Greyhawk Golf Club: Two Top-100 Courses, One Unforgettable Day

If you’re planning a golf trip to Scottsdale, Greyhawk Golf Club needs to be on your radar—especially if you’re looking for a full-day, 36-hole experience that blends high-level golf with desert scenery, great food, and laid-back vibes.

We recently had the chance to play both the Raptor and Talon Courses at Greyhawk, and it was not only our first time at the club, but also our first desert golf experience.

Spoiler alert: Greyhawk exceeded expectations on every level.

Starting the Day at mojo Café

Our day started bright and early at 6:15 AM with a stop at mojo, Greyhawk’s cozy on-site café.

From killer breakfast burritos to solid coffee—and even hangover remedies for those who went a little hard the night before—MOJO had everything we needed to fuel up for a full day on the course.

The Raptor Course: Play Smart or Pay the Price

The Raptor Course is a Tom Fazio design that sets the tone right from the first hole—a straightaway par 4 with a generous fairway that dares you to swing freely, but penalizes anything too far off-line with desert hazards and tricky green complexes.

This course rewards smart, strategic play and punishes carelessness. If you find the fairway, you’ve got scoring opportunities. Miss, and you’re navigating rocks, brush, and yes…cactus.

One standout par 3 is the intimidating 13th hole, where a deep bunker guards the front right of the green.

Trust us—grab an extra club here!

The Raptor closes with a bang. Holes 16 and 17 offer scoring chances, especially the drivable par-4 17th.  Just make sure you avoid the front-side bunker if you do decide to swing the big stick.

The 18th is a tough par 5 that adds a water hazard for a dramatic finish. It’s the only hole on the course with water—and it makes it count.

Lunch at Quill Creek Café

Between rounds, we hit Quill Creek Café, located on-site.

Cold beers, great food, and an easygoing vibe made it the perfect way to recharge before teeing it up again on the Talon Course.

The Talon Course: Scenic, Scorable, and Full of Character

If Raptor is a test of patience and precision, Talon is a bit more forgiving—especially off the tee—and offers more scoring chances for the confident ball-striker. Our starter called Talon the more “scorable” of the two, and he wasn’t wrong.

But don’t let that fool you. Talon still has plenty of teeth. Take the par-3 5th hole, “Sentinel,” for example: it may be short, but it’s guarded by a dramatic, cavernous bunker that dares you to miss short.

The most iconic hole on the course? That has to be “Swinging Bridge”—a stunning par 3 with a two-tiered green guarded by a canyon and surrounded by bunkers.

Even though we weren’t playing the tips, we couldn’t resist walking across the suspension bridge to take our shots from the back tees with the Arizona mountains in the backdrop. Absolutely postcard material.

The back nine of Talon brings more elevation changes and tighter landing areas, culminating in the unforgettable 17th hole, “Devil’s Drink”—an island green that’s as beautiful as it is nerve-wracking.

It’s Greyhawk’s signature hole, and for good reason.

Wrapping Up the Day at Isabella’s Kitchen

After finishing on the long but gettable par-5 18th, we made our way to Isabella’s Kitchen, conveniently located just steps from the green.

It was the perfect spot to wind down with a great meal and cap off the day.

Pro tip: order the Good Vibrations Margarita. You’ll thank us later.

Final Thoughts

Playing both the Raptor and Talon courses in a single day gave us a true taste of what Greyhawk Golf Club has to offer. Each course has its own identity, but both are beautifully maintained, thoughtfully designed, and incredibly fun to play.

Add in the great food, incredible desert views, and an overall vibe that makes you want to stay all day, and it’s easy to see why Greyhawk has become a favorite for locals and visitors alike.

If you’re planning a Scottsdale golf trip, do yourself a favor—block out the full day and play both courses at Greyhawk. You won’t regret it.