I’ll admit I was feeling pretty darn good as I approached the gates leading to Hassayampa Golf Club. Of course, who wouldn’t be? I’d escaped the oppressive heat, asphalt, traffic, smog and stark urban landscape of the Valley of the Sun, and less than two hours later found myself surrounded by a virtual paradise of cool pines, fresh air and perfect weather in Prescott, Arizona.
For those of you who, like me, thought Arizona was nothing but desert sands, giant saguaro cacti and rattlesnakes, we were wrong. Arizona certainly has all that, but it is also home to beautiful mountains, high plains and the largest forest of Ponderosa Pines in the world, and Prescott is right in the middle of that forest. Prescott was established in 1864, and incorporated 17 years later, 31 years before Arizona even became a state. Life must have been hard in Arizona in those days, and it didn’t get much easier until almost 40 years later, in 1919, when a group of returning WWI vets and Prescott’s local community leaders got together and decided they needed to create an enjoyable diversion…a golf course!
They scoured the surrounding land for the most perfect site, and found a pristine location of tall pines, deep ravines and dramatic rock outcroppings just a couple miles from downtown Prescott. They quickly acquired 85 acres of that beautiful land and soon opened Hassayampa Country Club, nine challenging holes that were the centerpiece of the first golf and social club in northern Arizona. Hassayampa Country Club maintained a prestigious reputation as the finest club of its type in northern Arizona for fifty years until it closed in 1969.
It’s hard to believe now, but the original course lay dormant and
discarded for almost 30 years until the wonderful potential of the area was rediscovered by the Desert Troon Companies in the mid-90s. Desert Troon was widely known for their superior work developing the Troon Golf and Country Club in Scottsdale, and they quickly applied their expertise to Hassayampa’s magnificent track of land, purchasing not only the original 85 acres but a full 547 acres of the most beautiful and dramatic land you’ll ever see, renaming it Hassayampa Golf Club. The next step was to find the perfect course architect, someone who was willing to embrace the land, to dig deep within himself or herself in order to discover and develop the full potential of this unique earthly canvas. That architect was found in the legendary PGA Tour star and golf course architect, Tom Weiskopf, who was thrilled and honored to have the chance to work with this beautiful little corner of God’s creation.
“Hassayampa has the three natural features that every architect wishes for, big trees, natural streams and very significant elevation changes,” said Weiskopf. “Land as spectacular as Hassayampa deserves nothing less than a superior golfing experience,” he added. I couldn’t agree more, and Tom certainly accomplished that, giving the members of Hassayampa an inspiring golfing experience they enjoy day after day.
Hassayampa is truly a golf course one could never get tired
of playing, which is exactly what every private country club should offer its members, yet which is so seldom found.
The experience of Hassayampa Country Club actually starts well before you tee off. It starts as you pass through the guard gates, building in intensity and anticipation as you climb the quiet country road a short ways to the clubhouse, and what a clubhouse it is!
The award-winning clubhouse at Hassayampa Golf Club is one of the great buildings in the industry. The handsomely rugged, rustic design of the 30,000 square foot structure is surpassed only by the painstaking, loving craftsmanship that was so obviously applied during the construction of this masterpiece. Designed in the style of the great lodges of America’s National Parks, members immediately feel safe and comfortable within the luxurious wood and stone structure. Tremendous stone fireplaces rise majestically, leading the eye to the magnificent network of exposed beams soaring high above. The bucolic tables, chairs and accessories complement and complete the scene, creating a simple, yet fulfilling elegance found only in the finest facilities. This is a clubhouse that anyone and everyone will love to visit and hate to leave. It may be called a clubhouse, but it should really be called a club-home.
Ah, but it is the golf the makes Hassayampa such a truly special club. The golfing experience at Hassayampa is one of the most sensational and enjoyable found anywhere, and the great golf starts at the very first tee, which offers 360-degree views of the entire area including a spectacular view down the fairway with the Bradshaw Mountains towering in the distance. The opening hole is a nice, comfortable 357-yard downhill par four that allows golfers the chance to get off to a good start, and the hole sets the tone for the entire round yet to unfold.
Hassayampa Golf Club offers some of the most beautiful and memorable holes in the state of Arizona, and numerous species of trees and wildlife abound throughout the property. Weiskopf did an absolutely remarkable job of inserting an exquisite golf course into the rugged terrain with as little impact on the natural surroundings as possible. It seems as though the land was created specifically for these golf holes, and that the land wasn’t complete until Weiskopf and his staff laid the emerald fairways, beautifully crafted bunkers and meticulous greens onto it, adding depth and variety to an already impressive landscape.
Unlike most courses, every hole at Hassayampa offers a unique and memorable golf experience. A couple of my favorites on the front nine include the short par-5 5th, which offers all the challenge, strategy and risk/reward decision making opportunities for which any golfer can hope, and the thrilling 7th, a 317-yard downhill par-4 that offers every golfer the chance to be a hero with a blind tee shot between two fantastic rock outcroppings onto a safe landing area, or onto a tight, well-protected green. The hole is called “Periscope” because of the need to look through the 20-foot tall periscope standing off to the left of the tee box to make sure the coast is clear before you start launching shots at the green.
