Pine Canyon Club: Newest Morrish Arizona Golf Course
FLAGSTAFF, AZ - What's next for the developers of exclusive Stone Canyon (pictured) and Jay Morrish?
It's The Pine Canyon Club and it is being built amongst the tall Ponderosa pines in Arizona's high country, a mountain jewel is beginning to take shape. Punctuating the Flagstaff landscape with majestic mountain vistas and unparalleled rolling terrain is soon to become one of Arizona's most treasured golf course communities: The Pine Canyon Club.
The Pine Canyon Club will be to the forest what its sister course, The Stone Canyon Club in Oro Valley near Tucson is to the desert. "The Pine Canyon Club has the potential to be one of the finest golf courses in the entire state of Arizona," said Morrish.
"Forest Highlands is currently the measuring stick by which all mountain courses are compared, but Pine Canyon has the inherent ability to rise above that mark. It's truly a remarkable setting and we are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to create something wonderful in the mountains. We designed and built a marvelous facility with Stone Canyon and I firmly believe that Pine Canyon will evolve into an equally impressive golf course," added Morrish.
Currently under construction and scheduled to be completed in the Summer of 2003, The Pine Canyon Club, a private and secured golf community, located just 1/2 mile south of Northern Arizona University and almost completely surrounded by Federal Forest Service Land, will provide a challenging, yet rewarding golf experience at an elevation that exceeds 7,000 feet on most of the golf course.
Homesites within Pine Canyon are expected to be available for sale before the end of 2002. "We wanted to establish a challenging golf course, yet one that was accommodating for the members," said Morrish. "We'll have some generous landing areas on some holes and a driveable par 4 on the course, but overall, The Pine Canyon Club will reward the risky player as well as those golfers who want to play conservatively from time to time."
Some of Morrish's other claims to fame include Loch Lomond in Scotland, north Scottsdale's Troon North, Las Colinas in Irving, Texas, The Boulders G.C. in Carefree, Forest Highlands in Flagstaff and Waikoloa G.C. in Hawaii. His architectural imprint has also been seen in Japan, Spain, Canada and Australia. He recently collaborated with actor Clint Eastwood on a new golf course named Tehama, built along the majestically-resplendent Monterey Peninsula.
Morrish's favorite holes at The Pine Canyon Club include #7, a double fairway Par 5 with a forced carry over a bunker to the green. "We were handed such a spectacular natural blueprint from which we had so many available options on each hole that we were able to provide subtle challenges, and extremely rewarding results for the shotmakers," said Morrish. "Pine Canyon is one of the few mountain courses that has a lot of water on it which will dramatically shape golfers' shots and challenge their mental and physical capabilities. The views of the San Francisco Peaks will be simply breath-taking and will provide an inspiring day on the course."
The 600-acre site will include custom estate lots, cottages and townhomes within Pine Canyon, including limited golf memberships. Plans are also well underway for a Clubhouse, fitness facility, swimming pool and an 18-hole putting course. Additionally, hiking trails to and through the adjacent forest will be plentiful (including to nearby Walnut Canyon and Fisher Point which are just an easy two mile hike away).
"While The Pine Canyon Club golf course and homesites will provide unmatched beauty and captivating scenery with spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks, the hiking trails in and around the area will afford homeowners unforgettable experiences with Mother Nature," said John Beerling, President of The Pine Canyon Club.
"Overall, the amenities offered at The Pine Canyon Club will easily rival the top golf course communities in the country and may well help The Pine Canyon Club develop into the top mountain facility in the country," added Morrish.
As with The Stone Canyon Club, The Pine Canyon Club will feature a 19th hole for golfers to settle those all-important friendly wagers on the course. Pine Canyon's extra hole will feature a par 3 to an island green. "It will be one of the most picturesque holes you'll see anywhere," Morrish added.
March 6, 2002