For Arizonans hoping to escape the scorching heat of summer, Flagstaff, a mountain community located at 7,000 feet above sea level, offers a welcome respite. It takes approximately two hours by car from metro Phoenix to reach the pine-forested haven, which is also home to several golf courses, most of which are private.
The drive isn’t bad, but there’s only one way major highway that goes up and down the mountain. So on weekends — especially around holidays like Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day — the bottleneck starts early. Toss in an unfortunate fender-bender or worse, and you could be looking at an agonizingly long commute.
Eliminating that potential aggravation was top of mind for Pine Canyon — a luxury master-planned community and private club located just minutes outside of downtown Flagstaff. The innovative solution? Private chartered flight service, direct from the Scottsdale airport to Flagstaff. Flight time: approximately 40 minutes from takeoff to touchdown. And once you land, a car is waiting to shuttle you the remaining five miles to the club.
“The private golf space is just this idea of the confluence of hospitality and lifestyle, and I think what we found is that to really be a leader in the space, it’s paramount to take that hospitality and lifestyle beyond the gates,” Todd Severson, managing partner Symmetry Companies, Pine Canyon’s owner and developer, told me recently. “Most of our members are second homeowners, and so to the extent that we can integrate the lifestyle into even how they arrive, it lets us meet their needs.
“When members and their guests arrive on property, they’re relaxed, they’re excited, and they’re ready to reconnect with all of their friends.”
The flight option proved to be an immensely popular amenity in its pilot season — but it’s not the only luxe perk members and guests can enjoy at Pine Canyon. The course — a 19-hole Jay Morrish design that originally opened in 2004 — recently underwent a $6.4 million refresh, which included improving the course layout, visuals and playability, implementing more sustainable irrigation (with a total water usage reduction of 30 percent) and adding 100 yards of length.
The playing experience is mountain golf at its finest, with multiple elevated tees, each positioned to maximize the potential for soaring drives, sometimes against the impressive backdrop of Humphreys Peak. The fairways are perfectly manicured and the greens are fast and heavily contoured. Standout vistas include the opening drive on hole No. 1, the par-3 3rd, and a stunning approach on the par-4 6th. The back nine also kicks off with a bang, thanks to the gorgeous downhill short par-4 10th and another stellar shortie, the par-3 11th. There’s plenty of yardage variety on offer on the par 3s, even from the forward tees. As the back nine winds down, you’re treated to views of one of the course’s “ghost trees,” which you must navigate around to reach the green on the 14th hole.
There’s also a 19th hole — a short and sweet finisher to cap your round, with Pine Canyon’s opulent clubhouse in the background. Post-golf activities include full-service dining, a spa and state-of-the-art fitness and wellness facilities. Guests have the option to stay in one of the club’s custom-built cabins, each of which is thoughtfully appointed and has a private balcony offering gorgeous and serene views of the property. Kids have plenty to do as well, with a lush soccer and football field to play on, as well as a pool, splash pad and waterslide. And there’s more to come. Seventy-five additional acres are set to be developed into new residences and a family-friendly 9-hole par-3 course in the coming years.
According to Severson, giving members the ability to fully enjoy the club’s many amenities was a driving force behind the private flight addition. Although Pine Canyon doesn’t have a current partner for on-demand private flight booking for members, the club’s concierge and hospitality department is still able to assist members in scheduling private aviation to and from Pine Canyon and even other courses upon request, as well as car service to and from the Flagstaff airport. The club understands that private aviation’s most significant perk is the shortened travel time, which enables members to extend and maximize their time on property.
“It allows a seamless transition from their day to day to their club life,” he said.
Regardless of whether you’re driving or flying, the Pine Canyon experience is always well worth the trip.
