Who doesn’t love a room with a view, to be able to see a thrilling landscape or iconic tourist attraction just a few feet from where you’ve been binging Forensic Files and keeping the Keurig purring all morning? It’s quite another thing, though, to inhabit the actual space people travel hours and hours to see in person. At the Boulders Resort & Spa in the North Scottsdale section known as the town of Carefree, you’re one of the figures in the postcard as your casita is found not just facing the best views, but sitting exactly IN the rapturous boulder-strewn Sonoran Desert setting that has to be seen to be believed.
The unspoiled 1,300-acre property’s namesake (and 12-million-year-old) boulders are found in artful, unusual formations throughout the property highlight a desert canvas that also affords visitors miles-long views of the surrounding desert and angular and inspiring mountain formations like the nearby Black Mountain. In some cases, those boulders can be seen resting in precarious and physics-defying positions as if dropped there by gods and sprinkled throughout the rugged landscape.
I had played golf at The Boulders twice before, but this was the first time I’d have the chance to stay a couple of nights and soak in the magic of the property. I learned in my mini-hikes around the resort that it was important its developers, Rusty Lyon and Laurence Rockefeller back in the 1980s, that the resort always look true to its natural setting. You’ll see palm trees and floral embellishments at other properties, but never at The Boulders, where nature is allowed to speak for itself. And it does, proudly and distinctively.
Our casita, which was kind of like the luxury version of a cabin or teepee, was perched high above the iconic fifth green of the famous South Course, presenting stirring natural views of the magnificent desert, boulders and surrounding mountains. Each casita is elegantly appointed with modern design that also pays fitting homage to the Native American heritage for which the region has become synonymous. There are no rooms in the main lodge – only casitas that are a short (but not flat or boring walk) away from the resort’s main dining and social complex. Whether you choose to relax poolside in the intimate swim park setting enveloped by boulders and hillsides or indoors the inviting Discovery Lounge, you’ll feel the comforts of home and the energy of the desert simultaneously, a feeling that’s really hard to beat. We found Discovery Lounge’s wine selection just as impressive as its cozy interior design with comfortable lounging spaces, a fireplace, high ceiling and huge windows overlooking the pool area and the one-of-a-kind boulder formation.
The dining at the Boulders is also first rate, I enjoyed a peaceful breakfast at the elegantly inviting Palo Verde restaurant, opting for a Southwestern take on an omelet, which hit all the marks. Even though, I saw creative touches on other people’s plates like the blue corn pancakes and some thoughtfully prepared smoothies, I was glad I loaded up on proteins prior to heading to the golf course.
It’s always a particular pleasure to play the South Course at the Boulders, a quintessential desert golf stunner that makes brilliant use of the breathtaking landscape that surrounds the property. I always find this course plays longer than the yardage, and that playing shots from the correct side of the fairway is a big key to scoring. Beyond the shot values and exceptional playability of the South Course, though, what stands out is how connected to nature the layout is from the first hole to the 18th green.
I was also anticipating this round because both the South and North courses recently underwent a refinement all bunkers were excavated and rebuilt incorporating a technically advanced drainage and liner system featuring Capillary Concrete to minimize washouts, reduce maintenance and produce better playability. Every green complex on the South Course was also restored to the original shape and size, and were resurfaced greens with TifEagle turf, the wildly-popular ultra-dwarf hybrid green that offers improved speed, consistency and playability as well as smooth transitions during seasonal weather changes.
The Boulders’ bunker renovation project and South Course refinement project comes on the heels of ownership’s recent investment in a state-of-the-art pump station designed to support efficient irrigation practices and enhancing turf health. In addition, Ryan Schroeder joined the Boulders Club as Director of Agronomy and Brandon Christensen was appointed the new Director of Golf Operations and is now at the helm of all golf programs, golf shop operations, golf course maintenance, tennis operations and the Boulders Club membership.
