Offering members the world’s largest collection of private, Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses, Desert Mountain has come to define unparalleled championship desert golf like no other club.

Each course has been designed to provide an individual playing experience at all skill levels. Dramatic elevation changes, from the 2,700-foot Renegade Course to 3,400-foot Outlaw, rolling fairways, impeccable course conditions and far-reaching views of metro Phoenix-Scottsdale distinguish Desert Mountain’s 108 holes from other desert courses. Nowhere can you find a collection of courses that will keep players uniquely challenged in each round.

Renegade

At 7,524 yards, the Renegade Course was the first of the six Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses to open at Desert Mountain and was once described by Golf Magazine as “the most versatile course in the world.” Opened in 1987, it is designed to allow golfers to choose their level of play. You can vary the course’s set-up with two pin placements on every hole. The white pin is typically set forward on the green while the gold pin is more difficult and is set either on the same green or a different green altogether. Tee box alternatives include gold, blue, white and red. You can select a tee box and pin placement before the round, thus selecting the degree of difficulty preferred. The combination of Renegade’s tee and pin positions offer players of varied skill levels a truly unique test of their game. The result is equally varied slope and course ratings, ranging from 150/75.7 to 121/66.7. Renegade has earned a place on Golf Digest’s list of  “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses”  three times and is consistently named among the best courses in Arizona by the publication.

Cochise

With lush Sonoran Desert stretching out on every side, the 7,019- yard, Cochise Course demands a thoughtful  and strategic approach. This challenging course was the host course for the 2012 Charles Schwab Cup Championship, the season-ending event on the Champions Tour, which returns to Cochise in 2014 and 2016. It is also  the former site of The Tradition, a major event on the Champions Tour that the Golden Bear won four times when it was held on Cochise. Its signature holes are four of the finest “risk/reward” par fives to be found anywhere. With rolling fairways surrounded by water and dramatic desert rock outcroppings, this magnificent layout provides you with a true test of your skill. Approach shots require precision shot-making and contoured greens require a golfer’s deftest touch. The hallmark of the course is the par-3 seventh hole and par-5 fifteenth hole. The double green for these two holes sits on a picturesque island, approached by two different directions. Jack Nicklaus himself has called Cochise  ”one of the most picturesque golf courses in the world.”

Apache

Designed by Jack Nicklaus to appeal to golfers with traditional sensibilities, the Apache Course is a 7,211-yard gentle par-72 course. Moderate, rolling fairways, ample greens with subtle, grassy catch areas and deceptively sloping putting surfaces will provide you with a relaxed round of golf. Apache was designed as a links-style course that winds gracefully through gentle desert terrain.  The challenges of this course are the length and elevation changes.  Large, lush greens appear as extensions of the fairways. Many members say it is important to master uphill or downhill shots. The eighteenth hole features two separate greens with the more difficult green set into a hillside bordered by an unforgiving wash known for its appetite for golf balls. So it’s not surprising that Apache is best known for its “disappearing green.” Built in the old Scottish tradition, the entire putting surface is not visible. It is a challenging, yet playable course for golfers of all skill levels.

Geronimo

Described by Jack Nicklaus as “the strong looking course,” Geronimo is perhaps the most visually intimidating of the six courses at Desert Mountain. At 7,420 yards from the back tees, it winds its way through dramatic boulders, deep washes, ravines and lush desert showcasing large elevation changes balanced by stunning plateaus.  The drama of Geronimo is evident from the first hole, a stunning 570-yard par five with a large elevation drop to a broad fairway. The hole requires a well-struck second shot to set up the proper position to attack this shallow, well bunkered green. While some of the front nine holes might deceptively lead you to believe it is a gentle course, the back nine will surely change that impression. The last hole is a 160-yard, par 3 that requires an exacting shot over a canyon to a two-tiered green between sand bunkers. For every carry over a deep ravine, designer Nicklaus provides a safe route for those less daring shot makers.

Chiricahua

For many golfers, Chiricahua, the fifth Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, represents the pinnacle of the designer’s desert achievements. Upon opening for play in 1999, the course was recognized by Golf Digest as one of the top new private courses in the United States. The crown jewel of Desert Mountain’s Nicklaus Signature collection, Chiricahua combines the architecture of its four predecessors. The highest course in elevation of all six, Chiricahua features elevation changes ranging from 3,000 to 3,300 feet and offers stellar views of metro Phoenix and the Valley. At 7,197 yards, this par-72 desert target course features eight holes that play downhill, nine that play uphill and one that plays sideways for an exhilarating combination. Truly a masterwork of design, Chiricahua provides endless variety for you and your guests as it winds through the Village of Saguaro Forest to the foot of the Old World-inspired Chiricahua Clubhouse.

Outlaw

The sixth and final course at Desert Mountain, Outlaw opened in 2003 to rave reviews for its traditional Scottish links design and location on a 176-acre site adjacent to the Tonto National Forest. Jack Nicklaus has said he was determined to “take what nature gave us and try to enhance it.” The spectacular desert landscape includes many subtle terrain features including native washes, gentle rolling hills and many unencumbered views of local landmarks such as Pinnacle Peak, the McDowell Mountains and Four Peaks. Outlaw offers generous landing areas and was carefully designed to eliminate forced carries from the tees. Bring your ground game, as this course asks you to hit a variety of high, low and  bump and run shots. Outlaw does not have homes built along it and you’re encouraged to walk the course and play the game the way it was meant to be played.