Desert Mountain Podcast

ICYMI: Damon DiOrio provides an update on the club from the June 16 Mountain Update & Mixer.Topics include:• Finance• Membership• Agronomy/Course Re-grassing & Restoration• Facilities & Construction• Talent & Culture• Golf• Food &Beverage• Sonoran Clubhouse• Marketing & Communications Updates

While the construction work is lined up, our Facilities team has been out at C/G washing and detailing flooring, deep-cleaning the kitchen equipment inside the clubhouse, and throughout the Club cleaning up loose brush around our facilities, and detailing and adding new landscaping. Jeremy Bobber, Director of Housekeeping & Horticulture, talks about the recent work the team is doing to maintain and sustain the beautification of the Club.

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

On this edition of Chef Spotlight, we sit down with Chef de Cuisine at Apache Clubhouse, Evan Gotanda.Across Desert Mountain Club’s 10 restaurants and grills, every dish tells a story—crafted by the vision and talent of the chefs behind the scenes.In this new series, we go beyond the plate to introduce the culinary leaders who define our dining experience. From their personal journeys to the inspirations that fuel their creativity, discover the passion behind every detail—and how Member feedback helps shape what’s served at your table.

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Across Desert Mountain Club’s 10 restaurants and grills, every dish tells a story—crafted by the vision and talent of the chefs behind the scenes.In this new series, we go beyond the plate to introduce the culinary leaders who define our dining experience. From their personal journeys to the inspirations that fuel their creativity, discover the passion behind every detail—and how Member feedback helps shape what’s served at your table.Our journey begins with Assistant Director of Culinary, Greg Guevarra.

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Members explain Part One of the Long-Range Facilities Plan up for Member vote in May 2026.

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Help support innovative cancer research and celebrate champions of Cancer Awareness through Research and Education with two nights of hope, philanthropy, and fun at CARE's Two-Day Celebration. Coming up on Sunday and Monday, March 29 and 30, these two days honor champions of community, generosity, discovery, and resilience in support of CARE's mission.March 29 from 5-9 p.m. at C/G Clubhouse is the CARE Bash Invitational, an unforgettable evening of live music, dining, and exciting auctions, all to unite our community and support innovative cancer research at HonorHealth Research Institute and Mayo Clinic.March 30 is the CARE Invitational Golf Tournament, hosted at Renegade and Outlaw Golf Courses. Bring your best to the course as we come together for a day of competition and camaraderie, complete with exciting contests and prizes.Watch the accompanying video as CARE Co-Founder and Desert Mountain Member Sylvia Owens shares why CARE has been an important part of Desert Mountain’s giving spirit.

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

In just a few short months from May 16-20, Desert Mountain will play host to the 11th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. This will be an incredible opportunity for our Club to give back to the game of amateur golf, while adding another chapter to our history of championship play.To help get you more acquanited on what the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship is, how four-ball is played, the event schedule, and how you can get involved, please watch the accompnying video as Le Ann Finger, U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championshp Director, walks you through the details to know so you can be prepared for the Championship.

With real estate central to Desert Mountain's economic engine, we sat down with one of the top agents on the Mountain and member of the Club's Membership Committee, Dan Wolski, and Director of Membership Melanie Halpert, to help inform Members and the agents within our community.What are some key tips for homeowners and homebuyers in today's market? What is the Wait List? And how is the Club working with builders and renovators to address the Wait List?In a nutshell, Membership interest at Desert Mountain continued to be strong in 2025, with approximately 80 approved applicants on the Wait List and the initiation fee for new Golf Members increasing to $250,000 effective January 1. In 2025, the Club welcomed 102 new Golf Members, two Seven Golf Members, and 14 Lifestyle Members, while also offering 29 temporary Lifestyle Memberships to those on the Wait List so they could begin enjoying the Club’s amenities right away.Take a listen to the first in our series of Real Estate and Membership podcasts at Desert Mountain.

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

A new year means new opportunities to explore and enjoy health and vitality on the Mountain!In our first Desert Mountain Podcast episode from The Studio, we welcome Janet Fletcher, Chef Greg Guevarra and Gregg Leonard to discuss the Green Leaf program, a health-conscious choice on our menus, and how food and lifestyle helped lead Desert Mountain Club to three Blue Zone Project recognitions! What’s a Blue Zone? Watch the episode to learn more! 

