Desert Forest Golf Club
Private37207 Mule Train Rd, Carefree, AZ 85377, USA
The lay of the land.
How the course above sets up: its routing, character, and what to expect.
Desert Forest Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course in Carefree, AZ, playing 4,765–7,182 yards from 10 sets of tees (slope 116–149, course rating up to 75.5).
The word on the course.
How golfers talk about it, summarized from public reviews. Their opinions, not our scoring.
Architecture-minded golfers revere Desert Forest as a minimalist landmark — widely called the first true desert course — where natural contours and Sonoran flora supply the strategy instead of bunkers or water. A quiet thinking player’s course.
Consistently praised
- A pioneering minimalist design that lets contours and flora dictate strategy.
- No fairway bunkers or water in play, so positioning and angles carry the round.
Worth knowing
- Subtle, understated character with few dramatic holes can underwhelm players chasing eye candy.
Golfers recommend
- Cacti, mesquite and palo verde are the real hazards; think your way around them.
- Small, elevated greens are the test — prize approach control.
Tee fit & expected score.
Set your handicap for the right tees, a realistic score, and the holes where you'll get a stroke.
Play the Silver tees, 6062 yds (or Black/Silver)
How to play it
- Card-wreckers at #2, #4, #5, #7, #13, #18. Bogey is fine here; don't compound mistakes.
- 5 par 4s over 440 yds, a course that rewards length off the tee.
Tagged scorecard.
Per-hole tags for hazards, length, and scoring chances from your selected tee.
| Hole | Par | Yds | SI | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1• | 4 | 404 | 7 | |
| 2•• | 4 | 456 | 3 | Long 4Tough |
| 3• | 3 | 171 | 17 | |
| 4• | 4 | 441 | 9 | Long 4 |
| 5•• | 4 | 464 | 5 | Long 4 |
| 6• | 4 | 371 | 13 | |
| 7•• | 5 | 530 | 1 | Tough |
| 8• | 3 | 231 | 15 | Long 3 |
| 9• | 5 | 533 | 11 | |
| Out | 36 | 3601 | ||
| 10• | 4 | 392 | 10 | |
| 11•• | 5 | 594 | 4 | |
| 12• | 3 | 194 | 18 | |
| 13•• | 4 | 466 | 2 | Long 4Tough |
| 14• | 4 | 329 | 16 | Birdie |
| 15• | 4 | 435 | 8 | |
| 16• | 5 | 535 | 6 | |
| 17• | 3 | 169 | 14 | |
| 18• | 4 | 467 | 12 | Long 4 |
| In | 36 | 3581 | ||
All tees & ratings
| Tee | Yards | Rating | Slope | Par |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 7182 | 75.5 | 149 | 72 |
| Blue | 6933 | 74.5 | 142 | 72 |
| Red | 6692 | 73.2 | 137 | 72 |
| Black | 6534 | 72.2 | 133 | 72 |
| Black/Silver | 6273 | 71.2 | 131 | 72 |
| Silver | 6062 | 70.4 | 129 | 72 |
| Green | 5606 | 68 | 124 | 72 |
| Green/White | 5357 | 66.9 | 120 | 72 |
| White | 5151 | 65.9 | 118 | 72 |
| Copper | 4765 | 64.4 | 116 | 72 |
Conditions & terrain.
Today's wind by hole, the climbs and drops, and a seven-day playability outlook.
7-day outlook
Best window this week: Wed 07-08 · 70/100
Frequently asked.
- How long is Desert Forest Golf Club?
- Desert Forest Golf Club plays 4,765–7,182 yards across 10 sets of tees, to a par of 72 from the back tees.
- How difficult is Desert Forest Golf Club?
- Its slope rating ranges 116–149, with a course rating up to 75.5. The front nine plays tougher.
- Which tees should I play at Desert Forest Golf Club?
- A mid-handicap golfer (around 15) best fits the Silver tees at 6,062 yards. Match your own driver distance or handicap with the tee selector on this page.
Nearby & similar.
Other courses within reach, and the closest matches by difficulty and length.