One of the original desert courses still stands the test of time thanks to recent work from David Zinkand in 2013. A few greens were moved, and bunkering updated as well as green complexes slightly modified, but the classic routing stayed the same.
Desert Forest is one of the desert favorites in Scottsdale. My caddy at Estancia actually thought Desert Forest was the best course in the state, and while I’m not that high on it (my vote is still Estancia) it’s quite good, and Estancia is the only course I have ahead. It’s a player golf course, but it’s fair, and still quite difficult. The greens are quite fast, the architecture is also quite good, specifically the green complexes, and used the land given quite well. Let’s get into the holes!
Front Nine
The approach to the 404 yard par 4, 1st, plays slightly uphill to a devilish green complexSimplicity is Desert Forest’s biggest strength, as shown by the par 4, 2nd’s green complexJust a mid or short iron at 171 yards, the par 3, 3rd is a beautiful holeAn accessible green complex, not without its defence, awaits the player at the 441 yard par 4, 4thLooking up at the 464 yard par 4, 5thThe approach to the par 4, 6th at the ForestPerhaps the best hole here, the par 5, 7th has a double fairway off the tee, then crossing the desert wash to another low profile, yet well undulated green complexThe 231 yard, par 3, 8th is a difficult hole near the end of the front sideThe superb green complex at the reachable-in-two 9th
Back Nine
The 10th plays similar to the 1st, but angles, depending on the pin location, matter here with a slightly bigger and wider green complexWhile there could be more room off the tee here to give more options, there is still enough room for the player to feel comfortable, as shown by the tee shot here at the 594 yard, par 5 11thAn elevated green running away on all sides awaits the player with a full 194 yards at the 12thThe 466 yard, par 4 13th bends slightly to the leftThe 14th is a drivable par 4 at 329 yards, with a ridge running through the fairway into the right side of the green, making a harsh fall off on the right side of the bunker in the distanceA difficult tee shot at the 435 yard, par 4 15th to what feels like a sliver of grass in the desert has actually more room than you thinkAn interesting tree in the middle of the fairway on the 535 yard, par 5 16th. This hole has a splendid tee shot that unfortunately a camera couldn’t capture well!The final par 3 and the penultimate hole at Desert Forest plays 169 yardsAs expected from a course rated 75.5/149, the closing hole, over rolling desert terrain, is no slouch at 467 yards
Desert golf is associated with boring, similar style golf courses and over penalizing for missing the fairway, and while Desert Forest is perhaps a bit of the last one at times, it is anything but your typical desert golf course. There’s nothing boring here, nothing similar or stale–just a classic golf course. It’s one of the best walks in the desert I’ve seen to this point, and one of the few courses in Phoenix I would jump at the opportunity to return to (so far, only Estancia, Apache Stronghold, and We-Ko-Pa Saguaro are the other three). If you’re an architecture guy like myself, Desert Forest is not to be missed on a trip to the desert.
I will say that Desert Forest may be too penal at times, and could use a little bit more width off the tee just for playability and options, but for the member playing from the correct tees it’s still generous enough to get around. Just be prepared to have to stripe it from the back tee boxes!
