Golfers at Grayhawk Golf Club enjoy some of the best mountain and valley views to be had in North Scottsdale. Designed by former U.S. Open and PGA Champion David Graham and golf course architect Gary Panks, Grayhawk sports award-winning playing surfaces across both 18s: The Talon and Raptor courses. Playing at 6,973 yards from the tips, Grayhawk’s Talon course is consistently rated one of the top courses to play in Arizona. Talon is also mentioned in Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 you can play in the U.S.” Since opening in 1994, Grayhawk has hosted a number of events at both the amateur and professional levels. If you’re looking to play top tier golf during your visit to Arizona, look no further than Grayhawk Golf club for a total golf experience.
As we drove up to the bag drop and loaded our carts, the course seemed to be empty as no other golfers were spotted. The golf shop was only a short walk from the bag drop and boasted a wide array of items from clubs to hats to shirts. We checked in and began to look around a bit. The shop was just one of many features making up the large lobby. It also included a popular restaurant with expansive views overlooking the raptor course, a café, and men’s and women’s locker rooms. After looking around, we headed back out to our cart. We were informed that the practice facilities for Talon were through the tunnel, under Thompson Peak Parkway, which explained why the course seemed so empty.
The golf atmosphere immediately came alive as we emerged from the tunnel. The pings of drivers echoed through the air, complemented by the sounds of divots taken from various iron shots. The practice facilities were well equipped with balls provided at each range station, and faced South and overlooked the Scottsdale valley. The putting green was large and able to handle many golfers trying to get their speed down before the round.
If you like to chip before, there is a separate chipping green located next to the putting green and also features a large practice bunker. No need to worry about missing your scheduled tee time, as the starter will come to get you beforehand. So use all the time you can to get locked and loaded! There is also a snack counter around the practice area in case you need to fuel up beforehand. Isabella’s Kitchen restaurant also sits right next to the facilities. Here you have access to a full menu and great rustic Italian food (and wine if you really want to loosen up)!
Once the starter called our group, we headed to the first tee. The path leads you to a booth counter equipped with all necessary golf accessories, such as scorecards, tees, divot-fixers, and yardage guides. The hole layouts were especially helpful since I had not played Talon before.
The first hole starts you out nice and easy with a straight shot par-4 measuring at 428 yards from the tips. Mindful play is required at Grayhawk, for the desert lies left and right. The desert plants are large and mature bushes and trees, making it almost impossible to play a ball from an errant shot. The rough is also a challenge and unique for winter time, remaining dead and yellow. While it seems easy enough, the rough is soft, and if you do not hit the ball first you will find yourself walking 20 yards to your next shot. Grayhawk also allows golfers to experience desert wildlife at close range with rabbits, roadrunners and the occasional coyote roaming the courses.
Although guarded on both sides by desert, the fairways are wider than they seem from the tee boxes. The par 4s have some distance to them, so make sure you hit it well or else you’re looking at 190+ yards into the green. My overall favorite part of the Talon course was the par 3s. 
Each one was unique in its own way and provided great views along with the challenge. My second-favorite par-3 is the 11th hole, which comes in at 175 yards and is called “swinging bridge.” Each hole at Grayhawk is uniquely named, the 11th being named for the swinging wooden bridge needed to cross the dry creek bed over to the tee box. Here you’ll essentially find yourself on an island tee box surrounded by desert, needing at least 130 yards to clear the hazard.
Once you reach the 17th tee, you will have come to my favorite hole on the golf course. The front of the tee box is lined with beautiful red flowers, which briefly take your eye away from the hole at hand. The uniqueness of this hole is what drew me to it. Being only the second true island green I had ever played (and the smallest), I knew I had to execute. Read more below about the feature hole and see how I fared!
Overall, Grayhawk was a fantastic golf experience. The great staff service combined with a beautiful, well-kept golf course cannot be beat. The well-equipped practice facility gives you everything you need to be able to get ready for the round. It will truly challenge you, but reward well thought-out shots. The spongy greens were in mint condition, providing good pace with moderate undulation. If you are looking for a great golf trip to North Scottsdale, Grayhawk Golf Club is a must play. Just make sure you don’t get a drink with the Devil on 17 or it might end up costing you!
Grayhawk Golf Club’s Talon Course Rating (Overall Rating 4 ½ stars out of 5)
Grayhawk Golf Club’s Talon course rated an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars. Talon really was a total package, from the practice facilities through all 18 holes. It provided opportunities to score on some holes, and others you were happy to get a bogey. The playing surface was in tip top shape, which is what you look for in a high-end course like Grayhawk. What really set this course apart was the immense lobby area and features such as the restaurant. We made sure to stop by after the round to refuel our bodies after a great day on the links.
Feature Hole
#17 Par-3 126 yards – “Devil’s Drink”
