Off The Press
Club and Resort Business Best Patios (#6-15)
Club and Resort Business
Published: July 27, 2021
For this group on the Top 41 list, the patios are profiled for BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Menlo Circus Club in Atherton, Calif.; We-Ko-Pa Golf Club in Fort McDowell, Ariz.; Desert Highlands in Scottsdale, Ariz.; The Philadelphia (Pa.) Cricket Club; Lauderdale Yacht Club in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; The Estancia Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.; Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz.; The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Conn.; and Addison Reserve Country Club in Delray Beach, Fla.
Club + Resort Business has released its list of Top Ranked Patios for 2021. The rankings reflect the ratings of club and resort properties that submitted entries, as judged independently by General Managers and Membership/Marketing Directors of several leading clubs.
The rankings reflect the judges’ scoring of data provided on patio square footage, both total and covered; total capacity and seating capacity; features such as outdoor ovens, firepits and outdoor bars/service stations; and average daily meal covers served on the patio.
Entries also included descriptions submitted by the club and resort properties on why their patio area should be top ranked, and a full complement of supporting photos.
The judges weighted the data and material provided to score all entries on a scale of 100.
The full rankings can be viewed on the main Top Ranked Listing Page. Here are profiles of the Nos. 6-15 Ranked Private Clubs in the Patios category.
BallenIsles’ dining venues, Bistro 105 and the Skinny Palms/Cabana, offer 5,000 sq. ft. of outdoor al fresco dining space, providing members with an inviting location to socialize under swaying palm trees and the warm glow of string lights.
After the onset of the pandemic, BallenIsles’ outdoor patios delivered the ambiance and square footage required to accommodate safe social distancing while COVID-imposed restrictions were in place. Those gatherings have included evenings accompanied by live music, where members can unwind in comfortable soft seating overlooking BallenIsles’ East Golf Course, choose to savor a cocktail from the Cabana Bar poolside, or attend a themed happy hour, such as a Luau with flamethrowers and Hawaiian dancers.
BallenIsles has also utilized the Grand Terrace as the ideal viewing location for its Spectacular New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show, as well as a host site for outdoor live concerts. The patio venues have quickly become members’ favorite locations for dining and socializing—so much so that the outdoor patio locations have been integrated as permanent additions to the club’s social calendar.
#7 Menlo Circus Club, Atherton, Calif.
Menlo Circus Club’s patio dining area is unique among private clubs, as a place where members can dine for Sunday brunch while a polo match is being played. The patio provides a one-of-a-kind, open and inviting atmosphere where members can dine among friends and family.
The club hosts a variety of events on its patio and polo field, from weddings to special events to the popular weekly “Cocktails and Dogtails” gathering.
#8 We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Fort McDowell, Ariz.
Whether it’s used to grab a bite to eat before a round of golf or for enjoying a drink and cigar afterwards, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s patio provides an ideal setting for relaxation.
In the summer, the patio is the perfect place to get out of the desert heat, with expansive shady areas and umbrellas. In the winter, the roaring firepit provides just enough warmth for al fresco dining and wonderful sunsets. From dusk until dawn, golfers and others are always welcome at the We-Ko-Pa patio.
#9 Desert Highlands, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Desert Highlands’ award-winning clubhouse reflects the club’s pride in making sure its members have outdoor spaces to be enjoyed by all. Scottsdale is known for its exceptional weather, and the Desert Highlands clubhouse has been built with a choice of patios that offer a full opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors.
The club’s several outdoor patio areas feature views of the Sonoran Desert, the Valley and city lights, and the majestic Pinnacle Peak. Both casual and elevated dining areas are offered to provide a variety of experiences.
Jack’s Patio serves members cocktails and culinary bites while viewing the extraordinary view of the Peak. Ventana Patio gives members city lights and Valley views while enjoying an elevated dining experience. And the Sunset Bar is the perfect spot for enjoying a cocktail and taking in the breathtaking Arizona sunsets.
#10 The Philadelphia Cricket Club, Philadelphia, Pa.
