Lonna Tucker
LONNA TUCKER
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club: Cholla
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club: Cholla
18200 E Toh Vee Cir
Fort McDowell, AZ 85264-3121
United States
Telephone
Overview
Though our panelists rank the Cholla course as the second best at We-Ko-Pa, it's in the top-10 among public courses in golf-rich Arizona—making it a must-play. The Scott Miller design—located at the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, a 2022 Golf Digest Editors' Choice winner for resorts—winds through the arroyos and ridges of the Sonoran Desert. Split fairways, stacked stone riverbeds and 30-foot tall cacti in play give this hidden gem its character.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Best in State: Ranked 25th, 2011-'12. Ranked inside the top 25, 2003. Ranked 31st, 2021-'22. Ranked 33rd, 2023-'26.
Previous ranking: 33rd.
2025-'26 ranking: 33rd.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“We-Ko-Pa Cholla is a very fun and aesthetic course to play. It is very well conditioned. Most holes are relatively straight and flat, though there is some variation. Conditioning is excellent with firm and fast fairways and greens that do hold a shot and putt true."
Read More2025
Review
“Cholla was a very fun and aesthetic course to play. Conditioning was excellent - firm and fast fairways with greens that held a good shot and putted true. Regarding layout variety, most holes are straight and the course is quite flat, though hole #16 was a dog leg left and hole #12 falls off to the right at the green. There is a variety of shot options from the fairway and around the greens."
Read More2025
Review
“A Scott Miller design located at the We-Ko-Pa Resort, the Cholla course is the more "traditional desert" compared to its sister course (The Saguaro). Located in the High Sonoran Desert the landscape is typical of other local desert-styled resort course. Shot options are good that will require carries over arroyos and rock formations. Split fairways and several mid fairway desert trees and hazards create a number of challenges and provide scenic character throughout your play . The day I played (early November) the fairways were firm and fast throughout. The greens rolled true throughout the course at a typical speed of 9. Over all both of the We-Ko-Pa courses are good options for public course play when in the desert area near Scottsdale / Paradise Valley."
Read More2025
Review
“The two courses at We Ko Pa are very different. The Cholla course is a more traditional desert course with lots of forced carries over desert and arroyos. More challenging off the tee than its sister course at We Ko Pa with several center hazards and split fairways. Positioning off the tee is key to getting good angles into the greens. We Ko Pa is an excellent destination golf resort with outstanding service and conditions. There is no development around either course so it's a pure golf experience with no distractions."
Read More2025
Review
“Cholla is a stark contrast to the other course at We Ko Pa. A more traditional desert layout. Course is not overly long, but has several challenging holes that require precise shots off the tee to get in a position to score. Several center hazards, including trees and split fairways add to variety. A well-conditioned course with no homes on any holes makes for a pure golf experience."
Read More2025
Review
“The source provided numerous drivable or short par 4's which created a fun risk reward environment throughout the round. Was an extremely enjoyable round, but wind can have a huge impact on the round."
Read More2025
Review
“Course played through rolling Sonoran desert landscape including carries over arroyos and rock formations. Split fairways and several mid fairway desert trees / hazards created a number of challenges and shot options. Course played firm and fast throughout. Surrounding desert views combined with very good course sight lines and hole variety made this a very enjoyable course to play."
Read More2025
Review
“Course played through rolling Sonoran desert landscape including carries over arroyos and rock formations. Split fairways and several mid fairway desert trees / hazards created a number of challenges and shot options. Course played firm and fast throughout. Surrounding desert views combined with very good course sight lines and hole variety made this a very enjoyable course to play."
Read More2025
Review
“I actually like this course better than saguaro, it is much more fun to play. Conditions were excellent. Number 18 is a great finishing hole with strategy choices due to the cross bunker. The clubhouse, restaurant and practice area are also excellent."
Read More2025
Review
“Set in the middle of nowhere, Cholla doesn't get the acclaim of it's companion We-Ke-Pa course but it deserves it. Par 5s present a good deal of shot options. Gorse is very much in play throughout"
Read More2024
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