Silverleaf Club
Nestled up against the base of the McDowell Mountains lies a sprawling, beautifully designed area that will take your breath away. A stunning view of the entire Valley and an atmosphere of seclusion combine to create a sense of relaxation as soon as you drive past the gates. Amenities include two separate swimming pools, multiple comfort stations, a full sports bar, a sizeable driving range, and so much more. This is the Silverleaf Club, one of Scottsdale’s most well known private golf clubs. Compared to some of the other golf clubs in the Valley, Silverleaf’s course is slightly younger.
Renowned golf architect Tom Weiskopf designed the 18-hole course in 2002. Known for both his career as a pro golfer and an architect of many courses throughout the American West’s Mountain States, Weiskopf made a mark on the world of golf when he and his partner Jay Morrish became the first Americans to design a course in Scotland. The team developed it in 1993 for an area in Loch Lomond, and their design has since been used to host the Scottish Open fifteen times.
One of the draws for golfing at Silverleaf is the ease of play. No matter the size of the group, members can arrive at the club and enjoy a round instantly. Brock Mackenzie, Silverleaf’s Membership Ambassador, said, “We really want a quick pace of play. We pride ourselves in four hours or less. We don’t care if you play in a two-some, a four-some, a six-some, a seven-some or an eight-some. We want you to play ready golf and enjoy the experience.”
Since the course at the Silverleaf Club was built, several new amenities have been added to increase the comfort and overall enjoyment for its members.
“We redesigned the driving range,” Mackenzie told me. “We put in a sports bar on the driving range. We put in the comfort stations after every five holes, which is basically a super high end place where you can get food, drinks, snacks. We usually have one or two ladies serving drinks in those areas.”
Play through the 18-holes at the club, and you might just catch a glimpse of one of their many Ambassadors. These include several PGA and LPGA players. But don’t let the high caliber of the pro athletes deter you. One of the hallmarks of Weiskopf’s design is a course that is accessible to nearly every level of skill. Playing from the most difficult silver tees will have members golfing 7,300 yards by the end of the course. But the red tees reduce that to a beginner-friendly 5,000 yards. Either way, as Mackenzie informs, “Weiskopf designed it where it’s very fair off the tee, so it is beginner friendly and then it gets challenging as you get to the putting green.”
In total, there are 8 different tee blocks for members to choose from when setting up their shot. And as Mackenzie said, just because you might be using a tee at a less difficult distance that doesn’t mean the course will be a cake walk. There’s still plenty of challenge between the tee and the hole. This means that no matter the skill level being brought to the green, everyone has the chance for an enjoyable experience.
The goal of this exclusive club is to elevate that experience beyond just a round of golf. And the dedication put into every square inch shows. From the 17-foot flat screen next to the driving range to the golf carts that allow you to play your own music, everything at Silverleaf is designed to make members’ time there exceptional. This means going beyond just golf. As mentioned above, the club provides two swimming pools for its members. One is a larger area used more for relaxation, while the other is a lap pool. Silverleaf also boasts its own jewelry store. They partnered with Brinker’s Jewelry out of Evansville, Indiana to add a full retail space right next to the pro shop.
Done with your round of golf for the evening but not quite ready to call it a night? Silverleaf often offers food related events. “We hired the chef from the Wynn Casino, Chef René Langer,” Mackenzie said. “We’re foodies. We do a lot of wine dinners, social events. We like to host a bunch of concerts.”
Or perhaps you want a little more pampering. In that case, visit the on-site spa. According to Silverleaf, they pulled inspiration from the ancient labyrinth in an effort to capture the feeling of self-discovery. That inspiration can be felt everywhere thanks to the fountains, pathways reminiscent of a Greek city, and beautiful views. Their custom menu means that you get the treatment you want, and their result oriented perspective works to provide a new level of balance and health in your life. The spa at Silverleaf also embraces modern techniques while combining traditional methods proven to bring the highest level of relaxation possible.
But one of the most popular draws outside of the golf itself is the sports bar that accompanies the driving range, The Dawg House. This open air bar sits just behind the range, so golfers can hit a few balls and then relax just a short distance away. The Dawg House includes a ping pong table, clear views to the aforementioned 17-foot TV for keeping up with the latest NFL game, and numerous loungers for kicking back. According to Mackenzie, the driving range has become the most popular hangout spot in the Club.
With all that Silverleaf provides for its members, it feels safe to say that one comes for the golf but stays for everything else. And if all of that weren’t enough, the owners of the club are often philanthropic and feel it’s important to give back to the Valley. The club hosted the Michael Phelps Foundation and the Devon Booker Starting Five foundation on back to back days, auctioning off rounds of golf as part of the events.
Membership options come in two flavors, golf or clubhouse. And if you feel like seeing the Club before deciding if Silverleaf is the right fit, tours are available by appointment. Just be sure to set one up a week in advance.