The Philadelphia Cricket Club has numerous patios on its multiple campuses where members can enjoy their time overlooking one of the club’s golf courses or its grass tennis courts.
At the St. Martins Clubhouse in Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill section, the Cricket Club’s covered porch seats 84 people with beautiful views of the grass tennis courts. Adjacent to the porch is the Tennis Patio, which has comfortable soft seating, Adirondack chairs, and firepits. On the Bluestone Patio below the porch, members enjoy open-air seating while sipping cocktails and snacking on light bites.
The Cricket Club’s Flourtown Clubhouse outside of Philadelphia boasts views of the historic Wissahickon golf course. With dining seating for 96 people and an abundance of soft seating, this is a lively spot for a post-round meal or just enjoying time with family and friends. The Wissahickon patio can also be transformed into an event space for up to 240 people.
Finally, the casual Militia Hill patio offers the perfect place to relax on soft seating while enjoying the scenic views of the rolling fairways. Menu selections, served straight from the outdoor grill, complement the relaxing atmosphere of this picturesque space.
#11 Lauderdale Yacht Club, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Lauderdale Yacht Club (LYC) is focused on a family-friendly club culture while still maintaining the highest standards for its members and their guests.
The club’s Burgee Patio, located on the second floor, is the premier casual location to dine, offering sweeping views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the club’s expansive, multi-purpose Olympic size pool. On the Burgee Patio, members and guests can dine on elevated Florida coastal cuisine in an approachable, calm and tropical atmosphere, enjoying the view of the coastal landscape from this vantage point while the breeze from the large overhead fans keeps them cool.
The club’s lower patios also offer an elevated dining experience with pristine views of the Intracoastal, which are often filled with LYC’s own local yachtsmen and sailors. The décor is chic, modern, comfortable and inviting.
#12 The Estancia Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Estancia Club’s existing patio was completely scraped and rebuilt in 2018 to take full advantage of the wonderful weather and views of Scottsdale during season.
The ambience created by the new firepits, fireplace and lighting that were added through the renovation has made the patio the primary gathering spot for Estancia’s members.
This was especially evident during the pandemic, when the club’s food-and-beverage sales skyrocketed while other clubs and restaurants without patios suffered greatly. Estancia Club members continue to enjoy one of the most beautiful settings in north Scottsdale.
#13 Las Sendas Golf Club, Mesa, Ariz.
Open Table has ranked the Las Sendas Golf Club as among the top 100 Al Fresco Dining locations for two consecutive years.
Offering views from its location 1,800 feet above the Phoenix valley, Las Sendas’ casual outdoor dining experience is surrounded by breathtaking views of the mountains, desert, golf course fairways and Phoenix city lights.
Live entertainment is provided nightly, and sales exceed $2 million annually for patio revenue.
#14 The Stanwich Club, Greenwich, Conn.
Recently, over 40 club managers in the tri-state area (Connecticut, New York and New Jersey), along with representatives of their respective committees, have visited The Stanwich Club to tour its patio, confirming that it is widely considered to be the benchmark standard by which all outdoor spaces are compared.
Upon entering the historic mansion of Semloh Farm, the property on which the club was built, one’s eyes are drawn instantly to the massive French doors, which are swung open to reveal the crown jewel of outdoor spaces, The Stanwich Club patio. Upon reaching and setting foot on the patio, one is instantly struck by the multitude of spaces that exist throughout the outdoor space—so many different spaces, in fact, that when members and guests are asked by club staff which one they’d like to use, it’s not an easy decision.
The patio alone has two different fireplaces where one can relax. The more formal fireplace encompasses club chairs and couch that overlook the golf course’s 18th green, which is just feet away, and the Long Island Sound. The second fireplace, or firepit, is on the lower level of the patio, providing a more private space to gather with friends, yet still feel the energy of the upper patio.
The main space of the patio is both spacious and inviting, with each seat providing views of the golf course and the Sound. Off the main patio is a sunken lower Terrace that separates parties but keeps everyone close enough to all of the action.
