Few Valley golf courses can capture the full beauty of the Sonoran Desert like Eagle Mountain Golf Club in Fountain Hills. Eagle Mountain’s elevated perch provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding area, with the spectacular vistas of the Superstition Mountains to the east and the great Phoenix basin to the south and west. And while the setting alone is worth the trip, a round of golf provides a well-intentioned excuse.
The Scott Miller-designed course at Eagle Mountain permits bold play, as well as conservative options baked into the design. The layout is more forgiving than it appears from the tee, as several fairways slope towards the center providing an occasional helpful kick. It’s a fair test of golf that traverses along steep ridges and plunges through deep arroyos loaded with saguaro cacti, mesquite trees and all manner of desert fauna.
After cresting the ridge on the first hole (named Taking Flight) to see the green below, the nature of the experience is revealed. The par-5, 4th hole also plays downhill with a tempting opportunity to give it a go after a strong tee shot. The balance of the front nine keeps the pressure on with holes dubbed Washout, Arroyo Run and On the Rocks. The turn delivers another appropriately labeled nine holes such as Ascension, Staircase and The Chasm.
The course continues along with a variety of scenic challenges leading up to the finishing holes. Nos. 16 and 17 call for healthy carries over gnarly desert washes as they bend around the belly of a steep mountain. From there, golfers scramble up to the 18th tee to launch their shots from the dramatically elevated tee.
Golf is not the only action at Eagle Mountain that takes advantage of the wonderful views. The Grille serves up breakfast, lunch and early afternoon appetizers behind floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the golf course and the Southeast Valley in the distance. Wednesday night’s “Border Disorder” dinner buffet offers a hearty helping of Southwest-inspired fare and drink specials.
Right next door, Overlook Pavilion dresses up as an idyllic wedding location for ceremonies, receptions and other special events. Of course, the same wonderful views are on full display. This climate-controlled facility also opens to a neatly manicured event lawn for an enchanting Arizona indoor/outdoor wedding.
Wedding goers — and golfers — looking for a quiet place to lay their heads won’t need to go far from the clubhouse. The Inn at Eagle Mountain transforms this picturesque corner of Scottsdale into a destination with 43 mini-suites terraced along the 18th hole. Each offers luxury amenities with Southwestern décor that embraces serenity and the mystery of the desert while staying close to the heartbeat of Scottsdale and all it has to offer. Including golf. Counting Eagle Mountain, 72 holes of fantastic golf lie less than 10 minutes away, and there’s dozens more just a bit further. It’s a great home base for a vacation or stay-cation loaded with golf.
Eagle Mountain is a great place to shave a few strokes off the game. Headed by Derek Nannen, The Eagle Mountain Golf Academy is one of the premier golf schools in Arizona. His experiences on the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour — added to the club’s fantastic facilities — sets the stage for productive learning sessions for golfers of all abilities.
For those who want more golf, Eagle Mountain offers a handful of programs that allow frequent players to save a few bucks. In addition to low summertime rates, there’s a summer pass, junior card and an annual pass for reduced rates in high season. Plus, cardholders may also stock up in the golf shop and fuel up in the Grille for less — all strong incentives for golfers to make Eagle Mountain their home course.
Golf destinations world-wide stand out in their own unique way. In Arizona, it’s desert golf. And for locals, one of the most scenic desert-golf experiences is already in their back yard. Whether travelling across town or across the country, Eagle Mountain Golf Club’s desert experience provides a delightful loop through some of the most picturesque Sonoran Desert on the planet.
To start your adventure, call 480.816.1964 or visit EagleMountain.com.
