Desert Mountain (Cochise)

Even when they’ve designed multiple golf courses on a single property, architects can’t help but play favorites. Jack Nicklaus designed no less than six routes at the Desert Mountain Club complex north of Scottsdale, and he has not been shy about expressing his admiration for the Cochise course in particular, describing it as “one of the most picturesque golf courses in the world.”

The club itself is less keen on choosing favorites, probably why it lists all four of its par fives as “signature” holes due to their risk-reward nature. Two of these holes focus their risk on the approach, which can be made in two if a player is willing to carry a desert wash in front of the green.

This is somewhat standard desert golf fare, however. The most unique of the risky par fives comes at No. 15, when players can consider making the same daring carry to an island green. As a further show of nonconformity, this is a double green, shared with the par three No. 7.

Desert Mountain also features the following Top 100-ranked courses: Chiricahua, Geronimo, Renegade and Outlaw.