Not only that, Desert Mountain has earned a triple Blue Zones designation — recognition as a Blue Zones Approved™ Participating Organization, a Blue Zones Approved™ Restaurant for its Café Verde dining outlet, and a Blue Zones Approved™ Workplace. This trifecta underscores Desert Mountain’s leadership as a vibrant, health-forward community and elevates the Club as a national model for well-being within private golf communities.
What Is a Blue Zone Community?
A Blue Zone Community designation comes from the Blue Zones Project®, a community-wide well-being improvement initiative, inspired by the research of Dan Buettner, that helps neighborhoods and organizations redesign environments so healthy living — including natural movement, social connectivity, and purpose-driven lifestyles — becomes the default choice for residents.
Rather than focusing solely on individual programs, Blue Zones emphasizes long-term changes in environments where people live, work, learn, and play — making healthy lifestyle choices easier and more sustainable.
Why the Blue Zone Certificate Is a Big Deal for Desert Mountain Club
Desert Mountain’s Blue Zone Community recognition validates our long-standing commitment to healthy community design and longevity-focused living. This award highlights how living in an environment that encourages movement, connection, and purpose leads to lasting benefits for physical health, emotional well-being, and overall vitality.
“Desert Mountain is a lifestyle community – everything we do is about vitality,” said Janet Fletcher, Director of Athletics and Sonoran Clubhouse. “It’s not just living longer, it’s about quality of life and being active. This Blue Zone initiative and certification represents everything we do at Desert Mountain.”
The Power of Social Connection and Community Health
A core pillar of Blue Zone communities is strong social connections — relationships that reduce stress, improve emotional health, and increase life satisfaction. Research on Blue Zones shows that shared values, community participation, and supportive social environments are key contributors to longevity and well-being.
At Desert Mountain, Members naturally build connections through social clubs, outdoor activities, and shared experiences. This sense of belonging enhances mental health and daily motivation. Through immersive well-being environments, encouragement for movement and active living, and support for healthy habits built into daily routines, the Blue Zone Certificate isn’t just recognition, it confirms that Desert Mountain aligns with proven longevity lifestyles similar to global Blue Zones regions where people live longer, healthier lives.
“We want people to be healthy in their 90s and not have cognitive limitations,” Janet Fletcher said. “The criteria for Blue Zones is ensuring you have food for medicine, your menu has plant based items, and opportunities in bringing people together for communities. This includes an education series in bringing medical professionals on site to provide education to our Members so they can make the best decision for their health.
What better opportunity than to partner with the Blue Zone organization and have that backing.”
What’s Next for Desert Mountain and Well-Being
As a newly Blue Zones Approved™ organization, Desert Mountain Club is poised to inspire its Scottsdale community to live longer, stronger, and more vibrantly.
This accomplishment strengthens Scottsdale’s ambition to become a certified Blue Zones community. Desert Mountain’s triple designation positions it as a leading partner in the Blue Zones Project Scottsdale initiative — a multi-year effort to elevate the well-being of all Scottsdale residents by fostering healthy, supportive environments. The Club’s commitment to wellness, outdoor living, and community connection reflects Scottsdale’s broader mission to become the first Blue Zones certified community in Arizona.
