What Golf Course Does Phil Mickelson Own?

While the image of a sports legend owning a personal golf course is compelling, when it comes to Phil Mickelson, the reality is a bit more complex and, arguably, more influential. Rather than owning a single course outright, Mickelson directs his passion for the game through his design firm and holds ownership stakes in an exclusive portfolio of top-tier clubs. This article breaks down exactly which courses are part of his empire and what makes them unique.

The Truth About Phil Mickelson's Golf Course Ownership

First, let's clear up the main point: Phil Mickelson does not have a single golf course that he owns 100%. His involvement in the golf course business is structured through two primary avenues: partial ownership and golf course design. Through these channels, he has assembled a powerful and prestigious portfolio of properties that reflect his own bold and strategic approach to golf. His primary vehicle for this is his company, Mickelson Design, which has been crafting and renovating courses for years.

Mickelson's philosophy is rooted in creating courses that are enjoyable for amateurs but can be ramped up to test the best players in the world. He builds in strategic options and risk-reward scenarios, much like the ones he's famous for navigating in his own legendary career. Let's look at the specific courses he's tied to.

Mickelson's Signature Portfolio: A Breakdown of His Courses

Phil's portfolio is a collection of exclusive clubs and a few high-profile international designs. Each one has his fingerprints on it, demanding creativity, strategy, and a skilled short game - hallmarks of Lefty himself.

Stone Canyon Golf Club (Tucson, Arizona)

In 2021, Phil Mickelson and his long-time business partner, Steve Loy, became partners in the ownership of Stone Canyon Golf Club. This is perhaps the closest thing he has to a "home base" in terms of ownership. Tucked against the Catalina Mountains, Stone Canyon is a dramatic desert course renowned for its breathtaking scenery and challenging layout.

• Phil's Role: Partial Owner / Partner.
• The Playing Experience: Designer Jay Morrish masterfully routed the course through massive rock formations, canyons, and saguaro cacti. From a coach's perspective, this course is a masterclass in target golf. You're not just hitting to fairways, you're hitting to specific sections of fairways to get the best angle into well-protected greens. The elevation changes are significant, meaning club selection is a constant challenge. If you miss the fairway, the desert is unforgiving, demanding a smart recovery shot rather than a heroic one - a discipline that even Phil himself has had to learn.

Whisper Rock Golf Club (Scottsdale, Arizona)

Whisper Rock is one of the most exclusive and discreet golf clubs in the United States, popular among PGA Tour professionals. It features two courses, the Lower and the Upper, and Mickelson is the architect behind one of them. He's also a member and holds an ownership stake.

• Phil's Role: Designer (Upper Course), Partial Owner, and Member.
• The Playing Experience: Mickelson designed the Upper Course, which contrasts with the Tom Fazio-designed Lower Course. Phil's layout is raw, rugged, and feels like it was discovered rather than built. He created wide landing areas off the tee, encouraging aggressive play, which is very on-brand. However, the true challenge lies in the "second shot." His green complexes are intricate, heavily bunkered, and surrounded by tight lies and runoff areas. To score well here, you absolutely need a world-class short game. You'll find yourself reaching for every club in the bag around the greens, from the lob wedge to the putter for "Texas-wedge" style shots, a classic Mickelson staple.

Mickelson National Golf Club (Calgary, Canada)

As the name implies, this is one of Mickelson Design's flagship projects. Located just west of Calgary, Mickelson was brought in to create a championship-caliber course capable of hosting major events, and he delivered in a big way.

• Phil's Role: Lead Designer.
• The Playing Experience: Mickelson National is a stadium-style course built on rolling prairie land. The wind is a major factor here, and Phil designed the course with that in mind. The fairways are generous, but they are often canted, meaning you must shape your shots against the wind and the slopes to hold the short grass. The course features dramatic bunkering and large, undulating greens. One of the key strategic elements is the placement of hazards. You'll often see a bunker that seems out of play for long hitters, but it’s perfectly placed to catch a slightly mis-hit tee shot or a conservative layup. It forces you to make a decision on every tee: take on the risk for a better approach or lay back and face a more difficult second shot.

The Greenbrier (White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia)

While not a 'Mickelson design' from the ground up, his role at The Greenbrier, a historic and luxurious resort, became profoundly important. He was named the resort's first-ever Designer in Residence and was tasked with major redesign work following a devastating flood in 2016 which nearly wiped out the famous Old White TPC course.

• Phil’s Role: Designer in Residence and Ambassador. He oversaw the restoration and redesign work, re-shaping greens and rebuilding bunkers to modern standards while respecting the original C.B. Macdonald design principles.
• The Playing Experience: The renovated courses are a testament to classic golf architecture infused with modern demands. His work focused on enhancing the strategic options. For example, he might widen a fairway but add a new bunker cluster to challenge the aggressive play, or reshape a green to create more distinct pin locations. Golfers playing at The Greenbrier today experience courses that are more resilient and strategically richer, thanks in part to Phil’s oversight and design expertise.

Playing a Mickelson Course: A Coach's Strategy Guide

If you ever get the chance to play a course designed or influenced by Phil Mickelson, you’re in for a strategic and exhilarating round. Here’s what you need to know to prepare your game.

1. Embrace the Risk-Reward Opportunities

Phil loves to give players options. You'll often stand on a tee and see a choice: a safe, wide fairway on one side, and a tighter, more direct route to the hole on the other, usually guarded by sand or water. He is baiting you into taking the hero shot. My coaching advice is this: be honest with your game. If your driver is sharp that day, taking the aggressive line might save you a stroke. But if you’re struggling off the tee, the conservative route is always available for a reason. Don't let your ego write a check your golf swing can't cash.

2. Sharpen Your Short Game (Especially Bunker Play)

Mickelson is arguably the greatest short-game player of his generation, and his designs reflect this. His green complexes are legendary for their difficulty.

• Bunkering: Phil loves deep, intimidating bunkers reminiscent of Augusta National or the classic Scottish links. He uses them to protect greens and frame holes visually. Before your round, spend 30 minutes in the practice bunker getting comfortable with hitting high, soft sand shots.
• Green Contours: His greens are large and feature multiple tiers, slopes, and ridges that divide the putting surface into small sections. The goal is to hit your approach shot to the correct section. Being on the right tier makes for a birdie putt, being on the wrong one means a challenging two-putt.
• Runoff Areas: Instead of thick rough, Phil often uses tightly mown runoff areas around his greens. These collection areas require immense creativity. You might have to play a delicate flop shot, a low bump-and-run with an 8-iron, or even putt it from well off the green. Practice these shots - it will save you a ton of strokes.

3. Think About Your Misses

Good course architecture provides a "bailout" area, and Mickelson's designs are no exception. On a tough par-3 over water, there will almost always be an area short and to the side of the green where you can miss safely. Before you fire at the flag, identify the trouble and then a "safe miss" zone. Aiming for the middle of the green and accepting a 20-foot putt is almost always a better strategy than aggressively going after a dangerous pin and bringing double-bogey into play.

Final Thoughts

In summary, while Phil Mickelson might not be the sole name on the deed to any particular golf course, his influence through ownership, investment, and design is undeniable and expanding. His portfolio represents a deep understanding of what makes golf challenging, strategic, and most of all, fun.

Navigating the strategic questions of a course designed by a master tactician like Mickelson often requires expert advice. Many players find that knowing the right play - when to be aggressive, what club to hit, or how to handle a tough lie - is half the battle. This is where modern tools can help. With an on-demand coach like Caddie AI in your pocket, you can get instant course management suggestions directly tailored to the situation in front of you, helping you turn those complex, risk-reward holes into real scoring opportunities.