On chillier days, the imported, custom 6×3 granite pavers with 4” bluestone wall caps contain radiant heat and a drop-down screen that allows parties to flow into the outdoor space. The outside bar has enough space to hold people three deep for socializing or watching the big game on the flat-screen television. After one enjoys watching the sun set over the golf course, uplighting that is built into the patio stone highlights its elegance.
The patio itself affords an incredible ease of use, with dedicated power for hosting multiple entertainment options. Built-in, quick-disconnect propane outlets throughout the patio offer ultimate flexibility when cooking for members and guests.
The Veranda, which provides the greatest views of the golf course and Long Island Sound, offers another fireplace and three comfortable and private areas for gathering.
#15 Addison Reserve Country Club, Delray Beach, Fla.
The patio area at Addison Reserve’s Lifestyle Complex. which opened in 2019, provides undercover seating, as well as open-air seating by firepits and the lighted waterfall.
Members enjoy dining in both areas, which have views of the resort-style pool from virtually every angle.
The expansive indoor/outdoor bar is the perfect place to meet for a drink and/or a snack in the afternoons or evenings. Members also enjoy live music during regularly scheduled “Wine Down Wednesdays” and “Fab Fridaze” events, as well as on the weekends.
Desert Highlands’ Golden Fork Award for Jack’s
Golf Inc.
Published: February 17, 2021
Desert Highlands’ Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course is one of the best layouts in Arizona. Now dining there is a star attraction too. The club hired Erik B. Peterson and Andrea Lucarelli of PHX Architecture, True North Builders, Hatch Design Group and Jim Smith of Serving the Nation to design a one-of-a-kind gastropub restaurant and bar. Fittingly named Jack’s Gastropub, it opened in October 2020 with a wait list that was six-months long. It’s a high-energy gathering space that helps diversify Desert Highlands’ dining options. A large communal table commands the room and provides a custom bar experience for up to 22 members. The pub also boasts a piano bar and upgraded lounge area. “The success of this project lives at the intersection of the partnership created by everyone involved,” said General Manager Monty Becton. “This is one of the most rewarding and successful projects I’ve been associated with, and that’s based on how
everyone came together with one common vision to ensure the final product exceeded our members’ expectations.” In the few months that it’s been open, Jack’s has had a profound impact on the club and on member satisfaction, club officials said.
Course Rater Confidential: What are the best desert golf courses in the country?
GOLF'S COURSE RATINGS PANEL
Published: February 7, 2021
As much of the northeast unburies from a blizzard, the PGA Tour is in temperate Scottsdale this week for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Scottsdale, of course, is a prime destination for desert golf, but many other places offer desert golf, too, from Albuquerque and El Paso to Palm Springs, Bend and beyond. What’s your favorite spot for desert golf, and why?
Steve Lapper (Panelist since 2009; has played 84 of the World Top 100): Scottsdale may solidly lead in quantity for desert golf, but for quality, it’s tough to beat Cabo San Lucas. Cabo boasts a dozen or more high-quality plays that are pure desert environs with spectacular Pacific Ocean or Sea of Cortez views. From Jack Nicklaus’s terrific seaside public Cabo Del Sol to the private and world-ranked Diamante Dunes, there’s a plethora of great choices. I am fond of the Palm Desert area as well and would give a shoutout to Desert Willow or PGA West on the public side, and to the esteemed and unique Stone Eagle or the pristine Quarry Club on the private side.
Paul Rudovsky (Panelist since 2015; has played all of the World Top 100): For one place, I would have to pick Scottsdale, in part because of its large quantity of high-quality clubs and courses, and also because it is easy to get to from elsewhere in the U.S. In terms of highest quality of golf in a desert setting, I would have to go with the Cabo San Lucas region.
Which two courses get your nod as the best public and private desert golf courses in the country?
