Why groups of guys keep picking Scottsdale
A Scottsdale guys trip works because everything a group of friends wants sits within twenty minutes: serious golf, a stretch of venues built for competition, desert to tear around in, and an Old Town that stays up late. Flights into Phoenix Sky Harbor are easy from most of the country, and from fall through spring the weather does not get in the way.
We host bachelor weekends, college reunions and annual golf trips. This is the plan they tend to land on.
Golf first
Book tee times before you book anything else. TPC Scottsdale has the Stadium Course, home of the Phoenix Open, and the Champions Course next door. Troon North has two desert courses, Monument and Pinnacle, under Pinnacle Peak. Both get booked well ahead in winter and spring.
For the friends who do not play, Topgolf on Talking Stick Way is the leveler. Three levels of climate-controlled bays, bars on site and scoring that does not care about handicap. It is also the right call for the night before a real round.
Talking Stick: karts, cards and the driving range
Three of the group-friendly stops sit on the same road on Salt River Pima-Maricopa land just east of the 101. Octane Raceway runs indoor and outdoor kart tracks and takes group bookings. Talking Stick Resort's ARENA Poker Room is the largest poker room in Arizona, with daily tournaments, and the casino floor is next to it. Add Topgolf and you have a full afternoon and evening without moving the cars more than a mile.
Into the desert
Get out of town for at least one morning. Guided Jeep tours leave from the Pinnacle Peak area and climb into the Tonto National Forest, with the guide doing the driving. Desert Wolf Tours, in north Phoenix, puts you behind the wheel of off-road vehicles on guided routes and offers a supervised machine gun add-on. MacDonald's Ranch on Scottsdale Road runs trail rides in the desert below the McDowell Mountains.
Climbers can hire a guide for Tom's Thumb in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a granite formation with routes for every level. Anyone who prefers water can book a half-day bass trip on Saguaro or Bartlett Lake.
Spring training and the Phoenix Open
Time the trip right and the sports come to you. The San Francisco Giants play spring training at Scottsdale Stadium, a walk from Old Town, from late February through most of March, and the rest of the Cactus League plays at ballparks across the Valley. The WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in February is the loudest week in golf and the most requested guys weekend on our calendar. Both weeks fill early, so book the house first.
Steakhouses and Old Town nights
Dinner is the anchor of the night. Mastro's City Hall on Camelback, near Fashion Square, has live music and the room for a big table. Dominick's Steakhouse at Scottsdale Quarter has rooftop poolside dining. Book both early for a Friday or Saturday.
After dinner, Old Town's bar blocks are the place to be, and the cheapest plan is a rideshare there and back.
The house rules, said once
Our houses are guest accommodation only. No parties, no events, no outside guests turning up for the night, and outdoor noise ends at 10 pm. Groups that read that as a problem usually find it is not one: the day happens at the pool, the night happens in Old Town, and the neighbors stay friendly.
Where a group of guys should stay
Wild West Estate is the fit. Seven bedrooms and six baths, sleeping up to 16, less than a mile from Old Town. The backyard has a heated pool with a swim-up bar, a spa, a putting green and bocce, and there is a game lounge inside. It means a short ride to dinner and no designated driver. Weekend stays carry a three-night minimum, Thursday through Sunday.
For a golf foursome that wants to be close to Troon North and TPC Scottsdale, Troon Ranch Casitas in North Scottsdale sleep up to eight across three casitas, each with its own door. Call (480) 781-0717 and we will hold dates while you collect deposits from the group.
Questions we get asked
Is Scottsdale good for a bachelor party?
Yes. Golf, Topgolf, karts, poker, desert tours and Old Town nightlife are all close together, and the weather is reliable from fall through spring.
Can we host a party at the house?
No. Our houses are guest accommodation only. No parties or events, and outdoor noise ends at 10 pm. Plan the nights out in Old Town.
What is the best month for a Scottsdale guys trip?
October through April. February has the Phoenix Open, and late February through March has spring training. Both are the busiest weeks to book.
Where can a group of 16 stay near Old Town Scottsdale?
Wild West Estate sleeps up to 16 across seven bedrooms and six baths, less than a mile from Old Town.
What can non-golfers do while the others play?
Topgolf, Octane Raceway karts, a Jeep or off-road tour, a trail ride at MacDonald's Ranch, or the pool at the house.
Do we need a car?
One or two for the group helps for golf and the desert. For Old Town at night, use rideshare.