It’s hard to believe the first time you play the course, but the back nine is even better than the front. It starts with a long, fun par-5 called “The Ruins” after one of the state’s oldest archaeological ruins, which happens to fall along the left side of the fairway. At 614 yards, this hole is a true three-shotter, with a gorgeous little pond protecting the green short and right, and a tough three-tiered green which requires a well played approach shot for an easy two-putt par.
The 13th hole is named “Jack Ass Flat,” and it is another wonderful golf hole, this one featuring a fairway running diagonally between two lakes, one short and left and the other long and right. The green sits on a peninsula to the left of the furthest lake. This is an incredibly fun hole that undoubtedly provides members with many opportunities to win or lose a side wager or two, as every possible hazard and shot can come into play on this single hole. Two or three ill-timed shots on this hole will make anyone feel like a jackass in no time flat!
16 is another amazing hole. It is a relatively short par-3, playing to just 168 yards, but every one of those yards provides something spectacular to the hole. The hole is named, “Hassayampa,” and it is definitely the signature hole of the course. It could also be the signature hole of Arizona, for that matter. The hole plays across a huge mountain ravine filled with numerous shrubs and rocks, and a small creek runs through it. One of the most beautiful outcroppings of granite you’ll ever see sits at the top of the far side of the ravine, just short and right of the green. The green is surrounded by a magnificent stand of towering Ponderosa Pines, and strategically placed bunkers add beauty and intrigue to the front of the green while protecting short shots against rolling back down into the ravine. This is the type of hole that rivals the 7th at Pebble Beach or “Golden Bell,” the 12th at Augusta National in terms of beauty, prestige, excitement and sheer enjoyment to play, and it is the hole which graces the local cover of this edition of Golfing Magazine!
For those people lucky enough to enjoy Hassayampa, it is hard to leave the beauty and serenity of the course and the property. Lucky for them, the golf course is also the heart and soul of a private residential development offering a wide variety of lifestyle choices, including single family homes, townhomes, condominiums and magnificent estates. There’s also great news for those of you who already own a home and can’t afford or don’t want another…you don’t have to own land at Hassayampa in order to buy a membership at Hassayampa Golf Club. This is fairly unique among Arizona’s best private country clubs, and makes Hassayampa one of the best deals ever for a top-notch private club. The membership fee is just $30,000 for a non-refundable membership. You will then enjoy one of the most prestigious and satisfying private golf memberships in Arizona for just the small monthly dues! This membership is a great way to play a lot of fantastic golf, and what an incredible price for a club of the stature and quality of Hassayampa Golf Club! Hassayampa also offers a refundable Golf membership for $45,000 ($40,000 refundable), and Social memberships for $5,000.
Located just two miles from the bustling Old West hub of
downtown Prescott, Hassayampa’s wide range of membership amenities appeal to all ages, tempting the avid golfer and non-golfer alike. In addition to the standard golf and social memberships listed above, their innovative Young Professional Program offers a reduced initiation fee and dues structure for those who join under the age of 35, allowing younger families an affordable way to establish themselves and their families in a club environment. For the traditional member looking for golf or social activities, the year-round festivities offer something for everyone.
Just as in its historic beginnings, generations of families continue to spend their time playing golf and tennis, swimming at the pool, and relaxing with family and friends. Hassayampa families enjoy club-sponsored barbeques, pumpkin carving and Halloween costume contests, breakfast with Santa, Easter egg hunts, and more. Junior golf clinics are held during the summer months to sharpen the skills of Hassayampa’s little Tiger-wannabes. Throughout the year adults enjoy wine tasting parties and gourmet dinners, luaus by the pool, member-guest days, holiday parties and special themed evenings of dining. The recreational pool with cabana and food service proves to be a top spot for family gatherings during the summer, and members can sign up for water aerobics and Pilates classes, which are offered on a regular basis.
The spectacular Hassayampa clubhouse offers three dining areas, including two beautiful indoor rooms, and a very special outdoor patio with water feature, perfect for summer dining and special events. With room enough for a band, the flagstone patio is a perfect venue for weddings, receptions and family gatherings, and guests are welcome to host an event at Hassayampa if they have a member-sponsor. The result is stunning, and enhanced by the exclusivity. You will long remember your special event when it is hosted in a venue overlooking Thumb Butte, Prescott’s most famous national landmark, or on the golf course driving range overlooking the city lights. For details or information on hosting your special events, call General Manager, Nora Askew at 928-445-0009, ext. 109.
Not to be outdone, the well-appointed Pro Shop offers attire for the fitness-minded, as well as top-brand clothing collections including Tehama, Jamie Saddock, Greg Norman, Annika by Cutter & Buck, and more. Colorful displays entice visitors to shop as soon as they step into the Clubhouse, and everyone should own and proudly wear a quality shirt or hat with the stylish Hassayampa Golf Club logo on it! Club-sponsored demo days sprinkled throughout the year give members a taste of industry trends and new products, and club tournaments like the Weiskopf, Ye Old Hassayampa Classic, Parent-Child Tournaments, and member-guest days offer something for everyone, no matter what their level of play.
Whatever the occasion, you’ll surely enjoy every fun-filled day as a member of Heavenly Hassayampa Golf Club. If you are interested in finding out more about any of the great membership packages currently available at Hassayampa Golf Club call Membership Director Tara Fort at 928-445-0009, ext. 110, or email her at tnf@hassayampagolf.com. You can also visit Hassayampa Golf Club online at www.hassayampagolf.com.
