A new luxury home enclave dubbed “Seven” is coming to north Scottsdale’s most exclusive residential golf club, Desert Mountain. The 90-acre addition, developed by Desert Mountain members, is just west of the existing main gate on Cave Creek Road and will feature up to 190 homes designed around a par 54, 18-hole short-game golf course and new clubhouse.
Seven broke ground in December and is the second community developed by the partnership of the Van Tuyl Companies and Phoenix-based M3 Companies.
The community’s name was chosen to represent Desert Mountain’s seventh private golf course and clubhouse.
“We are honored to design and develop one of the last parcels within this world- renowned master plan,” said Bill Brownlee, managing partner at M3 Companies and member of Desert Mountain Club. “Like the development of Desert Mountain was at its inception, Seven will be a unique community bringing a fun, new and exciting lifestyle experience to Arizona’s high desert.”
M3 and the Van Tuyl Companies previously teamed for the development of Wickenburg Ranch, featuring a Shea Trilogy community located in Wickenburg, Ariz. The team has a reputation for developing communities that celebrate the heritage and history of each community’s unique setting, creating a sense of place and a timeless community for generations to come. M3’s other communities in Arizona include Prescott American Ranch and Prescott Lakes.
The golf course design team is Brownlee and fellow Desert Mountain member Wendell Pickett, who collaborated on M3’s other communities, most recently the golf courses at Wickenburg Ranch.
Seven’s clubhouse, designed by acclaimed Scottsdale architect CP Drewitt, will feature a family-friendly environment with an indoor-outdoor gastro pub, large patios for dining and entertainment, welcoming fire pits and bocce ball courts set against a beautiful high desert backdrop. The inspiration for the clubhouse is from the developers’ desire for an inclusive, fun and family-friendly community gathering place with entertainment, a large bar and activities that will make it a destination.
Four-sided architecture
The homebuilding team assembled by M3 for Seven is comprised of Camelot Homes, Cullum Homes and other builders. The custom, semi-custom and condominium homes will range from 2,200 to 6,500 square feet and will be priced from $1 million to more than $3 million, with models beginning construction in 2018 and opening in early 2019. A distinguishing aspect of the community is that all but three of the homes planned for development will be on the golf course, with the additional three overlooking a wash.
“Seven will emphasize four-sided architecture,” Brownlee said. “The rear design of the home is as important as the front.”
Homeowners at Seven will become either a lifestyle or equity golf member at Desert Mountain, gaining access to its world-class amenities including its newly renovated Sonoran Spa and Fitness Center, tennis complex, miles of private hiking and biking trails, private golf courses, distinctive clubhouses and restaurants.
An unparalleled golf experience
Seven’s unique golf design will have three tees per hole with the tips measuring more than 3,000 yards (a yardage enabling Seven to obtain a course rating and handicap by the Arizona Golf Association). The course will be one of only two private par 54-rated courses in the U.S., which will be a significant draw for Desert Mountain members and is anticipated to attract a new class and generation of golfers. The course will be designed for all skill levels, in keeping with the high golf standards of Desert Mountain, featuring bent grass tees, fairways and greens.
The golf course at Seven addresses the game’s ongoing evolution and a national movement to build golf courses that are more user-friendly, inclusive and fun but challenging. The inspiration for the course is the design team’s wildly successful “Li’l Wick” at Wickenburg Ranch. The course at Seven will have a lighted putting green, seating areas and music that extends from the clubhouse, creating a lively, entertaining and interactive experience.
“This place will be a reflection of how we like to have fun with our own families – it will be social, playable, visual – while honoring the quality of the other six courses at Desert Mountain,” Pickett said.
Wickenburg Ranch’s 18-hole championship course “Big Wick” and the 9-hole, par 3 “Li’l Wick” have received praise from the national golf community. Golf Advisor ranked Big Wick the #1 golf course in Arizona and #9 golf course in the U.S., and ranked it #1 nationally for course conditions. The course was also ranked #4 on Golf Digest’s list of Best New Courses in the country in 2015. Li’l Wick is an inviting, fun golf experience that incorporates a sports bar, music, seating areas and a hammock into its course design.
The Clubhouse at Wickenburg Ranch recently won the Gold Award at the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) annual awards gala for Best Community Amenity.
“We are proud to welcome Seven to the Desert Mountain family,” said Desert Mountain CEO Damon DiOrio. “We are confident this development will seamlessly blend into our existing landscape and we’re eager to welcome the residents to our beautiful community.”
