We-Ko-Pa Golf Club is the round golfers fly into Phoenix for. It's 36 holes of pure Sonoran Desert golf on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, just east of Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, with two highly ranked courses and not a single house, road or strip mall along either one. Next door, the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort adds a hotel, a casino, The Buffet and a wood-fired steakhouse, so a lot of visitors make a full day (or a full weekend) of it. Here's how the two courses compare, how tee times work, where to eat and stay, and how to get there without anyone having to drive home after the 19th hole.
Where Is We-Ko-Pa Golf Club?
The golf club is at 18200 E Toh Vee Circle, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264, northeast of Phoenix off State Route 87. The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is just down the road at 10438 WeKoPa Way, less than a mile from the clubhouse.
From Phoenix Sky Harbor it's about 38 miles, or roughly 50 minutes without traffic: east on Loop 202, north on SR 87 (the Beeline Highway), then left onto Fort McDowell Road and follow the signs. From Mesa Gateway Airport it's closer, about 22 miles. The name, fittingly, comes from the Yavapai word for Four Peaks, the mountain range that frames a lot of your shots.
Saguaro vs. Cholla: Which Course Should You Play?
Both courses are public and daily-fee, both are owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, and both sit on land that will never be developed, which is why the views stay wide open in every direction. They play very differently, though.
| Saguaro | Cholla | |
|---|---|---|
| Designer | Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw | Scott Miller |
| Opened | December 2006 | December 2001 |
| From the back tees | Par 71, about 6,966 yards | Par 72, about 7,225 yards |
| Style | Minimalist and walkable, following the natural roll of the land | Classic target-style desert golf with generous landing areas |
| Best for | Golfers who like strategy and a traditional feel | Golfers who want a bigger, bolder desert test |
Saguaro is the one that shows up most on national "best public courses" lists. Coore and Crenshaw built it for walking, with greens close to the next tees, and push carts are available if you want to skip the cart. Many golfers find it a little more forgiving off the tee, but the green complexes reward real thought.
Cholla is the original, and it's the course people mean when they describe "desert target golf": wide, well-defined landing zones with the desert and the hazards right where you can see them. From the back tees it's the longer, sterner test.
If you have the time, play both. They're different enough that a 36-hole day (or one round each across two days) is the best way to experience We-Ko-Pa.
How to Book We-Ko-Pa Tee Times
Book on the club's website, wekopa.com, where each course has its own booking button, or call the pro shop at (480) 836-9000. A few tips:
- Peak season books up. January through April is prime Arizona golf season, so book as early as the club allows, especially for weekend mornings.
- Summer is quieter and usually cheaper, with very early tee times to beat the heat.
- Groups should plan ahead. If you're bringing a foursome or more, lock in tee times and transportation together so arrival times line up.
Where to Eat at We-Ko-Pa
After the round, the clubhouse has full-service dining with indoor and patio seating and those same mountain views.
The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is where most of the food options are:
- The Buffet at We-Ko-Pa: one-price, all-you-can-eat stations with Asian, American, Mexican and Italian dishes, plus salads, soups, fresh breads, desserts and a gelato bar. It's the most-searched thing at the resort for a reason.
- Ember: the resort's destination steakhouse, with steaks and seafood cooked over wood-fired grills, a whiskey library and a big wine list. (You'll also see it searched as "Embers.")
- Ahnala: a restaurant and coffee bar for breakfast and lunch.
- The Market and WKP Sports & Entertainment for something quicker.
Buffet and restaurant hours change by day and season, so check the resort's website before you go.
Staying Overnight
The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort has about 246 hotel rooms, pools with cabanas, the Amethyst Spa and conference space, all within a few minutes of the first tee. It's an easy base for a golf weekend, and the resort also runs bingo and live entertainment, so check its schedule.
If you'd rather stay in a hotel in Fountain Hills or a resort in Scottsdale, you're still close: Fountain Hills is right next door, and Scottsdale is a short drive west.
Getting to We-Ko-Pa (And Getting Back)
We-Ko-Pa's seclusion is the whole appeal, and it's also the part that takes planning. It's a long way from the airport and from most Scottsdale hotels, you're bringing golf bags, and a lot of rounds end with drinks at the clubhouse or a night at the casino.
That's why we run a dedicated We-Ko-Pa car service: private, flat-rate transfers between Phoenix Sky Harbor or Mesa Gateway and We-Ko-Pa Golf Club & Casino Resort, with the fare and gratuity included. We track your flight, so an early arrival or a delay doesn't change anything, and sedans, SUVs and Sprinter vans have room for the whole group and their clubs.
Coming from a Scottsdale resort or bringing a bigger group? Our golf outing transportation covers hotel pickups, waiting during the round and the ride home, and group transportation handles tournaments and corporate golf days.
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club FAQ
Is We-Ko-Pa Golf Club open to the public?
Yes. We-Ko-Pa is a public, daily-fee facility, so anyone can book a tee time on either course.
Can you walk We-Ko-Pa?
Saguaro was designed with walking in mind and push carts are available. Cholla is more spread out, so most golfers ride.
Which We-Ko-Pa course is harder?
Cholla is usually described as the sterner test, especially from the back tees. Saguaro is often seen as more forgiving off the tee but asks more strategic questions around the greens.
How far is the casino from the golf course?
Less than a mile. The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort and the golf club are a couple of minutes apart.
What's the easiest way to get to We-Ko-Pa from the airport?
Book a transfer before you land. We-Ko-Pa is about 50 minutes from Sky Harbor, and a pre-booked, flat-rate ride means there's no hunting for a ride after your round.
Planning a golf trip for your group? Book your transfers when you book your tee times, and you'll never have to think about the drive.
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