Lapper: In the public arena, it’s very tough to beat the high-desert beauties like Gamble Sands (Brewster, Wash.), Sand Hollow (Hurricane, Utah) or Wolf Creek (Mesquite, Nev.). For the low desert, We-Ko-Pa Saguaro (Fort McDowell, Ariz.), Talking Stick (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Desert Willow (Palm Desert, Calif.) or PGA West Stadium (La Quinta, Calif.). No golfer would suffer from picking any one of these for a round. All are scenic, sporty and strategically interesting courses. They never spell boring. On the private side there are many. Some are simply beautiful and exotically well-maintained, such as The Quarry Club (La Quinta, Calif.) and Estancia (Scottsdale, Ariz.). Others are architecturally impressive and unique, including Desert Forest (Carefree, Ariz.) and Stone Eagle (Palm Desert, Calif.). The latter are important benchmarks for the desert game. Red Lawrence — disciple of William Flynn (Merion, Shinnecock) — built Desert Forest in 1962. It is considered the very first pure desert course in the U.S. Stone Eagle, by Tom Doak, is a brilliant modern take on a desert layout. Both are thrilling.
Brown: On the public side, Barona Creek is a favorite of mine in the area east of San Diego. Gary Roger Baird and Todd Eckenrode designed the golf course on the Native American Reservation in 2000. At the time, the architects were considered innovators in conserving water — using less than 90 acres of irrigated turfgrass while allowing for ample width in the fairways. The pacing of the holes is terrific, as is the site selection for each natural green location. Eckenrode led a recent renovation, updating the bunkers and restoring the greens to their original design. For private, Desert Highlands in North Scottsdale. Lyle Anderson contracted Jack Nicklaus to design the challenging course in the early 1980s. The golf course benefited from an extensive renovation in 2019. Television footage from the initial Skins Games contested at Desert Highlands featured long holes with flattering views of Pinnacle Peak. The small, elevated desert tee pads on the par-4s are unique, but I found the strength of the design in its par-3 holes. Perhaps in homage to Cypress Point, the short par-3 15th is a pitch shot followed by the long and challenging par-3 16th, which looked more like a par-4 from the tee box my group played from. Easily the most enviable aspect of desert golf at a private club is the impossible standard of perfection the maintenance staff presents the greens and fairways.
Rudovsky: In my mind, the best public courses would be, 1, Gamble Sands (central Washington), because it is simply great fun and playable with tremendous fairway width and wonderful use of the exceptional topography; and, 2, We-Ko-Pa Saguaro, just east of Scottsdale where Coore and Crenshaw made their magic work in a beautiful desert setting. The best private desert course to me would be Whisper Rock (Upper) in Scottsdale — beautiful and fun and one of the finest clubs in the country. With that said, if one remembers that the Los Angeles area was a desert way back when (and that it remains a desert-like climate nine months of the year), it would be my choice as the best location for “desert golf,” with the best privates being LACC-North and Riviera, and the best public being Gil Hanse’s Rustic Canyon about 50 mile northwest of downtown LA.
Jack’s at Desert Highlands Spells Success
North Valley Magazine
Published: December 7, 2020
A new addition to North Scottsdale, Jack’s at Desert Highlands has everything going for it—beautiful views, an evolving menu and success despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Named after golf legend and course architect Jack Nicklaus, the gastropub was formerly a private dining room in the clubhouse. During a COVID-19-dictated closure, crews renovated the space, tore down walls and turned it into Jack’s, a casual dining concept for Desert Highlands’ members.
“It’s a popular place right now,” says Joan Sykora, director of sales and member relations. “We are busy—as much as you can be with COVID. We have a nice menu and different options for our members to enjoy. Looking out on the patio and over Pinnacle Peak is the natural, organic Sonoran Desert. We have great, organic views outside the windows.”
The signature starter on the menu is the fried green olives ($10). They’re stuffed with goat cheese and prosciutto with garlic aioli.
“They are very sought after by the members,” she says.
Another top dish is the DH fork and knife burger of the month. In November, it was a burger made with slow-braised short rib, 8-ounce patty, caramelized onion, white cheddar and horseradish mayo ($18). The favorite is the fish and chips ($10), which is breaded walleye pike, tartar sauce and two sides.
