
Bad Little Nine Course
Scottsdale National Golf Club

About this course
Bad Little Nine at Scottsdale National Golf Club is a short course designed by Dick Bailey that complements the club's championship layout in the Sonoran Desert landscape north of Scottsdale. The nine-hole course occupies terrain characterized by the natural desert topography of the area, with elevation changes, native vegetation, and the rock outcroppings typical of the region. Bailey, who also designed the club's main course, created a routing that emphasizes strategic shot-making over distance. Scottsdale National opened in 2013 as a private club situated on several hundred acres of high Sonoran Desert, offering views across the surrounding mountains and valleys. The property sits at elevation above the valley floor, providing the dramatic terrain that shapes both courses. The Bad Little Nine serves as a practice facility and alternative routing for members, designed to be walked and played quickly while still presenting genuine strategic interest through green complexes and approach angles. The course reflects the minimalist design philosophy often applied to short courses, where hole variety and shot values take precedence over length. Players navigate holes that require precision with short irons and wedges, with the desert setting and natural contours providing both beauty and challenge. The layout integrates into the club's overall member experience, which emphasizes golf in a natural desert environment with limited membership and a focus on the game itself.
Quick facts
- Location
- Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 2003
- Designer
- Dick Bailey
- Holes
- 9
- Par
- 27
- Length
- 972 yards
Getting there
Scottsdale National Golf Club is most readily accessed via Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), situated roughly 30 miles south of the club, a drive of approximately 45 minutes through the sprawling Sonoran Desert landscape that gradually transitions from urban Phoenix into the refined foothills of North Scottsdale. For those arriving by private aircraft, Scottsdale Airport (SDL) lies just 15 minutes away and offers the discretion and convenience befitting the club's ultra-exclusive membership. The final approach winds through the manicured neighborhoods and natural desert terrain of North Scottsdale, where the landscape opens into pristine vistas of distant mountains before arriving at the club's secluded gates - a fitting passage into one of the Southwest's most coveted private sanctuaries.

FAQ
Common questions about Bad Little Nine at Scottsdale National Golf Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Bad Little Nine was designed by Dick Bailey.
Bad Little Nine at Scottsdale National Golf Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Bad Little Nine is 27.
Bad Little Nine plays 972 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
Bad Little Nine is a 9-hole course.






