Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club

From the elevated tee boxes, players take in 360 degree views sweeping from the iconic Vulture Peak to the Weaver Mountains in the North

Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club

Website: www.wickenburgranch.com

Phone:  928.668.5535  

Address:  3312 Maverick Drive
Wickenburg, Arizona 85390 

Club General Manager:  Christian Corbett
Head Golf Professional:  Justin Henderson, PGA
Course Superintendent:  Andy Huber, GCSAA
Course Designer/Architect: Bill Brownlee and Wendell Pickett

About This Course:
18 Holes of Championship Golf
Managed by BlueStar Resort & Golf
Par 71 – 7059 yards from tips
Rating/Slope: Men: 72.4/139; 70.6/134; 68.5/125; 63.5/109, Women: 68.7/121

Golf Digest ranks Wickenburg Ranch among Best New Courses of 2015
Design team of Bill Brownlee and Wendell Pickett make waves in golf course design world with first solo creation

Golf Digest, the world’s largest, most-respected golf publication, has named Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club among the Top 10 Best New Courses of 2015. 

In what turned out to be the stiffest competition in years, Wickenburg Ranch placed No. 6 among a standout list of courses that included Cabot Cliffs in Nova Scotia and Trump Golf Links Ferry Point in Bronx, New York. The golf course was praised by panelists for the astounding beauty and dramatic topography of its setting as well as the variety of holes and shot values. In fact, one unnamed panelist wrote: “I could play this golf course every day and not get tired of it.” 

“We were extremely excited to learn Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club has been recognized by Golf Digest as one of the ‘Top Ten Best New Courses in North America,’” said Bill Brownlee, Wickenburg Ranch developer and co-designer with Wendell Pickett of the Wickenburg Ranch golf course. “In a head-to-head fight with the outstanding golf courses, and a who’s who list of designers, including Nicklaus, Coore/Crenshaw, Dye, and others, Wickenburg Ranch more than held its own. Wendell and I couldn’t be more proud of the entire team, especially our Superintendent, Andy Huber, who started this dream with us nearly 10 years ago. Thank you to all the panelists, and congratulations to our fellow winners.”   

What makes the course’s meteoric rise to golf stardom all the more impressive is that it was the first full-fledged foray into golf course design for either Brownlee or Pickett. Both had played pivotal roles in a number of golf course developments, but never had taken the reins as golf course designers of record. 

Thoughtful and passionate stewards of the game, they painstakingly crafted the Wickenburg Ranch golf course for more than seven years to ensure maximum playability, shot values and enjoyment. As a result of their vision, attention to detail and dedication, Wickenburg Ranch has proven its ability to stand shoulder to shoulder with the game’s best venues. Its artfully designed holes traverse canyons and arroyos, which showcase vistas of the Prescott National Forest and Vulture Peak. Each is a chapter in a larger story, with varying distances, compass directions, and skill requirements woven into the experience.  

A noted real estate visionary for more than two decades, Brownlee specializes in creating distinctive, award-winning communities that evoke the unique spirit of the American West. Additionally, Brownlee is an accomplished and passionate golfer who has had the honor of playing many of the world’s top golf courses. In designing the golf course at Wickenburg Ranch with his longtime friend, Brownlee relied upon his keen sense of golf strategy as well as his expansive knowledge of development to craft a golf course that will truly stand the test of time.  

During his career, Pickett participated in the planning, development and construction of more than 30 noted golf courses in North America, and has worked closely with many of the game’s most celebrated designers. In creating Wickenburg Ranch’s golf course with Brownlee, Pickett drew upon his extensive background in golf design as well as his sophisticated, aesthetic sense to ensure the golf course blends perfectly with its surrounding environment while delivering a truly unmatched playing experience.  

For those who would like to experience Wickenburg Ranch for themselves, new spring rates run through April, 2016. Tee times will be available 30 days in advance, Tuesdays through Sundays and Holiday Mondays. Rates start at $95 for Wickenburg Residents, $105 for Arizona residents and $135 for out of state guests. 

