We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, located on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, features two public 18-hole courses. Coore & Crenshaw designed the Saguaro course, opening in 2006, on rugged terrain with striking views of the Verde River Valley. Despite regulatory freedom, the Nation prioritized environmental stewardship in developing this stunning desert golf experience.
WeKoPa Golf Club
Fort McDowell, Arizona
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, open to the public, features two 18-hole courses on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. The resort’s original Cholla course opened in 2001, and Coore & Crenshaw were commissioned to design the Saguaro course, which debuted in late 2006. The duo had already built two courses at Talking Stick Resort, where the flat land lent itself to ‘theoretical golf.’
The terrain for Saguaro, though still a harsh desert environment, offered more topographic relief, including washes and scenic views of the Verde River Valley, surrounded by foothills and mountains. While Fort McDowell, as a sovereign nation, was not bound by extensive environmental regulations, the Yavapai Nation and course management prioritized preserving the natural landscape in its development.
A key environmental focus was routing the course to avoid disturbing washes classified as ‘404’ wetlands by the Army Corps of Engineers. Only a small portion could be mitigated, requiring careful navigation around washes or incorporating them as natural hazards. To protect fragile desert flora, Native Resources International salvaged trees, saguaros, and cacti from future fairways for later revegetation.
With only 30,000 cubic yards of earth moved, the course preserved its rugged, natural character. Additionally, the routing repurposed Fort McDowell’s former wastewater treatment plant, transforming it into sections of the eighth and tenth fairways and integrating its adjacent irrigation lake. These sustainability efforts helped reduce environmental impact while maintaining the course’s integrity.
Through thoughtful routing and minimal disturbance, Coore & Crenshaw shaped a par-71, 6,912-yard walkable desert course. With just 61.6 acres of maintained turf—far below the 80-acre desert course norm—Saguaro balances playability and water conservation. Alongside its many design awards, it remains popular among tourists and locals alike for its strategic, enjoyable, and accessible golf experience.
Images By: Lonna Tucker