Is it possible to adequately capture the essence of one of the country’s premier private golf clubs in only nine seconds? Unlikely. Except perhaps in the case of BIGHORN Golf Club, where that specific amount of time represents a singular moment in a golf experience found nowhere else.
To do so, make your way to the back tee of the sixth hole on the Mountains Course, designed by Arthur Hills and opened in 1991. You’ll be standing at 1,207 feet above sea level, a perfect altitude to enjoy the breathtaking panorama before you. Then place your ball on the tee and grip your driver. Hit the ball squarely, watch its majestic flight and start counting. It will take approximately nine seconds for the ball to touch earth, ideally in the middle of the impeccably manicured fairway 170 feet below. This ethereal experience lends itself to far more than a memorable setting for a single golf shot. Being in this special place near the top of a mountain creates a vibe, an ambiance, a spirit that just feels different.
Chito Velasquez knows it well. He’s been roaming the fairways and greens at BIGHORN for almost three decades as an agronomy staff member and now Director of Golf Course Management. He freely and frequently dispenses advice regarding this spot.
“I make it a point to tell our Members that if they are dealing with any issues in their life, go out to the sixth tee box on the Mountains Course,” he says. “The views are spectacular, and there seems to be some type of energy there that revitalizes your soul. Maybe that’s why I have been here for 27 years. I go up there for a few minutes, and I’m ready to go.”
BIGHORN is a special place indeed. In addition to 36 holes across two courses, the Club boasts two practice facilities, multiple putting areas, and no tee times. There’s also Director of Golf Instruction Dale Abraham, a multi-year Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, who works his magic at the state-of-the-art Learning Center. Abraham is also a Golf Digest Top Teacher in State and Trackman certified.
While pristine playing conditions, equal to those at professional tournaments, are standard at BIGHORN, the courses are unforgettable in their own singular ways. Two very different layouts present Members and guests with joyful treks through immaculately maintained desert landscapes.