This past fall, the club also opened a new Tour Center to help tell The Wickenburg Ranch story in greater detail and comfort to would-be homeowners and club Members. It also opened a new, full-service restaurant – Jake’s Spoon. Like the golf course, Jake’s Spoon is quickly garnering praise for its outstanding authentic Arizona cuisine, especially its popular “Wickenburger,” Green Chili Pork Stew and Fried Green Tomato BLT. The restaurant also is home to the weekly “Member’s Corral,” featuring live music, happy hour drinks and much more. 

Located approximately one hour and 15 minutes northwest of downtown Phoenix near the intersection of Highways 89 and 93 in the historic town of Wickenburg, Arizona, the club will provide the social and recreational hub for the Wickenburg Ranch master-planned community. Wickenburg Ranch is currently under development by Shea Homes and Phoenix-based M3 Companies, and will feature Shea’s newest Trilogy resort community.

To learn more about membership in Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club, please visit wickenburgranch.com, call 928.668.5535, or send an email to info@wickenburgranch.com.


By By Alice and Danny Scott

No score and seven years in the making, all hail the new opening of Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club, on February 8, 2015! This course will rival any desert splendor in the greater Phoenix area, scoring high with amateurs and pros alike. Just a couple weeks prior, hordes of workers were on deck to complete the model Shea homes above the number one fairway, to bridge gaps in the cart paths and to detail the landscaping, meticulously replacing saguaros. It looked like a Pixar movie scene of grown boys on their big Tonka toys grading, not our game, but the earth – paving way for the spectacular future clubhouse. Plans will evolve over time to include a social club with all of the amenities expected in a luxury lifestyle community including restaurants, a day spa, tennis and pools. The interim club with all the basics will be perched on a strategic vantage point for drinking in the western wonder along with your favorite libation.

A star-studded cast has been hired by Blue Star to ensure the upscale delivery of golf and more in Trilogy tradition. Andy Huber, from Troon heritage, was drawn from his most recent position maintaining coastal links along the Algarve in Portugal so there is no doubt about the sustenance of the pristine golf conditions within the dramatically inspiring rock hills. Are you ready for prime time play with incredibly striking views?

Hole #6, par 4, 328 yards from the tips - Both visually stimulating and intimidating, the line of sight to an uphill green surrounded by bunkers, is completely engulfed by a large reflective lake. The left fairway allows for bailout by the weak of heart. A sand area borders the far side of the lake to capture brave drives eking over the water but short of the miniscule fairway before the green, which slopes from back to front. As on the entire course, putting surfaces are ideal but the subtleties compound the challenge on this short par 4.

Hole #9, par 5, 490 yards from the tips - The easiest shot is the drive on this hole, and then it is up, up and away, but to where? The green is hidden from view atop the high hill guarded by bunkers on the right and back. Easy from the back tees if you divine the green’s position on this blind monster, judge the right distances, and play well with steep lies. Did we say easy? The forward tees need 3 long steady shots for par or birdie. Look back and say ahhh.

Hole #14, par 5, 583 yards from the tips - From the highest elevation tees on the course, the views are so captivating you may need to remind yourself to hit the ball. The landing area below is more generous than it appears. A three shot hole for most humans, streams, and cascading waterfalls, feed into the large lake surrounding the green, left and back. The desert hillside guards the right where sentinel saguaros witness shots along the fairway that narrows as it continues downhill to the relatively flat, large green.

Hole #18, par 5, 591 yards from the tips - The closing dogleg left is littered with sand bunkers and elevation changes. Favor the right side of the elbow for a direct approach, as a left side short cut requires a blind shot. Miscalculations of distance with three different desert crossings on the way to an uphill green could result in a fairway to seven.

For the ultimate in desert serenity below the Bradshaw Mountains, all residents of the Shea Homes, Trilogy community will have a social membership. Public play at Wickenburg Ranch is available for $75-$95 and includes not only the golf cart and practice balls, but also a Travis Mathew polo AND a Travis Mathew performance outerwear piece with the WR brand logo (valued at $69 & $99 respectively). This is a no brainer! Pull them on and hit the tees. Way out west Wickenburg is now right around the bend thanks to the near completion of the 303. Play is limited to 72 rounds per day so book early, book often. Head west and golf, partner.