I had played the South Course almost exactly a year prior to my December visit to the Boulders, so the refinements to the golf course were very evident. The fairways, bunkers and greens were all sharp with an aesthetic strong enough to host a made-for-TV event at a moment’s notice. And it’s only going to get better as it matures.
The impeccable 6,917-yard, par-71 (or 72 if you play #8 as a par 5) South Course, designed by the masterful Jay Morrish fits seamlessly with the desert landscape. Te serpentine par-5 fifth hole plays 540 yards, requiring a shot that needs to land in the fairway, short of the dry creek bed that runs across the width of the fairway. And as you blast your second shot at the elevated landing area, you can’t help but start to appreciate the large signature boulder formation that sits behind the green. It’s massive and awe inspiring.
There’s a great continuity of character as the course winds from the front nine to the back. The second nine delivers a tasty menu of three par threes, three par fours and three par fives. The 12th is a fun short par 4 that plays between 254 and 348, depending on which tees you’re playing and back-to-back par threes at 15 and 16 grab your focus while fitting perfectly into the serene desert setting. One of my favorite things about playing the boulders is all the wildlife encounters. It’s the desert version of a Safari. I like to run through the checklist if we are going to see bobcats, javelinas, jack rabbits, or coyotes.
In between shots on the South Course, you realize what an embarrassment of riches this property is from a geographic and natural scenery standpoint. For a glimmer of a second, you even feel a little guilty that you’re on a golf course, instead of a maybe just modest, smaller-footprint hiking trail, or some sort of observation point. The views are that breathtaking. You almost wonder if the golf routing was the right use for such a sublime stretch of land, then you realize the journey the golf course takes you on makes it possible to see this rare landscape from so many exceptional vantage points. At their best, golf courses take you on a journey and allow you to gain a deeper appreciation for the environment around you. The Boulders is a thrilling example a great design by Morrish meeting an incomparable Sonoran Desert site. To enter this property is to escape everything outside of it and indulge in one of those singular experiences in nature that just happen too rarely.
The South Courses’s finishing hole is a heroic par-five finishing hole that stretches to 583 yards from the tips, but just a tantalizing 514 from the blue and white tees. A generously and gently uphill fairway sets up an approach that must take the pond fronting the front-right side of the green into consideration. The 18th is a fitting end to a collection of holes each beautifully framed by the rugged desert foothills and namesake boulders all around.
As you would expect at a 36-hole property that’s part of an award-winning luxury resort, the practice facilities are ample and impeccable for working on every phase of your game. The Boulders Golf Academy features lessons from talented PGA and LPGA instructors including Donald Crawley, a Class A member of both the British and United States PGA. Ranked by GOLF Magazine as one of the Top 100 Teachers in America, he is also recognized by Golf Digest as one of the Best Teachers in Arizona. The new Orange Whip GFX Golf and Fitness program combines golf instruction with fitness by developing and strengthening the five golf swing skills through functional golf movements performed within a specific golf workout and uses a 4D Motion Sensor with results that instantly improves the game.
The Spa at the Boulders is a 33,000-square-foot escape with 24 treatment rooms and a full menu of invigorating experiences, including a revitalizing Turquoise Wrap, a path-to-tranquility labyrinth, an authentic teepee for guided meditation, a private Watsu therapy pool, and Vichy showers. We only caught glimpses of the spa on our short stay, but we heard great things about it. We’ve also added the Spotted Donkey – the on-site Mexican Cantina, which blends native cuisine with modern décor and a festive atmosphere – and, of course playing the Jay Morrish-designed North Course on a return visit to The Boulders. The nearly four dozen tequila options at the Spotted Donkey also sound enticing.
So many great little moments stand out, but just walking and exploring these faithfully maintained ancient grounds was unforgettable. From the Sunset Point overlook, not far from the pool area, you can see miles and miles of desert and mountains and even a glimpse back toward Scottsdale and Phoenix. It’s a sense of place and inspiration I can’t recommend enough. Learn more at https://www.theboulders.com.
