer can be the best time to visit Scottsdale—with lower prices, fewer crowds, and afternoons by the pool. If you plan your trip correctly, summer can actually become one of the best values in American golf.
Most golfers visit Scottsdale between October and April. The weather is nearly perfect, courses are in outstanding condition, and every resort is buzzing with golfers from around the country.
The downside? Everything costs more.
Golf courses that charge premium rates during winter often become much more affordable during the summer months.
Hotels drop their prices.
Vacation rentals become far less expensive.
Restaurants are easier to get into.
And tee sheets become wide open.
If you're willing to trade perfect weather for incredible value, Arizona suddenly becomes one of the best golf bargains in the United States.
1. Tee Times Can Cost a Fraction of Peak Season
Perhaps the biggest advantage of golfing in Arizona during the summer is price.
Many of Scottsdale's premier courses significantly reduce their rates once temperatures rise. Instead of spending several hundred dollars for one round, golfers often find themselves able to play multiple premier courses for roughly the same total budget.
2. Your Vacation Rental Matters More Than Your Golf Course
If there's one piece of advice I'd give anyone planning an Arizona summer golf trip, it's this:
Book a house with a pool. No questions.
It's the single most important part of your Scottsdale summer trip.
A great vacation rental gives your group a place to recharge before dinner.
3. Tee Off Early—Really Early
Summer golf in Arizona is all about timing. The best tee times are usually right around sunrise.
With temps in the triple digits by around 10 AM, you'll want to aim for your tee times to be one of the first out the gate.
4. Stay Hydrated
Arizona's dry climate can catch visitors off guard. Even if you don't feel sweaty, you're losing water.
A few simple habits make a huge difference:
Start hydrating the night before.
Drink water before arriving at the course.
Alternate water and electrolytes.
Wear light-colored, breathable clothing.
Apply sunscreen multiple times.
Bring a cooling towel.
Wear a wide-brim hat or lightweight performance cap.
5. Save Money Without Sacrificing the Experience
Let's compare two hypothetical four-day golf trips.
Peak Season
Four rounds of golf
Vacation rental
Rental car
Total cost: several thousand dollars.
Summer
The exact same trip often costs substantially less because of reduced green fees and lower lodging rates.
That savings can go toward:
Playing another course
Upgrading your vacation rental
Better restaurants
Golf shopping
For many golfers, summer simply delivers more value per dollar.
The Bottom Line
Arizona summer golf isn't for everyone.
If you're looking for 72-degree afternoons, January is probably your season.
But if you want to play incredible golf courses for less, avoid the biggest crowds, enjoy spectacular desert sunrises, and spend your afternoons relaxing by the pool with friends, summer might surprise you.
Just remember one thing:
Don't be a fool, book the place with the pool.