Apache at Desert Mountain Golf Club

Apache stands as one of six Jack Nicklaus designs at Desert Mountain Golf Club, a private community in the high Sonoran Desert north of Scottsdale. Opened in 1988, it was the second course built at the property and reflects Nicklaus's approach to desert golf during an era when architects were learning to work with the region's dramatic terrain and native vegetation. The routing moves through elevated desert landscape with significant changes in elevation, incorporating natural washes, rock outcroppings, and stands of saguaro cacti.

The course plays across rolling terrain that offers expansive views of the surrounding mountains and desert floor. Fairways are defined corridors through the natural desert, and greens are typically elevated with substantial contouring. Strategic bunkering and the ever-present desert hazards require thoughtful course management, particularly on approach shots where missing greens can lead to difficult recovery situations from the surrounding native areas.

Desert Mountain operates as a private club with multiple courses serving its residential membership. The club's facilities support a community oriented around golf and outdoor recreation in the high desert environment. Apache, along with its companion courses, provides members with variety in their golf experience while maintaining the design principles Nicklaus established during the property's development. The course has undergone periodic updates to maintain conditioning standards and adapt to changes in equipment and maintenance practices.