“We have something for everybody, from chicken wings to sliders to burgers to clean, healthy living eating,” Sykora says. “Our chef makes everything in-house. His veggie burger is handmade by him. All the ingredients are in-house.
“We have a nice pizza oven, where he can get creative with that side of it as well.”
In November, chef Todd Allison offered Buffalo chicken pizza ($18); mushroom and artichoke pizza ($17); prosciutto and arugula pizza ($18) and margherita pizza ($17). Allison was formerly executive chef at T. Cook’s at the Royal Palm Resort and Spa.
The restaurant will be closed on Christmas, but before that, Jack’s allows members to pick up meals to go. Sykora says it’s important to serve those who are concerned about COVID-19.
“We have an indoor and outdoor patio area,” she adds. “We do some fun drive-thru events to help those who are hesitant to come back in the club for COVID reasons. Friday night we have a drive-thru barbecue rib and burger night. Drivers pull up to the grill, and we can get them ribs and/or a burger or a margarita to go.”
The renovation occurred in June, led by award-winning architect Erik B. Peterson of PHX Architecture. A large, custom communal table commands the room and provides a custom bar experience for up to 22 people. Jack’s also features high tops, flat-screen televisions, and images that pay homage to the influence of Nicklaus and other golf legends.
The gastropub’s construction coincided with the Desert Highlands’ kitchen renovation, which cost, in total, $2 million. The kitchen renovation included creating an efficient layout that allows the club’s culinary team to be more creative. An additional 16 feet of space allows Allison to oversee the operation and create direct service lines for the gastropub and the club’s intimate Ventana Room.
“The renovation gave us a blank slate to work with, as opposed to working around people,” Sykora says. “We opened in October, and all of us have learned a lot since March. We’ve been able to react a little bit better. We were fully prepared with social distancing and seating every other table. We managed to make it feel comfortable to come back. It was a warm welcome after being away from the clubhouse for so long.”
Desert Highlands Designated a Top-15 ‘Platinum Club of America’ Golf Club
Morning Read
Published: October 28, 2020
(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) – Desert Highlands – the acclaimed luxury golf club and community in the stunning Sonoran Desert of North Scottsdale – ranked among the top-15 of ‘Platinum Clubs of America’ golf clubs for 2021-22 by the Club Leaders Forum, a leading source in the private club industry and publisher of The Forum Magazine.
The famed Scottsdale club finished 14th overall in these rankings, and was the only golf club in Arizona to be listed in the top-25. Every two years, a preliminary ballot is circulated to private club managers around the country to nominate clubs for a final ballot. Once complete, the final ballot is distributed to club managers, presidents and owners of America’s finest private clubs. These club officials then rate clubs based on the Platinum Club Advisory Board’s seven selection criteria: Universal Recognition; Excellence in Amenities and Facilities; Caliber of Staff and Professional Service Levels; Quality and Commitment of Membership; Governance and Fiscal Management; Adapting to Changing Times; and Overall Experience.
The Club Leaders Forum ranked Augusta National as the top golf club for 2021-22. Seminole Golf Club in Florida rounded out the top-10, while San Francisco Golf Club finished at No. 11, Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland was 12th and Chicago Golf Club ranked 13th. The Platinum Clubs of America top 50 golf clubs list can be found here.
“Being selected by the Club Leaders Forum’s esteemed panel as a top-15 Platinum Club of America golf club is truly an honor,” says Monty Becton, General Manager / COO of Desert Highlands. “Our staff does a remarkable job of upholding Desert Highlands’ championship caliber conditioning and impeccable service standards, making it an amazing place to live and play golf. Our members, who are the ambassadors of the golf club and community, are extremely proud of this prestigious accolade.”
Desert Highlands’ energetic lifestyle consistently draws discerning families and active Boomers in equal measure – golfers, tennis enthusiasts, pet lovers, and health and wellness enthusiasts. A full social calendar allows residents to fully enjoy this peaceful community.
