When legendary golf course architect Robert “Red” Lawrence first set eyes on the unblemished desert terrain high up in the Sonoran Foothills of Carefree, he knew he could carve out a desert gem. A golf course, the first of its kind to be woven into entirely on desert landscape. Lawrence, who worked on fabled Merion Golf Club in the 1920’s along with historic Westchester Country Club, quickly transformed the barren topography into Desert Forest Golf Club, one of the world’s elite private golf courses. And, his 1962 creation has certainly stood the test of time garnering numerous national honors.

In 2013, through enhancements, Desert Forest Golf Club was able to change the golfing experience. They enlisted the services of former Coore & Crenshaw protégé, David Zinkand who masterfully constructed and successfully completed a re-design of the course in four months’ time and under the $3 million budget. Many of the golf holes were lengthened, every green was re-contoured, drainage system was improved and all the greenside bunkers were rebuilt from the original oval-shaped design, a trademark of Lawrence to a scalloped-shaped edging favored by Zinkand who had the utmost respect in working from the original course design. “The routing and the way the course sits naturally on the contours is the genius of Desert Forest, rather than having been graded to suit preconceived notions. Leaving this landscape intact was the most important aspect of respecting Lawrence’s design,” said Zinkand, a graduate of Cornell University.

What is strikingly unique about Desert Forest Golf Club is its absence of fairway bunkers and other typical golf course fixtures. Nowhere visible are out-of-bounds staking, ball washers, cart signs and the always omnipresent beverage carts. It’s golf, pure and simple. A throwback to the days of yesteryear, where it was golfer against the course and the elements and nothing else. The purity and sanctity of the sport is honored, upheld and cherished in this quaint town. “Our Club is timeless. The 250 members of the Club favor and enjoy the understated and simplistic ideals that permeate our environment. From the members to the staff and grounds crew, life at Desert Forest is everything anyone would ever want in a golf club,” said Roger Bacon, general manager of Desert Forest Golf Club.

Celebrating 50 years of unparalleled success in 2012, Desert Forest Golf Club moves forward after an illustrious first half century collecting accolades from Golf Magazine, “50 Greatest Courses in the Last 50 Years,” and “Top 100 Courses in the U.S.”; Golf Digest, “Best 100 Courses in America for 17 Straight Years,” among many other notable awards. And, now an alliance with Troon Golf’s Agronomy department, one of the world’s leading golf marketing and management companies, enables Desert Forest Golf Club to enter its next 50 years with an enviable position and continue to stake its claim as an iconic treasure on the world’s golf landscape.

Visit www.desertforestgolf.cub.com.