A Note to the Platinum Clubs® of America Judges
Our application is structured around Desert Mountain’s communications framework, The Loop, which gives our members the opportunity to Read, Watch, Listen, and Engage with Desert Mountain content. We thought it only fitting to invite the Platinum Clubs® of America judges to experience our application in the same way.
Throughout the Seven Selection Criteria, you’ll find insights to read, video testimonials to watch, and stories to listen to on your favorite podcast platform. And, of course, we invite you to engage with us directly at [email protected].
Thank you for your time, thoughtful consideration, and—most importantly—your service to our industry. We hope you enjoy experiencing Desert Mountain through The Loop.
Overview
Progress with Purpose at Desert Mountain Club
As Desert Mountain Club celebrates its 40th anniversary, we honor a remarkable legacy while looking confidently toward the future. What began with an ambitious vision in the Sonoran Desert has evolved into one of America’s most distinctive private clubs, defined by extraordinary golf, an active lifestyle, exceptional experiences, and a strong sense of community.
Guided by visionary leadership and responsible stewardship, Desert Mountain continues to invest thoughtfully in the people, places, and experiences that define the Club—strengthening the Member experience today while ensuring an enduring legacy for generations to come.
Highlights at a Glance
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Celebrating 40 Years of Desert Mountain Club
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$150M+ Member-Approved Capital Improvements, without the need for debt or assessment.
Universal Recognition
Desert Mountain Club continues to earn national recognition as one of America’s premier private clubs. Home to the world’s largest collection of six Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses, the Club is distinguished by championship golf, visionary leadership, and exceptional Member and teammate experiences.
Desert Mountain Club continues to earn national recognition as one of America’s premier private clubs. Home to the world’s largest collection of six Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses, the Club is distinguished by championship golf, visionary leadership, and exceptional Member and teammate experiences.
In 2026, Desert Mountain proudly hosted the USGA’s U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, welcoming the world’s finest amateur golfers and showcasing the Club on a national stage. Building on that success, the USGA selected Desert Mountain to host the 2029 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship, reinforcing the confidence the game’s governing body places in the Club as a premier championship venue. Desert Mountain also welcomed the U.S. National Junior Team Training Camp, where America’s most accomplished young golfers prepared for international competition.
The Club’s influence extends beyond championship competition. Desert Mountain has been featured in The Wall Street Journal Masters Edition for four consecutive years, with coverage highlighting the Club’s golf experience, the restoration and walkability of Cochise Golf Course, and the leadership of Director of Golf Andy Fisher. Cochise also earned national recognition from Sports Illustrated as the Best Modern Private Course Restoration in 2024.
Together, these distinctions demonstrate Desert Mountain’s influence within the game of golf and the broader private club industry while reinforcing its standing among America’s most respected private clubs.
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2026 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship Host
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2029 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship Awarded
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Featured in The Wall Street Journal Masters Edition for Four Consecutive Years
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Sports Illustrated – Best Modern Private Course Restoration: Desert Mountain (Cochise), Scottsdale, Arizona 2024
Excellence in Amenities & Facilities
Desert Mountain continues to elevate the Member experience through strategic investments that preserve the Club’s legacy while enhancing its future. Since 2024, the Club has completed the acclaimed restoration of Cochise Golf Course, advanced the restoration of Geronimo Golf Course, and begun the restoration of Chiricahua Golf Course. Each project honors Jack Nicklaus’ original design vision while incorporating modern, drought resistant turf, state-of-the-art technology, irrigation, and agronomic practices that support exceptional playing conditions for years to come.
Desert Mountain continues to elevate the Member experience through strategic investments that preserve the Club’s legacy while enhancing its future. Since 2024, the Club has completed the acclaimed restoration of Cochise Golf Course, advanced the restoration of Geronimo Golf Course, and begun the restoration of Chiricahua Golf Course. Each project honors Jack Nicklaus’ original design vision while incorporating modern, drought resistant turf, state-of-the-art technology, irrigation, and agronomic practices that support exceptional playing conditions for years to come.
That same vision extends beyond the golf course. Members overwhelmingly approved the first phase of the Club’s Long-Range Facilities Plan, launching transformative projects that will enrich life across the Mountain. Construction is underway on a new two-story Range House, featuring expanded amenities, dining, and gathering spaces overlooking the Cochise and Geronimo golf practice facilities. Expanded parking at the Cochise/Geronimo Clubhouse will improve accessibility and arrival, while the Outlaw Clubhouse is being reimagined as a vibrant destination for dining, celebrations, and Member events. At Seven Clubhouse, the bocce complex is expanding to accommodate one of the Club’s fastest-growing recreational programs.
