When you travel through the heart of North Scottsdale you will not have any trouble finding challenging golf courses and an overall great experience. Scottsdale has some of the most renowned golf courses in the United States, such as Whisper Rock which is home for many PGA Tour players and of course the TPC Stadium Course where the Waste Management Phoenix Open is held. Any avid golfer is familiar or if they are lucky has played these courses, but I am here to tell you that there is one golf course above the rest that you should consider playing next time you come to Scottsdale. It can be described as a secret oasis in the desert and is know as The Silverleaf Club. Silverleaf is a private country club that offers everything from golf to a top ranked spa. Why does this course not come to mind up more often? The course is unbelievable; the facilities are even better, so why is this not mentioned in every magazine? My theory is twofold: one it is a very private club and two is the age of the course. It only started in 2002 whereas other clubs in Scottsdale have been around for much longer than that. With years of seasoning and fine-tuning this golf club will become the premier club in Scottsdale if not the southwest. I have played many great golf courses in the western United States and I would have to rate this course ranks in my top five for sure. For a private club, the developers have invested enormous amounts of money to ensure this establishment will be the one to talk about.

On the golf course you will not find anything short of exceptional. The first three holes are a stretch of golfing perfection that will be imprinted in your mind and will set the tone for the rest of your round. The first hole is a brutal wake up call from the tips playing almost 490 yards uphill. It is deceivingly narrow with strategically placed bunkers that will immediately let you know the subtle difficulty of this course. Survive that unscathed, and the second hole is straight away, but with some necessary shot shaping off the tee. The green seems friendly and approachable enough, but leave your approach wedge short and the false front of the green will funnel your ball 20 yards back into the fairway, where you get to repeat the shot. In short this hole is not to be trifled with. Finally the last of this stretch is a long par 5 dogleg right that is reachable only for the most experienced players. Going for the green in two requires great precision with a long second shot, and the narrow green surrounded with numerous treacherous bunkers does not yield many rewards for the timid. Tom Weiskopf, the former PGA player and course designer, always includes a “reachable” par 4 which you come across on the ninth hole. This is yet another risk and reward hole that encourages you to tempt fate and drive the green, but be warned. The green has multiple tiers and is fiercely guarded with perilous bunkers and unforgiving desert close by. If you feel adventurous and go for the green you better be accurate. If you hit the green you have an almost guaranteed birdie, but miss it and good luck. Even taking the easy route and laying up, one has to leave yourself a comfortable yardage otherwise you will have a hard time making par. The back nine gives nothing away either. The back nine holes traverses hills, desert and water holes. It is mostly uphill with difficult greens; in short you better bring your best game. Speaking of greens, when you are fortunate enough to make your way on to the greens you face a universally maddening phenomenon on this golf course. There is strong pull towards downtown Phoenix, otherwise known as the valley. Without a member or seasoned caddy to guide you, three putting from five feet will be a forgone conclusion by the end of the day. This is a magnificent desert golf course with many amazing golf holes as well as scenic vistas of the mountains and the city. For the fortunate few that can afford the price to join this private club it is an oasis in the desert to be coveted. For the rest, do the next best thing and become friends with a member and play as much as they will invite you.

Once you make your way off the course get prepared for one of the best clubhouse experiences. They have everything one could hope for in a private club, but with a sense of simple refined elegance. Also another benefit is the carefully screened member list. This club has a pleasant and vibrant demographic from all ages and walks of life. The clubhouse sits in the middle of two mountain ranges and spans some 90,000 square feet. Everything from the pool to the weight rooms, to the spa and restaurants are nothing short of exceptional. This clubhouse is one that excels and makes its own mark high above the rest. Probably the defining element that makes this club a cut above the rest is the employees. They are some of the kindest people I have met in an establishment such as this. They make the atmosphere even better than it already is. The employees at Silverleaf make you feel calm and welcome, almost like you are enjoying yourself in the comfort of your own home with friends and family. For a select few the family is always looking to expand.