Pine at McCormick Ranch Golf Club

McCormick Ranch Golf Club's Pine Course opened in 1972 as part of a larger resort and residential development in central Scottsdale. Desmond Muirhead designed both courses at the property during a period when he was establishing his reputation for creative, sometimes unconventional routing solutions. The Pine Course takes its name from the mature Aleppo pines that line many fairways, providing definition and shade across relatively flat desert terrain that was formerly ranch land belonging to the McCormick family.

The layout incorporates several lakes and water features that come into play on multiple holes, characteristic of desert resort courses built during this era when water management and visual appeal were primary design considerations. The course plays through an established neighborhood setting, with homes bordering many holes, though the tree-lined corridors maintain a sense of separation from the surrounding development. The routing is straightforward and walkable, with elevation changes that are modest compared to courses built in the surrounding foothills.

McCormick Ranch operates as a semi-private facility, balancing member play with resort and public access. The property has hosted various regional amateur events over the decades and serves as a popular venue for winter visitors seeking accessible golf in the Scottsdale area. The Pine Course represents a generation of desert golf design that prioritized playability and parkland aesthetics over the more naturalistic desert-style layouts that became prevalent in Arizona in later decades.