5 things I loved about the Boulders Club in Scottsdale

The headline-making sizzling summer temperatures of 2023 were nothing new for Arizonans. Every summer is a scorcher. Heck, even early September temperatures are expected to reach 110 degrees in Phoenix.

This summer was my sixth as a ‘Zonie transplant, and in that time I’ve learned a valuable lesson: Despite what the thermostat tells you, the summer is a sneakily fantastic time to play golf in Scottsdale.

It might sound crazy but it’s true! Course conditioning is still solid, and green fees at top-tier courses take a nosedive. For locals, it’s a great time to sample courses where you might feel priced-out in the more temperate high season, which starts in earnest in the late fall and lasts until May.

That’s why I was thrilled to brave 100-plus-degree temps last week to tee it up at the Boulders’ South Course, one of two available tracks designed by Jay Morrish that comprise the Boulders Club at the gorgeous Boulders Resort in North Scottsdale. Here are the five things I loved the most about the experience.

5 things I loved the most about the Boulders Club

1. The scenery

The natural beauty on display at the Boulders simply can’t be overstated. Not only do you get a full dose of desert landscape and a view of Black Mountain, you also have a chance to get up-close-and-personal with the eponymous 12-million-year-old boulders. It’s a thrilling setting to take in, and the drama starts on the very first tee, when your approach to the green is masterfully framed by a glorious formation.

2. The teeing options and shot variety

I am a big fan of the Tee-It-Forward initiative, and try to adhere to the idea for all of my recreational rounds. So I absolutely loved the teebox variety available at the Boulders, where you could test yourself from the very tips at nearly 7,000 yards, or play the forward tees at less than 4,700. Seeking something in between? There are four other color monuments to play from, and composite tee options as well. I also really appreciated the shot variety on approaches and par 3s. I had the opportunity to hit a lot of different clubs, which isn’t always the case from forward tees.

3. The course conditioning

Lush green grass in Scottsdale in late August? Yes, it’s possible! At the Boulders, the Bermuda-grass fairways were in great shape. While there wasn’t much roll because of the water needed to maintain that conditioning, the lies were always good — even in the first cut.

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4. Back-to-back par 3s!

You know that feeling when you play a disappointing par 3 and wish you had another chance for a replay? At the Boulders South Course, you do! Nos. 15 and 16 play as back-to-back par 3s: one short and one a bit longer. It’s a fun layout quirk that breaks up the final few holes in refreshing fashion.

5. Green speeds

The perfect green speed is a subjective topic. Some players like them lightning-fast, while others would prefer to be able to give the ball a good rap. I consider myself somewhere in the middle, which is exactly where the Boulders greens were. Downhill putts were surprisingly fast, while uphill lags required some heft. For a resort course I thought they were just perfect.

And speaking of pace, the pace-of-play was pretty good too! My twosome played behind a few sets of threesomes. Though we waited, our round clocked in under four hours — leaving us plenty of time to enjoy a beverage with a view.