Apache Stronghold at Apache Stronghold Golf Club

Apache Stronghold occupies rugged high-desert terrain in the Pinal Mountains east of Phoenix, near the historic mining town of Globe. Tom Doak routed the course across dramatic elevation changes and through natural washes and rock outcroppings characteristic of central Arizona's transition zone between Sonoran Desert lowlands and higher pine country. The layout takes advantage of the property's severe topography, with holes that climb, fall, and traverse slopes that provide long views across the surrounding mountains and valleys.

The design reflects Doak's minimalist approach, working with the existing landforms rather than imposing extensive earthmoving on the site. Fairways follow natural corridors, and greens are integrated into the terrain's folds and benches. The routing requires strategic decisions about angles and positioning, as the slopes and elevation changes affect both distance control and the roll of the ball. Several holes play across or alongside arroyos, and the native vegetation—including saguaro, ocotillo, and various desert scrub—frames the playing corridors.

Apache Stronghold operates as a public facility, making Doak's design work accessible to daily-fee players in a region where desert golf is common but mountain-influenced layouts are less typical. The course sits at approximately 4,500 feet elevation, which affects ball flight and provides cooler conditions than the Phoenix basin. The setting combines the visual drama of Arizona's high desert with the strategic interest that comes from routing golf holes across genuinely challenging terrain.