A Day on the Course at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale

This Scottsdale staple plays fun and breaks the desert-course mold with a lush traditional design

Scott McGinty

McCormick Ranch Golf Club is a Scottsdale staple. Desmond Muirhead designed both the Pine and Palm courses and both of those designs have stood the test of time. I went out to put the Pine Course to the test. Staying true to Muirhead designs, the course plays fun and breaks the (sometimes monotonous) desert-course mold with a lush traditional design. Tall, mature trees line the bending fairways with a fair amount of water coming into play. The course doesn’t miss its chance to show off views of Camelback Mountain and Mummy Mountain, serving them up as backdrops on several holes.

Hole 4:

This 537-yard par-5 has you staring down a wide-open fairway with the McDowell Mountains in background. Water runs the length of the hole on the left side, which is really what makes this hole intriguing. Very rarely will you encounter a par-5 on a Scottsdale golf course where water comes into play on multiple shots. It adds a great dimension to the hole.

Hole 8:

I absolutely love par-3s. And I love the feeling that this hole gives when you see all the trees surrounding the green. At 211 yards and dead straight, it’s almost as if the trees running down the fairway are leading you to an ace. I didn’t ace it (shocker), but that feeling of easily honing in on this flag is why it’s on the list.

Hole 10:

Birdie holes are the best. And this 410-yard par-4 is just that. That’s not the reason why I like this hole so much though. It’s because there’s something very esthetically pleasing about the rocky landscape by the tee boxes giving way to a tree-lined fairway and finishing with the McDowell’s in the background. The view and the circle on the scorecard made this a favorite.

To learn more about why Scottsdale is “the World's Finest Golf Destination,” visit ExperienceScottsdaleGolf.com. This post originally appeared on Experience Scottsdale Golf's site here: A Day on the Course: McCormick Ranch Golf Club

Related Links:

The Hidden Golf Course Gems of Scottsdale

Desert Escapes: Where to Stay In Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Announces Resort Expansion

Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.