McCormick Ranch Golf Club

This is a 36 hole facility that I have enjoyed immensely throughout my years in Scottsdale but it took the Mid-West golfer in me to finally appreciate the concept they have created there. It's not that the "Ranch" doesn't have two great courses, because they do. It's not that they don't have one of the most beautiful settings in Scottsdale, because they do. And it's not their unique blend of a traditional layout amidst a desert setting in the McCormick Ranch Community, because they sure have that. Nor is it their central Scottsdale location, because they have that too. No, what makes McCormick Ranch so special to me (other than seeing my best golf buddy ace the 17th hole of the Pine, a 185 yard monster) is that it is and always was a solid, traditional, shotmakers golf course. 

Because it's more traditional, McCormick Ranch Golf Club might not appeal to the desert rat in you if it's desert -target style golf only that you hunger for.  Don't make the mistake of underestimating the challenge they offer at either golf course. Many a tournament has been contested on both courses, hosting events like: the Arizona Amateur Stroke Play Championship, the Golf for Women National Club Championship, the Arizona Open Professional Golf Tournament, and the National Junior College Golf Championship. Each course can play long if you prefer them that way (Palm at 7044 yards, Par 72 and Pine Course 7187 yards, also Par 72). Approaches are to medium sized greens known for their subtle breaks, guarded by strategically placed bunkers. As the name suggests, the Palm Course features predominantly palm trees lining the fairways and surrounding the greens. The ten water holes on the course all come into play and help make it a challenging but fun day. The fairways on the Palm Course can look very accommodating, especially if you are not on good terms with your driver, some even suggest it's "wide open," but somehow I always manage to stray a few times and it always costs me. 

The Pine Course has huge pine trees that are very thick as they have been growing there amongst Aspen, Arizona Ash, Mesquite and a hundred other tree varieties since the courses were built in 1972. You can rattle a ball around in them forever if you aren't careful and when it finally falls to earth it can bury itself in snarly bermuda rough. Maybe I err in making it sound like the conditions you might see in a US Open. All I can say is that it's a much friendlier course from the middle of the fairway. McCormick Ranch is a unique piece of golf real estate. On the Pine Course you can almost feel like you are back in the mid-west while the Palm Course smacks of an exotic desert landscape. The Pine Course also features somewhat narrow fairways, lined with towering pines and framed against the background of Camelback Mountain. Designed by renowned golf course architect Desmond Muirhead, McCormick Ranch Golf Club will treat you to excellent conditions no matter which course you play. Nicely maintained fairways, smooth, true greens with subtle breaks, TIP: Every putt breaks toward Camelback Mountain! The staff works hard to keep the tee times on pace, carts clean, loaded and charged, the Golf Shop immaculate and the service friendly. With two great golf courses there what more could you ask for?

The McCormick Ranch Golf Club is located smack dab in the middle of Scottsdale, right on the east side of Scottsdale Rd. and McCormick Ranch Parkway -  making it very easy to get there whether you are staying in Old Town, Downtown or North Scottsdale. There are great restaurants within a Par 5 of the facility but they also have a really nice restaurant at their location that features a large shaded patio overlooking the golf courses. The food is very good, lunch being their busiest time, and the burgers are outstanding!

More importantly, especially to the visiting Scottsdale golfer, McCormick Ranch Golf Club has become one of the better deals in Scottsdale, more so in our Peak Season -  January to April. They offer as much bang for your buck as any other high- end,  daily fee golf facility in Scottsdale and recently both the Pine and Palm Courses underwent renovation to their greens and bunkers along with adding other landscaping features. This is more than a place to knock the dust off your clubs or stretch unused golf muscles. Just because it's a traditional layout, convenient to your hotel, or reasonable in price, doesn't mean that it won't bite you if you get overconfident. I urge you to discover how players of all abilities can appreciate the McCormick Ranch Golf Club.

McCormick Ranch Golf Club, 7505 East McCormick Parkway, Scottsdale, Arizona 85250