Seven Desert Mountain combines golf fun and fundamentals

Desert Mountain Club isn’t just one of the best-known private clubs in the country – it’s also one of the biggest and most innovative. The Scottsdale, Arizona, club famously boasts six Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses, then decided to think well outside the box when adding a lucky seventh course and clubhouse to the property. 

The No. 7 course and Seven Desert Mountain clubhouse add a unique facet to the luxury residential community in a USGA-rated, 18-hole golf course that plays 3,114 yards at its longest. Depending upon the tees a Member chooses to play, No. 7 has holes that are short enough for nothing more than a putter, and others that could require a driver or fairway wood. Further pushing the envelope, each hole has “sandy tees” – bunkers designed to be used as tee boxes for an extra level of challenge or practice. 

The unique design of No. 7 came from a pair of Desert Mountain Members – real estate developer Bill Brownlee and landscape architect Wendell Pickett – and includes a special handicap system for match play. The short course design makes it popular with all skill levels, from new players and juniors to competitive players looking for a fast round or a chance to work on their short game skills. 

According to No. 7’s PGA Head Professional, Kendall Kinsey, this sort of design is exactly what the game of golf needs. 

“For all these young families at Desert Mountain who have players just beginning in the game, No. 7 is a great way to have the best experience on the course to learn the game and have fun. The same goes for our older members who might also be learning the game or coming back from a medical restriction,” Kinsey says. “Then you have our more skilled players, who love having a regulation golf course that they can play without driver so they can work on approach shots and putting.” 

Kinsey says No. 7 is especially popular with Members who like walking the golf course for exercise, and those who enjoy playing a round of golf in around two hours. “At the end of the day, we always have groups of members adding a quick round on No. 7 before having dinner in the clubhouse.” 

The Seven Clubhouse features a casual restaurant that always accommodates walk-ins and doesn’t require reservations or host large events. Clubhouse Manager Kelsey McHale, a veteran of restaurant management, says Seven is a beloved dining option for Desert Mountain Members. 

“Members love being able to just walk in and have a meal with their family, and Seven offers a really casual, gastro-pub experience,” McHale says. “You never have to wait long, even if we’re busy, and Members can play bocce or wait by a firepit. It’s a great family environment.” 

McHale came to Desert Mountain from the restaurant and entertainment industry, and is thrilled to have made the move into private clubs. She says the Desert Mountain environment provides support and education not typically found in the food & beverage business. 

For anybody thinking about coming to Desert Mountain from the food & beverage side, it’s a completely great decision,” McHale says. “You get an ongoing education that you don’t get in public restaurants, with so many resources and people from different backgrounds to learn from – plus a better quality of life in terms of benefits and scheduling. 

“This is what I want to do with my career now in private clubs, and I’m working toward certification through the Club Managers Association of America. I just wish I would have started at Desert Mountain earlier in my career!” 

That sentiment is echoed by Bill Newton, the superintendent of the No. 7 course. After working on the construction crew that built the course, he has worked his way up from landscaping and assistant positions during his time at Desert Mountain. 

“Having seven courses at the Club means we have a lot of sharp minds and the ability to share resources,” Newton says. “One of the things I love about Desert Mountain is that fellowship doesn’t just pertain to your department. If someone needs help, everyone jumps in, and there’s always a helping hand that you don’t find at a lot of clubs. 

 “Plus, our teams really get along. It’s a great atmosphere for the employees – we just had a cookout for the maintenance crews, and that makes for a fun and productive workplace.” 

Kinsey agrees that Desert Mountain provides him opportunities and experiences that are unlike those from the first 30 years of his career as a PGA Professional. 

 “You really feel like a part of a community at Desert Mountain, part of a team with so many great professionals to bounce ideas off,” Kinsey says. “There’s such professionalism and pursuit of excellence, and that’s contagious. As a PGA Professional, there are jobs where you feel like the responsibilities are on you and you alone. If you’ve never experienced being able to lean on a team of professionals, you’ll find Desert Mountain to be a true team environment.” 

To find out more about current opportunities and the benefits of working at Desert Mountain, visit our Careers page.