As I stick my tee shot 20 feet from the flagstick on the 220-yard downhill, downwind, par 3 at the 16th tee on Troon North’s Monument Course, I cannot help but marvel at the vast desert that stretches from Scottsdale to Flagstaff, Arizona. With two 18-hole courses (Pinnacle and Monument) meandering through Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, Troon North is an impressive property inside the golf haven that is Scottsdale. My favorite hole on the grounds is the Monument course’s namesake—a 500-yard, par five with a large rock in the middle of the fairway dubbed ‘The Monument.’ The hole doglegs to the right and caters perfectly to my natural fade but forces me to rein it in: too much fade means hitting the ball straight into the desert terrain.
After wrapping up my golf game, I return to the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, where my wife and I are lodging. We enjoy relaxing in one of the luxury property’s 1,000-square-foot, one-bedroom Oasis Plunge Pool Suites. Equipped with a large porch, outdoor television, plunge pool, soaking tub, and an al fresco garden shower, the room is indeed a desert oasis.
When it’s time to refuel, any of the property’s dining options offer flavorful eats. For classic comfort food, visit Proof. We start dinner with twice-baked potato wedges and the shrimp tostada. My wife orders the Paccheri Pasta, which features wild mushrooms roasted to perfection. I choose the Bulleit Glazed Baby Back Ribs and pair it with Proof’s signature Barrel Aged Bulleit Bourbon Old Fashioned—an iconic Western combo that reminds me of John Wayne, who owned several ranches in Arizona.
The resort’s signature restaurant is Spanish steakhouse Talavera. Open only for dinner, the venue’s grilled Spanish octopus is a must-try—but first, make sure to capitalize on the build-your-own gin and tonic bar. For the main course, the duck breast is delicious, as is the roasted jidori chicken. For a sweet finish, there’s no better way to cap an evening than with the cinnamon churros and sorbet.
I return to the golf courses for a second outing under the valley sun, then make my way to the spa for a well-earned Golfer’s Massage. Via stretches and pressure point relief, the treatment recharges the body for a golfer’s next round. The massage incorporates heated golf balls—similar to a hot stone massage—for lighthearted but impactful, muscle tension relief. It’s an essential treatment for anyone spending multiple long days on the links.
If outdoor relaxation is your preference, choose the property’s desert bathing experience, which begins with intention-setting and then moves into a Zen hike through the foothills with meditative yoga poses along the way. It finishes with aromatherapy and a recentering session back at the spa.
After the peaceful walk through the foothills, an abundance of delectable comfort food, and the luxurious spa recovery, it’s almost as if my last day’s bogey-bogey finish on the Monument Course never happened. Almost.
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