Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. boasts six Nicklaus Signature designs, a brand-new par-54 championship course and myriad activities for its members and residents. A signature clock at a high-traffic area may be the cherry on top.
Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. offers 126 holes of golf over seven courses. With six Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses—Renegade, Cochise, Apache, Geronimo, Chiricahua and Outlaw—it’s home to the largest collection of layouts personally designed by the Golden Bear. The latest addition—No. 7—is a par-54 championship course designed by residents Bill Brownlee and Wendell Pickett that opened in 2019.
Considering that Desert Mountain also boasts a 42,000-sq. ft. Sonoran Fitness and Spa, multiple tennis courts—including three clay courts and the desert’s only stadium grass court—20 miles of private hiking/biking trails, horseback riding, a youth center and much more, there’s not a lot missing in this expansive community.
But there’s always more to add, and Desert Mountain’s Director of Golf, John Lyberger, PGA, CCM, knew what was needed.
“Could you imagine a world without clocks? Clocks help us manage just about everything we do in life,” Lyberger says. “They assist us with our daily activities, like waking up in the morning and going to sleep at night.”
And while Desert Mountain has been using clocks on its driving ranges for decades, the club never found a solution for the many times it needed to replace those clocks each year.
“Weather is our biggest enemy for the smaller clocks that exist on A-Frame signage,” Lyberger explains. “As it has been written many times, ‘Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is insanity.’ That is how we felt about always replacing the plastic clocks on the driving range. We committed to a permanent solution that will serve our members for decades—a Verdin clock.”
Lyberger and the club did its homework, of course, before deciding on Verdin.
“After researching clock companies, it became clear to us that Verdin was the best choice,” he says. “Their dedication and commitment to the design process, as well as their consistent communication, was remarkable.”
And once the call to Verdin was made, the real work began. First, what clock to choose?
“We went back and forth on both the two-face and four-face clock,” Lyberger says. “The four-face was a bit more money, but at the end of the day it was money well spent. After having the clock installed and seeing it proudly standing for all to admire, we made the correct decision.”
With seven golf courses at Desert Mountain Club and many possible locations for the new clock, the next step was choosing the right spot on the property for it.
“It was decided that we should start with the area that would have the greatest impact, and that is our Cochise/Geronimo and Chiricahua practice facility,” Lyberger says. “It is an area where all members warm up prior to playing one of these courses, as well as a place that gets many hours of standalone practice.
“We will be looking to add clocks to our other facilities as we continue to grow our capital budgets,” Lyberger adds.
From quips like, “I have no excuse to be late for my tee time” to “What an awesome idea,” members have responded very well to the new addition, which was installed in March, Lyberger says. And Desert Mountain’s management is also pleased with how the new clock “makes a functional statement and is completely in line with the club’s image and branding,” he adds.
If another club is considering a clock, Lyberger wouldn’t hesitate to recommend one just like Desert Mountain installed.
“If you have a need, make the investment. Your members will love you for it,” he says. “In life we make decisions for two reasons: It either serves a purpose, or it makes you feel better. Our Verdin clock checks both of those boxes.” C+RB
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