Stretching to over 7,100 yards, the Desert Highlands golf course recently re-opened after a $7 million renovation project that included refurbishing every bunker, restoring the 13th hole to its original design, installing a new irrigation system and updating cart paths. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course offers a challenging, but fair test, and striking views of Pinnacle Peak and the lights of the Valley spread across the horizon in the distance below. Desert Highlands was Nicklaus’ first design in Arizona, and immediately set the bar for desert golf experiences, not only in Scottsdale but statewide and nationwide.
Just as impressive is Desert Highlands’ Racquet Club, which sports 13 tennis courts featuring all three Grand Slam surfaces – grass, clay and hard. Noted ATP player Nick Kyrgios considers Desert Highlands’ grass courts “better than Wimby [Wimbledon].” The Racquet Club also added two regulation-size pickleball courts earlier this year.
Earlier this month, Desert Highlands unveiled Jack’s, a lively gastropub inside the clubhouse named after Nicklaus, to its members. Led by award-winning architect Erik B. Peterson of PHX Architecture, Jack’s is a high-energy gathering space that diversifies Desert Highlands’ dining options. A large custom communal table commands the room and provides a custom bar experience for up to 22. Jack’s also features high tops, flat-screen televisions and images that pay homage to the influence that Nicklaus and other golf legends have made.
In addition, Desert Highlands boasts a 7,700-square-foot Wellness Center, an 18-hole professionally designed putting course and a spacious dog park. Inside, the club provides residents peace of mind with a state-of-the-art security system, professionally trained security personnel, visitor control and access, and other protection amenities. Among the acclaimed residential services that truly pamper residents and meet their specific needs – shipping and transportation assistance, pool and spa maintenance, auto detailing and other customized services.
Desert Highlands Caps $2 Culinary Project with Opening Jack’s Gastropub
Club & Resort Business
Published: October 21, 2020
Named in honor of Jack Nicklaus, who designed the course at the Scottsdale, Ariz. club, Jack’s features a large, custom communal table, high tops and flat-screen televisions. A recent kitchen renovation included the creation of an efficient layout that allows the club’s culinary team to service both the gastropub and Desert Highlands’ Ventana Room.
Desert Highlands in Scottsdale, Ariz. unveiled Jack’s, a gastropub inside the clubhouse named after golf legend and course architect Jack Nicklaus, to its members.
C+RB spoke with Monty Becton, General Manager/COO of Desert Highlands, about the restaurant on an episode of The Road Back in July.
Led by architect Erik B. Peterson of PHX Architecture, Jack’s is a high-energy gathering space that diversifies Desert Highlands’ dining options. A large custom communal table commands the room and provides a custom bar experience for up to 22. Jack’s also features high tops, flat-screen televisions and images that pay homage to the influence that Nicklaus and other golf legends have made.
The design also incorporates a piano bar and upgraded lounge area, which provides members a relaxed atmosphere to mingle and entertain. Additionally, the eatery’s entrance offers a “walk through memory lane” feel, featuring images and classic golf memorabilia. The overall aesthetic is a modernized take on a historical clubhouse, and Jack’s incorporates an entire interiors refresh designed by Sam and Mike Hatch of the Hatch Design Group.
Construction of the gastropub, along with a renovation of the Desert Highlands kitchen was part of a $2 million project that began in June. C+RB reported on the plans at the time.
The kitchen renovation, which finished a month ago, includes the creation of an efficient layout that allows the club’s culinary team to be more imaginative. An additional 16 feet of space allows Executive Chef Todd Allison to oversee the entire operation and create direct service lines for both the gastropub and the club’s intimate Ventana Room. Additional enhancements include improved acoustics, which provides a more positive overall dining experience.
“We are excited to showcase Jack’s to our members and provide them an engaging and festive dining experience,” said Becton. “Our culinary team constantly evaluates the immediate and long-term needs of our membership and wants to create a completely seamless and first-class dining experience for our members. The gastropub, along with the kitchen renovation and other enhancements, allows us to accomplish this and remain a standard bearer for upscale private communities.”