From championship golf and exceptional dining to wellness, racquet sports, and year-round programming, every investment is designed to strengthen the experiences Members value most. These enhancements position Desert Mountain among the nation’s premier golf and lifestyle clubs while ensuring the Club continues to meet the evolving expectations of current and future generations.
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170,000 Annual Rounds of Golf on Seven Golf Courses
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740 Member-Guest Tournament Participants
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280,000 Dining Covers Served Annually
Caliber of Staff & Professional Service Levels
Exceptional experiences begin with exceptional people. For 40 years, Desert Mountain has attracted, developed, and retained talented professionals whose expertise, passion, and genuine care define the Club’s culture of service. Many teammates who helped shape Desert Mountain during its earliest years continue to serve Members today, reflecting a workplace built on opportunity, respect, and lasting relationships. Recognized as a Great Place to Work® for five consecutive years, the Club has achieved its highest employee engagement scores to date while fostering an environment where careers flourish and service excellence thrives.
Exceptional experiences begin with exceptional people. For 40 years, Desert Mountain has attracted, developed, and retained talented professionals whose expertise, passion, and genuine care define the Club’s culture of service. Many teammates who helped shape Desert Mountain during its earliest years continue to serve Members today, reflecting a workplace built on opportunity, respect, and lasting relationships. Recognized as a Great Place to Work® for five consecutive years, the Club has achieved its highest employee engagement scores to date while fostering an environment where careers flourish and service excellence thrives.
Investing in teammates means investing in the future of the Club. Through its Leadership in Training program, Desert Mountain identifies emerging leaders and provides hands-on leadership experience, departmental mentorship, and cross-functional collaboration that prepare participants for expanded responsibilities. By creating meaningful opportunities for professional growth, the Club continues to cultivate talent from within while supporting teammates in achieving long-term career success. As a testament to our caring culture, the Club has invested in nearly a million dollars in recent years to renovate employee spaces and locker rooms.
That commitment is reflected across every department. Director of Golf Andy Fisher has earned national recognition for his leadership and coaching philosophy. French Master Chef Bertrand Bouquin showcases Desert Mountain’s culinary excellence through exclusive demonstrations and prestigious culinary events, while Director of Racquet Sports Rich Slivocka has built one of the nation’s leading racquet sports programs through innovative programming and professional leadership. Todd Bruen, Director of Construction and Facilities is the National President of IFMA and is a key speaker at every CMAA Capital Investment Summit. Across the Mountain, teammates deliver personalized service that consistently exceeds Member expectations.
Our Team
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Great Place to Work® — Five Consecutive Years
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Highest Employee Engagement Score to Date
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Teammate Countries of Origin: 22
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Number of Languages Spoken by Our Teammates: 14
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#% Growth in Racquet Participation
Engagement & Commitment of Membership
At Desert Mountain, Member engagement extends well beyond the Club through a culture of generosity, service, and meaningful involvement. Members actively support organizations including OCJ Kids, benefitting foster children in Arizona, CARE (Cancer Awareness through Research & Education), and the Desert Mountain Foundation, partnering with the Club to make a lasting difference throughout the community. Whether supporting children in foster care, advancing cancer research, or volunteering their time and talents, Desert Mountain Members share a common purpose of giving back and improving the lives of others.
At Desert Mountain, Member engagement extends well beyond the Club through a culture of generosity, service, and meaningful involvement. Members actively support organizations including OCJ Kids, benefitting foster children in Arizona, CARE (Cancer Awareness through Research & Education), and the Desert Mountain Foundation, partnering with the Club to make a lasting difference throughout the community. Whether supporting children in foster care, advancing cancer research, or volunteering their time and talents, Desert Mountain Members share a common purpose of giving back and improving the lives of others.
That same spirit of partnership shapes the Member experience within the Club. Through the Member Outreach Program, Club leadership conducts 50–75 personal outreach calls each month to better understand Member perspectives, strengthen relationships, and ensure every voice is heard. Ongoing surveys and feedback opportunities help guide Club programming, services, and strategic initiatives, while The LOOP—Desert Mountain’s integrated communications framework—creates meaningful opportunities for Members to read, watch, listen, and engage. Together, these efforts foster a collaborative culture where Members are informed, connected, and actively involved in shaping the future of their Club.
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CARE & Desert Mountain Foundation, raising $1 million annually
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50–75 Personal Member Outreach Calls Conducted Monthly
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The LOOP: Read | Watch | Listen | Engage
Governance & Prudent Fiscal Management
Strong governance and responsible financial stewardship provide the foundation for Desert Mountain’s long-term success. Since 2024, Members have approved three strategic capital initiatives totaling more than $150 million in improvements, all funded without debt or Member assessments. This remarkable level of Member support reflects confidence in the Club’s leadership, disciplined financial planning, and transparent decision-making.
