Love Letter To: Scottsdale National

In the modern golf travel ecosystem, golfers are putting more value than ever in having the opportunity to experience things beyond the norm, and for me, Scottsdale National could be the pinnacle of this type of experience.

But, before we go any further, I have to take a second and acknowledge that I’m already well aware that, unlike a lot of places where you can travel and play golf, Scottsdale National is not what you would call accessible. It’s a private club located (as the name suggests) in North Scottsdale, nestled against the Fraesfield Mountain. It has a single owner, Bob Parsons, and whatever your perception of a private club might be, it’s almost the exact opposite.

The Courses

As a club, Scottsdale National has three courses: The Mine Shaft Course, The Other Course and The Bad Little Nine. The Mine Shaft Course is the original track on the property, formerly known as The Golf Club of Scottsdale until the Parsons purchased and renovated it in 2013. The course's name is a nod to Arizona's mining past with a 13-foot bunker on the 15th hole that nearly requires a headlamp to navigate.

In 2016, two additional courses were added to SGNC, the 18-hole Other Course and the Bad Little Nine.

While all three courses bring amazing views and golf, for the purpose of this piece, we'll focus on The Other Course and the Bad Little Nine because it's hard to describe how two courses can be so vastly different while also being equally challenging and fun.

The Other Course

The Other Course is as wide open as any golf course I have ever played yet—as much as I hate to admit knowing this from experience—it’s still possible to find the desert from time to time. But, hey thats what desert clubs are for, right?

What's most difficult to believe is that what appears to be a naturally rolling piece of land was actually at one point flat as a frozen pond next to land graded for houses. A true blank canvas for the Jackson Kahn Design Group (Tim Jackson and David Kahn) to work their magic.

A key feature built into the design thanks to the blank canvas is the feeling that you have the whole place to yourself when you’re out on the course, because thanks to the strategic mounding each hole lives feels tucked away into its own little world.

As described by the to the SGNC website, The Other Course "required moving 1.5 million cubic yards of dirt to transform a flat, utterly uninspiring piece of land into a thoroughly enjoyable, walkable and eminently playable course that reveals its secrets gradually."

Off the tee it The Other Course seems easy and wide open, but like any well designed course, each choice you make comes with a consequence— whether that be a blind shot into a green, or a more difficult approach coming from the choice of taking an easier route off the tee.

With the course divided into six par-3s, six par-4s, and six par-5s, there is plenty of opportunity for scoring and variety.

The Bad Little Nine

As the name suggests, the Bad Little Nine is about as difficult of a course you will ever play - but thats kinda the whole point. Its feast or famine where each approach shot is judged by how well you can place a wedge or short iron within a few squre feet of your intended target. When pins are either hidden or seeming float on slivers of land that lay out across the desert.

Each hole offers a unique challenge with the 9th hole (title image) having a green just over 100 square feet that you either hit and have a very good chance at birdie, or miss and run the risk of playing ping-ping back and forth out of the surrounding bunkers until you feel you've had enough.

Its not about score, its about opening your mind to the fact that golf can be much more about putting a number on a card, and more about having fun and enjoy a laugh with friends, even it that means you pick up after your 5th attempt at escaping a bunker.

The Vibe

This is where I believe most private clubs could learn a lesson or two from Scottsdale National.

Even though it is exclusive by nature, the culture is anything but. When you are on the property and on course, there are just a few simple rules, with the most important being to have as much fun as you want, without ever impeding the fun or enjoyment of others.

No tee times, no dress codes. Simply have fun, savor the golf, soak in the surroundings, and hope that when you do leave, you'll hopefully get to do it again soon.