Geronimo at Desert Mountain Golf Club

Geronimo is one of six Jack Nicklaus-designed courses at Desert Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Opened in 1989, it was the second course built at this private club situated in the high Sonoran Desert foothills north of Scottsdale proper. The course occupies rolling terrain with significant elevation changes and views across the desert landscape toward distant mountain ranges.

The routing takes advantage of the natural topography, moving through arroyos and across ridgelines characteristic of the region. Nicklaus incorporated the native desert vegetation—saguaro cacti, palo verde, and ocotillo—as both visual elements and strategic hazards. The design features generous landing areas off the tee but demands precision on approach shots to greens that often sit on plateaus or are protected by desert waste areas and bunkers. Elevation changes affect club selection throughout the round.

Desert Mountain operates as a private equity club with multiple courses, practice facilities, and clubhouse amenities. The club has attracted members seeking high-desert golf in a setting removed from the more densely developed areas of the Phoenix metropolitan region. Geronimo, along with its companion courses, provides variety within the club's portfolio, each Nicklaus design offering a different interpretation of desert golf. The course maintains conditions suited to year-round play, though summer temperatures limit peak-season activity to the cooler months from fall through spring.