The Foothills Golf Club

The Foothills Golf Club sits in the northern reaches of Phoenix, where the Sonoran Desert landscape meets the base of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish designed the course in the mid-1980s during a prolific period of collaboration that produced several notable desert layouts in the region. The design takes advantage of natural elevation changes and desert washes, routing holes through native saguaro, ocotillo, and palo verde that frame playing corridors against the mountain backdrop. The course reflects the Weiskopf-Morrish philosophy of working with existing terrain rather than imposing artificial features on the desert floor. Fairways move through arroyos and around rock outcroppings, with greens often positioned to emphasize approach shot precision and reward players who understand desert angles. The routing provides variety in both direction and elevation, with several holes playing uphill toward the preserve and others descending back toward the valley floor. The Foothills operates as a private club with a membership drawn largely from Phoenix's established residential communities. The club maintains a relatively traditional country club atmosphere while embracing the casual elements common to desert golf culture. The course has remained largely true to its original design intent, preserving the natural desert character that defines golf in this part of the Valley of the Sun.