PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play We-Ko-Pa Golf Club — Cholla

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for We-Ko-Pa Golf Club — Cholla in Fountain Hills, AZ.

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We-Ko-Pa Golf Club — Cholla golf course

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club — Cholla

Fountain Hills, AZ
Cholla tees · 7,225 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About We-Ko-Pa Golf Club — Cholla

Designed by Scott Miller and opened in 2001 on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land, We-Ko-Pa's Cholla Course is a premier target-style desert layout in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Free from residential development, the course features sweeping views of Red Mountain, Four Peaks, and the Superstition Mountains. It is characterized by wide landing zones, dramatic elevation changes, strategic cross-bunkering, and open green fronts that allow both high aerial approaches and ground-game run-up options.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play We-Ko-Pa Golf Club — Cholla

Off the tee

Tee shots demand strategic decision-making over raw distance, with diagonal fairway angles and desert washes crossing landing areas. Many holes present distinct risk-reward options where cutting over native desert shortens the approach but narrows the target zone.

Elevation & terrain

Substantial elevation shifts define the course, featuring dramatic downhill tee shots on holes 1, 8, and 18 that add distance to drives. Uphill approaches to elevated green complexes on several holes require extra club selection and distance control.

Approach play

Approaches test distance control over desert washes and protecting sand traps, though most greens feature open entrances accepting ground-game bump-and-run shots. Positioning approaches on the correct tier of undulating green surfaces is critical to avoid long, delicate putts.

Around the greens

Putting surfaces feature MiniVerde ultra-dwarf bermudagrass with subtle undulations, tight runoff edges, and strategically placed saving bunkers. Short-grass collection areas around greens allow golfers to utilize putters, chipping irons, or wedges for recovery.

Best way to play it

Select tee shot targets based on natural shot shape rather than aggressively challenging tight desert corners. Playing to the wide side of fairways creates unobstructed approach angles into greens where disciplined shot placement yields scoring opportunities.

Key takeaways

  • Pristine Sonoran Desert environment completely free of surrounding real estate or homes.
  • Scott Miller design combining generous landing areas with strategic saving bunkers and desert target play.
  • Open green entrances accommodate both aerial approach shots and ground-game run-up options.
  • Elevated tee boxes offer expansive mountain vistas and added distance off the tee.
  • Water hazards are absent until the dramatic closing approach on the 18th hole.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
4
351
13
Conservative play favors a tee shot to the wide right-center fairway, leaving a short approach. Aggressive players can challenge the left desert wash to shorten the hole.
Your 240 yd driver · ~111 yards remaining by raw distance.
2
5
588
3
Aim for the right side off the tee to create a clean line for laying up across the desert wash. Approach plays over bunker clusters short of a green guarded by surrounding mounding.
Your 240 yd driver · ~348 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
3
3
178
17
Target the wider right-center portion of the green to avoid two right greenside bunkers and stay clear of a left ridge that can obscure pin locations.
4
4
469
9
A left-to-right tee shot shape fits the fairway best and prevents running into desert rough. Approach to a green protected by front bunkers and short-grass borders.
Your 240 yd driver · ~229 yards remaining by raw distance.
5
3
207
15
Adjust club selection for the downhill elevation, favoring the left side of the putting surface to stay clear of bunkers located right and behind the green.
6
4
436
7
Choose an aggressive target line over the right-hand ridge bunkers for a short approach, or play safely to the left leaving a longer shot into a wide green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~196 yards remaining by raw distance.
7
4
350
11
Lay up into either the left or right fairway corridor with a fairway wood or hybrid. Playing down the left channel requires an uphill approach over three large bunkers.
Your 240 yd driver · ~110 yards remaining by raw distance.
8
5
605
1
Drive down the dramatic hill toward the right-center fairway. A grassed second-shot landing zone provides a fairer layup angle, though approaches must still clear left wash hazards.
Your 240 yd driver · ~365 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
9
4
459
5
Place your tee shot between fairway bunkers to set up a short-to-mid iron approach, taking enough club to carry the bunker guarding the front of the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~219 yards remaining by raw distance.
10
5
566
4
Navigate around a central tree and sand bunker off the tee. Playing to the right fairway sector shortens the distance to the green but brings a waste area into play.
Your 240 yd driver · ~326 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
11
3
220
16
Select sufficient club to comfortably carry the central front bunker complex, aiming for the middle of the green to navigate subtle swales across the surface.
12
4
390
10
Lay up off the tee using a fairway wood or long iron into the wide fairway. Approach to an undulating green framed by short-grass collection contours.
Your 240 yd driver · ~150 yards remaining by raw distance.
13
4
420
12
Favor the right-center side of the fairway to avoid left sand traps and open up an unobstructed approach angle into the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~180 yards remaining by raw distance.
14
3
177
18
Account for the downhill elevation drop when selecting your club. The green slopes from front to back, so landing short of the flag allows the ball to roll toward the hole.
15
4
327
14
Lay up short of the bunker complex with a long iron or hybrid for a clear wedge approach, or challenge the green directly while avoiding surrounding bunker traps.
Your 240 yd driver · ~87 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
16
4
472
6
Drive to the right of the prominent corner bunker to clear the crossing wash. The approach plays uphill to a green featuring a false front that deflects short shots down the slope.
Your 240 yd driver · ~232 yards remaining by raw distance.
17
5
578
2
A right-to-left tee shot takes advantage of the downhill fairway slope. Lay up carefully short of cross-bunkers to leave a short wedge approach into a well-protected green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~338 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
18
4
432
8
Aim for the left-center fairway to keep your drive clear of the water hazard guarding the right side. Approach past water and a massive right sand trap toward the clubhouse green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~192 yards remaining by raw distance.

Course information and strategy are provided for planning purposes. Yardages, course setup, hazards and playing conditions can change. Always confirm current course information before your round.