Nestled up against the base of the McDowell Mountains lies a sprawling, beautifully designed area that will take your breath away. A stunning view of the entire Valley and an atmosphere of seclusion combine to create a sense of relaxation as soon as you drive past the gates. Amenities include two separate swimming pools, multiple comfort stations, a full sports bar, a sizeable driving range, and so much more. This is the Silverleaf Club, one of Scottsdale’s most well known private golf clubs. Compared to some of the other golf clubs in the Valley, Silverleaf’s course is slightly younger.
Renowned golf architect Tom Weiskopf designed the 18-hole course in 2002. Known for both his career as a pro golfer and an architect of many courses throughout the American West’s Mountain States, Weiskopf made a mark on the world of golf when he and his partner Jay Morrish became the first Americans to design a course in Scotland. The team developed it in 1993 for an area in Loch Lomond, and their design has since been used to host the Scottish Open fifteen times.
One of the draws for golfing at Silverleaf is the ease of play. No matter the size of the group, members can arrive at the club and enjoy a round instantly. Brock Mackenzie, Silverleaf’s Membership Ambassador, said, “We really want a quick pace of play. We pride ourselves in four hours or less. We don’t care if you play in a two-some, a four-some, a six-some, a seven-some or an eight-some. We want you to play ready golf and enjoy the experience.”
Since the course at the Silverleaf Club was built, several new amenities have been added to increase the comfort and overall enjoyment for its members.
“We redesigned the driving range,” Mackenzie told me. “We put in a sports bar on the driving range. We put in the comfort stations after every five holes, which is basically a super high end place where you can get food, drinks, snacks. We usually have one or two ladies serving drinks in those areas.”
Play through the 18-holes at the club, and you might just catch a glimpse of one of their many Ambassadors. These include several PGA and LPGA players. But don’t let the high caliber of the pro athletes deter you. One of the hallmarks of Weiskopf’s design is a course that is accessible to nearly every level of skill. Playing from the most difficult silver tees will have members golfing 7,300 yards by the end of the course. But the red tees reduce that to a beginner-friendly 5,000 yards. Either way, as Mackenzie informs, “Weiskopf designed it where it’s very fair off the tee, so it is beginner friendly and then it gets challenging as you get to the putting green.”
In total, there are 8 different tee blocks for members to choose from when setting up their shot. And as Mackenzie said, just because you might be using a tee at a less difficult distance that doesn’t mean the course will be a cake walk. There’s still plenty of challenge between the tee and the hole. This means that no matter the skill level being brought to the green, everyone has the chance for an enjoyable experience.
The goal of this exclusive club is to elevate that experience beyond just a round of golf. And the dedication put into every square inch shows. From the 17-foot flat screen next to the driving range to the golf carts that allow you to play your own music, everything at Silverleaf is designed to make members’ time there exceptional. This means going beyond just golf. As mentioned above, the club provides two swimming pools for its members. One is a larger area used more for relaxation, while the other is a lap pool. Silverleaf also boasts its own jewelry store. They partnered with Brinker’s Jewelry out of Evansville, Indiana to add a full retail space right next to the pro shop.
Done with your round of golf for the evening but not quite ready to call it a night? Silverleaf often offers food related events. “We hired the chef from the Wynn Casino, Chef René Langer,” Mackenzie said. “We’re foodies. We do a lot of wine dinners, social events. We like to host a bunch of concerts.”
Or perhaps you want a little more pampering. In that case, visit the on-site spa. According to Silverleaf, they pulled inspiration from the ancient labyrinth in an effort to capture the feeling of self-discovery. That inspiration can be felt everywhere thanks to the fountains, pathways reminiscent of a Greek city, and beautiful views. Their custom menu means that you get the treatment you want, and their result oriented perspective works to provide a new level of balance and health in your life. The spa at Silverleaf also embraces modern techniques while combining traditional methods proven to bring the highest level of relaxation possible.
But one of the most popular draws outside of the golf itself is the sports bar that accompanies the driving range, The Dawg House. This open air bar sits just behind the range, so golfers can hit a few balls and then relax just a short distance away. The Dawg House includes a ping pong table, clear views to the aforementioned 17-foot TV for keeping up with the latest NFL game, and numerous loungers for kicking back. According to Mackenzie, the driving range has become the most popular hangout spot in the Club.
With all that Silverleaf provides for its members, it feels safe to say that one comes for the golf but stays for everything else. And if all of that weren’t enough, the owners of the club are often philanthropic and feel it’s important to give back to the Valley. The club hosted the Michael Phelps Foundation and the Devon Booker Starting Five foundation on back to back days, auctioning off rounds of golf as part of the events.
Membership options come in two flavors, golf or clubhouse. And if you feel like seeing the Club before deciding if Silverleaf is the right fit, tours are available by appointment. Just be sure to set one up a week in advance.
Feature provided by The Scottsdale Living – Thomas France
Thomas is a Lifestyle Reporter and Content Creator for Scottsdale Living.