Strong governance and responsible financial stewardship provide the foundation for Desert Mountain’s long-term success. Since 2024, Members have approved three strategic capital initiatives totaling more than $150 million in improvements, all funded without debt or Member assessments. This remarkable level of Member support reflects confidence in the Club’s leadership, disciplined financial planning, and transparent decision-making.
Guided by a Member-elected Board of Directors and an engaged committee structure, Desert Mountain balances long-range planning with the flexibility to respond to evolving Member needs. This disciplined approach allows the Club to invest confidently while preserving one of the strongest financial positions in the private club industry.
Responsible Stewardship
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3 Successful Member Votes
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$150M+ Approved Improvements
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No Debt
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No Member Assessments
Adapting to Changing Times
Desert Mountain embraces innovation by adapting to the evolving needs of its Members while strengthening environmental stewardship, operational excellence, and teammate development. To help position the Club for long-term success, Desert Mountain partnered with Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation to develop a comprehensive sustainability roadmap that continues to guide initiatives in energy conservation, water management, recycling, climate resilience, and operational efficiency.
Desert Mountain embraces innovation by adapting to the evolving needs of its Members while strengthening environmental stewardship, operational excellence, and teammate development. To help position the Club for long-term success, Desert Mountain partnered with Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation to develop a comprehensive sustainability roadmap that continues to guide initiatives in energy conservation, water management, recycling, climate resilience, and operational efficiency.
That vision is reflected in projects across the Mountain. Solar installations at two maintenance facilities are reducing energy consumption and generating long-term utility savings, while the centralized Receiving, Laundry & Recycling Facility has streamlined purchasing, expanded recycling efforts, and improved water and energy efficiency. To address the growing challenge of sourcing native desert landscaping, the Club established an on-site nursery that cultivates plants for use throughout the property, reducing costs while ensuring a reliable supply of desert-adapted vegetation. Green Circle Salons’ sustainability program at The Spa and the Racquet Sports Department’s tennis ball recycling initiative further demonstrate the Club’s practical approach to responsible stewardship.
Innovation also extends to wellness and workforce development. Desert Mountain has earned Blue Zones Approved® recognition as a Worksite, Community, and across all Club dining venues, complemented by its Green Leaf initiative, which highlights nutritious menu selections while inspiring cooking demonstrations, educational seminars, and wellness programming for Members. The Club also partnered with Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts to establish a Culinary Apprenticeship Program, creating career pathways for aspiring culinary professionals while strengthening the future of culinary excellence at Desert Mountain.
Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate how Desert Mountain continues to evolve through responsible stewardship, operational innovation, and meaningful investments in its Members, teammates, and community.
Innovation in Action
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Native Plant Nursery Established
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Solar Installed at Two Facilities
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$XX Annual Energy Savings
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$XX Annual Operational Savings
Overall Experience
What distinguishes Desert Mountain Club is not simply the breadth of its amenities, but the way every element comes together to create an extraordinary lifestyle. Seven championship golf courses, exceptional dining, award-winning wellness and racquet facilities, outdoor recreation, vibrant social programming, and personalized service combine to create a community where every experience is thoughtfully connected.
What distinguishes Desert Mountain Club is not simply the breadth of its amenities, but the way every element comes together to create an extraordinary lifestyle. Seven championship golf courses, exceptional dining, award-winning wellness and racquet facilities, outdoor recreation, vibrant social programming, and personalized service combine to create a community where every experience is thoughtfully connected.
As a Member-owned Club, Desert Mountain has spent the past 40 years building more than exceptional amenities. It has cultivated a culture defined by visionary leadership, financial responsibility, engaged Members, dedicated teammates, and a shared pursuit of excellence. That foundation continues to inspire bold investments, meaningful innovation, and experiences that enrich the lives of Members and their families every day.
Forty years after opening its gates, Desert Mountain remains focused on the future while staying true to the values that shaped its success. It is a place where lifelong friendships are formed, traditions are celebrated, and every generation of Members finds new opportunities to connect, belong, and create lasting memories.
Desert Mountain at a Glance
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7 Golf Courses
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10 Restaurants & Grills
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25 miles of Private Hiking Trails
Story-telling Through Media Placements
Story-telling through media placements continues to support our recognition efforts as a method to help engage and educate prospective members and homebuyers. Below is a snapshot of articles that have helped grow awareness and increase recognition of our club and community over the past two years.
Testimonials
DESERT MOUNTAIN
ENGAGE
We hope you’ve enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about Desert Mountain. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have follow-up questions, we’re here to help!
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