Renovated and renamed McDowell Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale is worth a second look
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- McDowell Mountain Golf Club has a new name and new operators to go with a golf course that has a brand new look.
Formerly known as Sanctuary Golf Course, McDowell Mountain G.C. is located just northwest of downtown Scottsdale, Ariz., and is set beside the McDowell Mountains. The course is on land co-owned by the Federal Bureau of Reclamation and the City of Scottsdale and is almost entirely void of any neighboring residential development alongside playing corridors.
Phil Mickelson led a group of investors who took over Sanctuary in 2010 and renovated the golf course, which is set along historic Rio Verde Canal in Scottsdale. The team called back original architect Randy Heckenkemper, and under his eye the course was cleaned up, re-contoured and lengthened. The back tees now play more than 7,000 yards, while the removal of bunkers and addition of turf in strategic areas makes it more playable for higher handicappers. Native rock was cleaned up and turned into small little walls in the desert areas, and a variety of trees were also planted. The forward set of tees now plays a modest 4,880 yards.
The practice area is also better than ever, home to grass hitting bays and plenty of room for clinics and lessons, plus new, larger putting and chipping greens.
The clubhouse at McDowell Mountain is also being entirely rebuilt and will open 11,000 square feet of space in January 2013, plus 2,000 square feet of outdoor patio space overlooking the golf course.
![The par-4 second at McDowell Mountain Golf Club plays 366 yards.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/46431.jpg)
![The fifth hole at McDowell Mountain Golf Club is a sharp dogleg left.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/46432.jpg)
![The par-4 sixth at McDowell Mountain Golf Club has a waste bunker that runs in front of the green.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/46433.jpg)
![The par-3 eighth at McDowell Mountain Golf Club was extensively beautified during the renovation project in 2010.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/46434.jpg)
![The Rio Verde Canal runs to the left of the long, par-4 11th hole at McDowell Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/46435.jpg)
![The par-5 13th at McDowell Mountain Golf Club has a well-guarded green.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/46436.jpg)
![McDowell Mountain Golf Club's 16th is one of shortest par 4s at just 339 yards.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/46437.jpg)
![McDowell Mountain Golf Club's par-3 17th hole is a long shot over water.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/46438.jpg)
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