Location
McDowell Mountain Golf Club is located at 10690 East Sheena Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona. It sits against the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, offering desert terrain, scenic mountain views, and is fairly accessible from the Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area.
Slope / Course Rating / Yardage / Par (White Tees)
-
Slope: 118
-
Course Rating: 67.0
-
Yardage: 5,724 yards
-
Par: 71
Membership
McDowell Mountain is open to the public. It is a daily-fee facility, so you don’t need a private membership to play.
Views
The course features striking desert vistas, with rugged natural terrain, arid washes, native vegetation, and the McDowell Mountains in the distance. Many holes offer elevated tees or spots where you can see sweeping valley and mountain panoramas, especially early morning or near sunset.
Course Difficulty
From the white tees, McDowell Mountain is moderately challenging. Although it isn’t especially long from those tees (~5,724 yards), the design includes strategic bunkers, desert rough, elevation changes, and tight landing areas off the tee on some holes. Players who aren’t used to desert golf will find it tests accuracy and distance control, particularly around the greens.
Price
$$$
Final Verdict
McDowell Mountain Golf Club delivers strong value for golfers looking for a public course that blends beautiful desert views, thoughtful design, and challenging features without needing membership. If you play from the white tees (or even gold), it offers a fair test that’s neither too easy nor overly punishing, making for a satisfying round. For what you pay, the scenery, condition, and experience make it a smart pick in the Scottsdale area.