Apache Course at Desert Mountain

Golf Course Description

This private golf community has five outstanding eighteen hole courses, with the addition of Chiricahua, which opened in 1999. This is the only golf community in the country with five Nicklaus designs. These are typical desert courses in which the desert often comes into play alongside fairways and around greens. The Cochise Course is very picturesque. “Golf Digest” rated this as the 7th “Best in State” course for 1995-96, and 9th in 1997-98. The greens are elevated, medium-sized, surrounded by sand bunkers, and some holes are highlighted by rock formations. Hole #7, a 215-yard, par 3, is highlighted by an elevated peninsula green. The Senior PGA Tour’s Tradition Tournament is played on the Cochise Course in March. The Renegade Course has a unique design that includes two flagsticks on every green. This results in having six different-length courses, depending on which combination of tees and flagsticks you choose. “Golf Digest” rated this as the 100th best out of “America’s 100 Greatest Courses” for 1995 and 1996. The course was also rated as the 6th “Best in State” course for 1995, and 7th in 1997-98. The same publication also rated the Geronimo Course as the 8th “Best in State” course for 1995-96, and 10th in 1997-98. The Apache Course, with its many grass areas and transitions to the desert, is more player-friendly than the Geronimo Course. A lake only comes into play on one hole on the Apache Course, the signature hole, which is #15, a 182-yard, par 3, requiring a tee shot to a green that slopes away from the water protecting its right side. The Chiricahua Course is a typical desert course — open, with medium-sized, fast greens. Fairway play is forgiving off the tee, with difficulty prevalent on approach shots to the green due to well-bunkered greens surrounded by canyons. The course is very playable from all tees. “Golf Digest” selected the Chiricahua Course tied for 9th on its list of “Best New Private” courses for 1999.