Desert Forest

Today we drove out to Carefree, to play at the private club, Desert Forest.

What a wonderful experience.  We joined into the members' special Mother's Day Brunch, which was fantastic.

The pro, Brandon, made everyone very welcome and gave us a great insight into the club history and culture.

Desert Forest is the original desert golf course.  Designed in 1961 by Robert "Red" Lawrence, and opened for play in 1962, it preceded all other desert courses in the southwest.

John MacKenzie is pictured here firing a drive down the Par four 2nd hole catcus on the left showing some signs of wayward drives from the backs tees.  You can even see a ball still lodged in it.

The only water hazard on the course is located next to the third tee.  Some members were trying their luck at fishing in this pond.

Located at 2500ft, the temperature is a bit cooler than in Phoenix.  This elevation helps that ball go a bit further too.  This is the view down the par three 3rd.

You need to drive the ball well to score here.  Anything off the fairway ends up in the Sonoran Desert, and then requires careful thought as to whether a search is undertaken.

Why so much thought?  The tracks in the 5th hole greenside bunker above might help answer that question.  Rattlesnakes.  Yes, rattlesnakes.  The staff were greeted by one coiled up at the clubhouse door this morning.  Clearly hoping to be part of the Mother's Day brunch.

This above is the brilliant par five 7th.  You are given two driving options from the tee, and then must be in the correct position to be able to attack the green.  We are at the merging of the two driving paths.

Our playing group today, myself, Geoffrey Knight, Pam & John MacKenzie.

You can see Black Mountain behind the view of the par three 8th hole.

Pam MacKenzie hitting into the 8th.

Some of the magnificent desert landscape in between holes.

Whilst in between holes, some of the majestic cactus plants can be seen in flower.  Not that I was returning to the fairway from where my ball may have been.

These are the more friendly of the desert creatures.  There are rabbits and road runner birds everywhere.

Geoffrey Knight, that ball is cactus!

The view down the par four 15th.

The stunning view down the par three 17th.

Looking back down the par four 18th, a wonderful way to finish a wonderful course.

Pam MacKenzie relaxing after her round on the rocking chair at the driving range.

A magnificent sunset produced some great skies over the 9th green.
It was a great privilege to play at this great members club today.  It was the reason why Arizona was on the itinerary, and exactly what we had imagined of desert golf.

Tomorrow we head to We Ko Pa, and play the Saguaro course.