Stretching to more than 7,100 yards, the Desert Highlands golf course recently re-opened after a $7 million renovation project that included refurbishing every bunker, restoring the 13th hole to its original design, installing a new irrigation system and updating cart paths. The golf course offers a challenging, but fair test, and views of Pinnacle Peak and the lights of the Valley spread across the horizon in the distance below. Desert Highlands was Nicklaus’ first design in Arizona, and immediately set the bar for desert golf experiences, not only in Scottsdale but statewide and nationwide.
Just as impressive is Desert Highlands’ Racquet Club, which sports 13 tennis courts featuring all three Grand Slam surfaces—grass, clay and hard. Noted ATP player Nick Kyrgios considers Desert Highlands’ grass courts “better than Wimby [Wimbledon].” The Racquet Club also added two regulation-size pickleball courts earlier this year, which C+RB reported at the time.
In addition, Desert Highlands boasts a 7,700-sq.-ft. Wellness Center, an 18-hole professionally designed putting course and a spacious dog park. Inside, the club provides residents peace of mind with a state-of-the-art security system, professionally trained security personnel, visitor control and access, and other protection amenities.
Desert Highlands Introduces Jack’s Gastropub
Arizona Foothills Magazine
Published: October 21, 2020
Desert Highlands – the acclaimed luxury golf club and community in the stunning Sonoran Desert of North Scottsdale – unveils Jack’s, a lively gastropub inside the clubhouse named after golf legend and course architect Jack Nicklaus, to its members.
Led by award-winning architect Erik B. Peterson of PHX Architecture, Jack’s is a high-energy gathering space that diversifies Desert Highlands’ dining options. A large custom communal table commands the room and provides a custom bar experience for up to 22.
Jack’s also features high tops, flat-screen televisions and images that pay homage to the influence that Nicklaus and other golf legends have made.
The design also incorporates a piano bar and upgraded lounge area, which provides members a relaxed atmosphere to mingle and entertain. Additionally, the eatery’s entrance offers a “walk through memory lane” feel, featuring images and classic golf memorabilia.
The overall aesthetic is a modernized take on a historical clubhouse, and Jack’s incorporates an entire interiors refresh designed by Sam and Mike Hatch of the Hatch Design Group.
Construction of the gastropub, along with a renovation of the Desert Highlands kitchen was part of a $2 million project that began in June. The kitchen renovation, which finished a month ago, includes the creation of an efficient layout that allows the club’s culinary team to be more imaginative.
An additional 16 feet of space allows Executive Chef Todd Allison to oversee the entire operation and create direct service lines for both the gastropub and the club’s intimate Ventana Room. Additional enhancements include improved acoustics, which provides a more positive overall dining experience.
We are excited to showcase Jack’s to our members and provide them an engaging and festive dining experience. Our culinary team constantly evaluates the immediate and long-term needs of our membership and wants to create a completely seamless and first-class dining experience for our members. The gastropub, along with the kitchen renovation and other enhancements, allows us to accomplish this and remain a standard-bearer for upscale private communities.
– General Manager / COO Monty Becton
Desert Highlands’ energetic lifestyle consistently draws discerning families and active Boomers in equal measure – golfers, tennis enthusiasts, pet lovers, and health and wellness enthusiasts. A full social calendar allows residents to fully enjoy this peaceful community.
Stretching to over 7,100 yards, the Desert Highlands golf course recently re-opened after a $7 million renovation project that included refurbishing every bunker, restoring the 13th hole to its original design, installing a new irrigation system and updating cart paths.
The splendid golf course offers a challenging, but fair test, and striking views of Pinnacle Peak and the lights of the Valley spread across the horizon in the distance below. Desert Highlands was Nicklaus’ first design in Arizona, and immediately set the bar for desert golf experiences, not only in Scottsdale but statewide and nationwide.
