Desert Forest Golf Course

Detailed description of Desert Forest Golf Course

Desert Forest is a private, member-owned golf club located in Carefree, Arizona, north of Scottsdale and Phoenix.

The course first opened for play in 1962. The course was designed by Red Lawrence and renovated in 2013 by David Zinkland.

Almost 50 years after first opening, the course underwent a redesign under the direction of former Coore & Crenshaw protege, David Zinkand. Many of the golf holes were lengthened, every green was re-contoured, drainage system was improved and all the greenside bunkers were rebuilt from the original oval-shaped design, a trademark of Lawrence, to a scalloped-shaped edging favored by Zinkand who had the benefit of being able to work from the original course design. Zinkland has said, "The routing and the way the course sits naturally on the contours is the genius of Desert Forest, rather than having been graded to suit preconceived notions. Leaving this landscape intact was the most important aspect of respecting Lawrence's design."

Desert Forest Golf Club has no fairway bunkers and or "gimmicky" man-made golf course fixtures. Nowhere visible are out-of-bounds staking, ball washers, and cart signs. It's golf, pure and simple.

Desert Forest Golf Club has consistently been ranked nationally for its challenging and, often times unforgiving layout. Immaculately designed fairway moundings accentuated by lightning fast greens make a game at Desert Forest an a real test of one's golf skill, decision-making prowess and patience.

The course is situated in desert terrain high up in the Sonoran Foothills of Carefree, Arizona. With eight tee areas, the course plays from 4,763 yards at the forward tees to 7,201 yards at the championship tees.