Phoenix and Scottsdale are known for having some of the grandest old tracks in the Southwest, but this is still fertile terrain--a handful of newer courses have injected new life into the region, giving you even more reasons to visit. Toss in amenities for the not-so-golfy--world-class shopping, great food and superb spas--and you have a destination that promises golf and marital harmony.

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
7,225 yards, par 72;
Greens fee: $170-$195
480-836-9000, wekopa.com

Named for the Yavapal word for "Four Peaks Mountain," a jagged rock formation that looms over the course, We-Ko-Pa lies on tribal land owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. Since opening four years ago this Scott Miller design has catapulted to "must play" status thanks to its incomparable scenery and holes that zigzag artfully through canyons, over ridges and down mountain slopes. That there are no homes or roads scarring the views only adds to the charm here.

Troon North Golf Club

Pricky situation: The 13th at Troon North's Monument Course. John and Jeannine Henebry

Don't be deterred by the price tag or the houses along the fairways at Troon North: These are two of the finest treasures in the desert. The Monument course, created in 1991 by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, boasts stunning mountain views but it's what's on the ground that can derail your round. Arroyos come into play on five holes, while boulders and Saguaro cacti add both beauty and menace. Monument has two great par 5s: the 564-yard third, with its namesake giant boulder clogging the landing area, and the 604-yard 14th, appropriately called "Cross Country." Pinnacle, a 1996 Weiskopf solo effort, is dramatic and features more options off the tee, but is sternly bunkered with tough green complexes.

The Raven Golf Club at Verrado
7,258 yards, par 72;
Greens fee: $159
623-388-3000, ravenatverrado.com

This 2-year-old raven flies high 30 miles west of Phoenix in the sleepy town of Buckeye, but you'd better be wide awake when you tackle this track by John Fought and Tom Lehman. The designers chiseled an option-laden layout in the ffoothills ofthe White Tank Mountains. Holes skip around scrub-filled ravines and down rock-encrusted slopes. The Raven is a healthy trek from downtown, but the Phoenix skyline vistas from the 494-yard 18th remind you that civilization isn't that far away.

TPC of Scottsdale

The 12th hole at the TPC of Scottsdale. Evan Schiller

Home to the FBR Open, the best-attended (and rowdiest stop on the PGA Tour, the Stadium Course is nobody's idea of a beauty queen, but what it lacks in looks it makes up for in thrills. Most exhilarating is the finishing stretch, from the reachable, island-green par-5 15th to what Mark Calcavecchia calls the toughest tee shot on the course at the closing hole.

Vista Verde Golf Course
7,219 yards, par 72;
Call Resort Suites at 800-898-5768

Arizona's newest public-access course is slated for a soft opening this month in rio Verde. It's so new they don't have a phone number yet and haven't decided on greens fees. the best way to gain access is to stay at resort Suites and ask the golf concierge to arrange your tee time on this gently rolling track by the Tonto National Forest.

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