Chiricahua at Desert Mountain Golf Club

Chiricahua is one of six Jack Nicklaus-designed courses at Desert Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Opened in 1988, it was the second course built at this private community in the high Sonoran Desert, following the debut of Cochise. The course takes its name from the Chiricahua Apache people who once inhabited the region, continuing the club's tradition of honoring Native American heritage in its course nomenclature.

The routing moves through dramatic desert terrain at elevations ranging from approximately 2,300 to 2,700 feet, offering expansive views of the surrounding mountain ranges and the Phoenix metropolitan area below. Chiricahua plays through natural washes, arroyos, and stands of saguaro cacti, with fairways carved from the native landscape. The design emphasizes strategic positioning off the tee, as the desert carries both aesthetic appeal and penalty for errant shots. Elevated greens and significant elevation changes throughout the round add complexity to club selection and approach play.

Desert Mountain operates as a private equity club with multiple championship courses, extensive practice facilities, and a membership drawn largely from seasonal residents and golf enthusiasts seeking access to Nicklaus's collection of desert designs. Chiricahua, along with its companion courses, provides members with variety in routing, challenge, and desert scenery. The course reflects Nicklaus's approach to desert golf during the late 1980s, balancing playability with the natural severity of the Sonoran landscape.