“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do,” wrote the great Sufi poet Rumi. It’s advice many golfers are taking to heart as they move to communities built around the beauty of what they love: communing with nature, sport and comrades on the links. Golf communities provide golfers of every level – from novices to pros – with neighborhoods full of likeminded new friends and ample opportunities to do what they love most.

Desert Mountain

A Premier Golf Community

The majesty of the Southwest meets the elegance of master-designed golf courses at Desert Mountain, nestled in the picturesque Sonoran Desert in North Scottsdale. But with luxury homes, restaurants, a spa and more, it is much more than a golf community – it’s a lavish oasis. “Desert Mountain is among the top 100 Platinum Golf and Country Clubs in the world, and the only club in Arizona to be ranked in the top 20,” says Desert Mountain spokesperson Karen Moraghan. “While this designation is well-earned, Desert Mountain Club has always been a forward-looking club. There are always plans on the books for new or improved facilities across all aspects of
the community.”

World – Class Golf

Having one Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course is a calling card for many golf communities. Desert Mountain has six: Cochise, Apache, Geronimo, Renegade, Chiricahua and Outlaw. It is the only private community in the world with this number. An additional course, No. 7, is the focal point of the community – a par-54, 18-hold course that showcases the fun and social aspects of Desert Mountain.

Well – Rounded Amenities

“While it’s true that golf is at the heart of the club, there also are seven clubhouses with 10 restaurants and grills, a nine-court tennis complex with three different playing surfaces, horseback riding, luxury camping, pickleball, croquet, Pilates, moonlit hikes, mountain biking and much, much more for members to enjoy” on the community’s 8,000 acres, Moraghan says. Partners or children who aren’t golfers will still find plenty to do, see and experience in their beautiful desert home, including 20 miles of private hiking trails and a newly remodeled spa.

The Changing Face of  Desert Mountain

Fusty, old-fashioned golf communities are the antithesis of Desert Mountain, which is leading the way in luxury and innovation. “There’s change in the air at Desert Mountain, where an increase in new members and real estate sales is showing a definite youth movement, Moraghan says. “Last November, Desert Mountain surpassed its all-time record for custom-home sales volume, nearing $200 million. In the past six months, the community has welcomed 90 new members, with 85 percent of membership sales tied to home purchases, and we are seeing a record number of homes under construction.” Its location and high-toned desert aesthetic are drawing fresh new faces as well. “Being set in the most northern location in Scottsdale, we are seeing a youthfulness from our new members that has extended to long-time members. Our breathtaking amenities, exciting events and family environment are enjoyed by a membership full of outdoor enthusiasts and anchored by the word ‘fun,’” Moragahan says. “With more than 500 members being under the age of 55, we see that we are attracting the next generation to ‘The Mountain.’”

Desert Mountain

37700 Desert Mountain Pkwy., Scottsdale
480.595.4110, desertmountain.com

Vistancia

A Multifaceted Desert Community

Tucked away from the bustle of the city, the 7,100-acre Vistancia Master Planned Community in Northwest Peoria has offered panoramic views of the Sonoran Desert mountains, parks, walking trails, schools, restaurants, recreation facilities and nature-inspired design since its opening in 2004. It offers three distinctive communities – Blackstone at Vistancia, The Village at Vistancia and Trilogy at Vistancia – each with its own unique character and signature amenities.

Blackstone and Trilogy boast gorgeous golf courses that have attracted buyers from all stages of life. “We find that homebuyers of all ages, not just retired buyers, choose to live in golf communities,” says Mark Hammons, vice president and general manager of Vistancia. The development’s fourth and final community, Northpointe at Vistancia, opens later this year.

Blackstone at Vistancia

“In our Blackstone at Vistancia community featuring the private Blackstone Country Club, homebuyers are seeking an upscale living experience that is in close proximity to the clubhouse amenities, set along the pristine golf course and surrounded by spectacular mountain views from nearly every angle,” Hammons says. The gated community features an 18-hole Jim Engh-designed golf course, tennis facilities, a 24-hour fitness center, a children’s play area, a resort-style pool with private cabanas, year-round events and casual and
fine dining.

The Village at Vistancia

It may not have a golf course, but The Village at Vistancia has plenty of other opportunities for physical activity and outdoors time in a family-friendly, multigenerational setting. The well-appointed community has schools, parks, walking trails, recreation centers (including resort-style pools and water slide), tennis courts, an indoor gymnasium and an open community space for resident events, classes and clubs.

Trilogy at Vistancia

This active adult resort community features Trilogy Golf Club and an 18-hole, par-72, Gary Panks-designed golf course. Non-golfers have myriad avenues for activity and leisure: social clubs, fitness facilities, tennis courts, pools, a spa, a restaurant, classes and a culinary and art studio. “We also see that golfers and non-golfers alike seek the lifestyle of living in a private golf course community for many of the same reasons,” Hammons says. “But also because homes in golf course communities typically hold their value through varied real estate cycles.”

Northpointe at Vistancia

Vistancia’s fourth and final community looks to be a haven for hikers, with 3,450 acres spread among the most elevated and mountainous land within Vistancia. Pristine desert foothills, a 1,100-acre mountain preserve with hiking and walking paths and dramatic dark skies removed from city lights and smog mean great conditions for naturalists, birders and astronomy enthusiasts, too. Eventually, Northpointe will be home to a K-8 elementary school, community parks, resort-style recreation centers and a 5,000-square-foot private resident clubhouse complete with a pool, sport courts, kids’ playscapes, indoor/outdoor gathering areas and event/yoga lawns.

Vistancia

12026 W. Lone Mountain Pkwy., Peoria
623.933.6233, vistancia.com

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