Just as impressive is Desert Highlands’ Racquet Club, which sports 13 tennis courts featuring all three Grand Slam surfaces – grass, clay and hard. Noted ATP player Nick Kyrgios considers Desert Highlands’ grass courts “better than Wimby [Wimbledon].” The Racquet Club also added two regulation-size pickleball courts earlier this year.
Also, Desert Highlands boasts a 7,700-square-foot Wellness Center, an 18-hole professionally designed putting course, and a spacious dog park. Inside, the club provides residents peace of mind with a state-of-the-art security system, professionally trained security personnel, visitor control, access, and other protection amenities.
Among the acclaimed residential services that truly pamper residents and meet their specific needs – shipping and transportation assistance, pool and spa maintenance, auto detailing and other customized services.
Desert Highlands Golf Course: A Lasting Legacy
Desert Highlands Blog
Published: September 1, 2020
It’s the crown jewel of Desert Highlands, but did you know that its golf course was a trailblazer on several fronts and is still considered as one of the best layouts in Arizona?
We all know the specifics on the golf course – Jack Nicklaus Signature Design that opened for play in 1983. What might not be known is that the golf course pioneered the popularization of the sport in North Scottsdale.
Let’s not get this confused with Desert Forest in Carefree – that Red Lawrence design kickstarted the desert golf craze when it opened in 1962. Desert Highlands placed the first flagstick in North Scottsdale and started the high-end golf trend that has now become the major attraction for this area.
“While other golf courses in the area, and throughout Arizona, have since incorporated the ‘target’ or ‘desert’ concept into their layouts,” Nicklaus notes in Joan C. Fudala’s book ‘A Vision in the Desert: 25th Anniversary Tribute 1982-2008’, “past and present members of Desert Highlands can take pride in the fact that their course and their community experienced it first.”
To commemorate the opening of Desert Highlands, developer Lyle Anderson wanted to host a grand event that would put the club and community on the golf map and give golfers around the world “desert golf fever.” According to Fudala, Nicklaus told Anderson in the early 1980s that he’d been approached to play an inaugural Skins Game, which promoters were planning to hold in Hawaii. Nicklaus balked at the idea unless they brought the event to Desert Highlands, which was still under construction and untested for championship play.
“Don Ohlmeyer, the originator and primary force behind a made-for-television, superstars-of-golf Skins match, flew to Scottsdale to meet with Lyle and see the course,” she writes. “According to Anderson, by the time they got to the 16th hole, Ohlmeyer turned to him and said, ‘Lyle, if you’ll have this [inaugural Skins Game] here, Desert Highlands will become world famous.’ He did, and it did.”
The inaugural Skins Game, which featured Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Watson, ended up being a huge success. NBC televised the event with Vin Scully as the announcer – the only notable affiliate not to televise the event was a television station in Philadelphia.
Desert Highlands was also the site of the event in 1984, and benefited greatly from the desert golf fever. According to a Golfweek story, the event ignited the golf course construction boom in Scottsdale that made the city a golf mecca.
“The first year we were there, it had sold only a few houses,” Ohlmeyer is quoted in the story. “By the time we went back for the second year, it [Desert Highlands] was almost sold out.”
By the third year of The Skins Game, there were no more homes to sell at Desert Highlands. The tournament switched locations in 1985 to Bear Creek Golf Club in California and would remain a PGA Tour unofficial event until 2008.
While the Skins Game is now a distant memory, the legacy of that event and Desert Highlands’ reputation as a world-class golf course remains. Numerous national golf publications consistently rank Desert Highlands among the best courses in Arizona. LINKS Magazine named it the third-best course in the state, while Golfweek has rated it among America’s Best 100 Residential Golf Courses since 2010 and Golf Digest tabbed it one of the top desert golf courses in the country.
“I’m proud of what we created at Desert Highlands,” Nicklaus notes in the foreword. “Good people, combined with the aesthetics of nature and architecture, and a commitment to excellence, converge at Desert Highlands to make it such a desirable place to live and play golf.”