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Desert Mountain Foundation’s Talent 4 Talent Program is heading into its second year. But what does it mean to be in this Mentor program? Hear from some of the Desert Mountain Members and Teammates who are participating, and forming strong bonds.

Golf & Agronomy Committee Chair, Russell Thornton, and Handicap Committee Chair, Charlie Funk, provide an update on the Geronimo Golf Course restoration progress.

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

Sonoran Clubhouse is your hub for vitality at Desert Mountain Club. Janet Fletcher, Director of Athletics & Sonoran Clubhouse, discusses her vision for well-being on the Mountain. Then, she talks about some of the great services available to Members at a special Sonoran Wellness Day coming up at the end of October!

Three times a year, our chefs refresh our dining menus to offer new flavors for the season. Our chefs explain the passion behind their creations and highlight some of their favorite offerings.

Listen to this week's Mountain Minute and stay up-to-date with everything happening around the Mountain!

In just a few short weeks, Apache and No. 7 Golf Courses will reopen following a re-grassing project. Director of Agronomy Todd Bohn takes us through some of the updates, when we anticipate reopening the courses, and some other work being done on two practice areas at the Club.

For nearly three decades, Desert Mountain CARE has funded innovative cancer research and treatment initiatives that save lives, supporting groundbreaking work at HonorHealth and Mayo Clinic in Arizona. These donations have directly impacted community members, including Desert Mountain Member John Shanholt. Through the unique Mayo Clinic–Desert Mountain CARE partnership, Mr. Shanholt found answers to his complex care needs in a model that combines cutting-edge research with individualized medicine.

Registration opens soon for our 2025/2026 Winter Season Golf Events! Head Golf Professionals Riley and Peter take us through the registration details for your favorite tournaments. Plus, get the exclusive scoop on the themes selected for Dos Amigas and Dos Amigos this year!

Constantino’s has reopened with a new revitalized menu. Step into the kitchen with our chefs as they create regionally-inspired dishes for our Members. We learn about some of the featured menu items, how our ingredients are sourced, and hear some reviews from Members who’ve tasted the new offerings.

With nearly 100 brands (77 vendors) coming to Fall Demo Day on Thursday, November 9, our Retail team is more excited than ever to see you at C/G Range! The team takes us behind-the-scenes, showing what it takes to put this event together, how they've streamlined purchasing for Members this year, and expanded parking & shuttle services. Then, stick around the team Demo Day picks from apparel, shoes, golf bags and more!

This week we share the microphone with our friends from the Desert Mountain HOA! Two of the countless benefits that make Desert Mountain a great place to live are the Home Onwer's Association's commitment to safety first as well as the collaboration with the Desperados to offer an exceptional outdoor adventure experience. Jim Duffey, Chair of the HOA Safety and Access Committee, and Troy Gillenwater, a founding member of the Desperados, share their thoughts on these important and timely topics. Mr. Duffey is a 23-year Army veteran who started his own physical and cyber security company and knows a few things about keeping his neighbors safe while Mr. Gillenwater is a principal of the local Russ Lyon Sotheby’s office and founding member of the Desperados for hiking and bicycling adventures. Tune in to find why they love Desert Mountain.

Desert Mountain welcomed Sixwire back to the stage at Spring Bash last week. They played about three hours of dance floor favorites with band members of Chicago, Boston, and Kool and the Gang! But before their performance, we sat down with these legendary musicians to learn about their musical backgrounds and how they all came to play together for this special night for Desert Mountain.

It’s been noted as the largest Member-Guest tournament in the country, and this time, the microphones belong to participants-- our Members and their guests. Listen in as some of the event’s  “Top Guns”  stop by the podcast booth to share their experiences.

Why have a podcast *about* Mountain Magic when you can have it *at* Mountain Magic?! Today’s edition of the Desert Mountain Podcast was filmed on location during Saturday’s final round festivities of our annual Member-Guest tournament. We heard from tournament organizers, members, guests, champions , and even the player who hit the tourney’s only ace! Please enjoy the sights, sounds and insights from Magic 2023!

It's been 6 months since the Receiving, Laundry & Recycling Facility (RLRF) first opened at Desert Mountain. So how have our Club operations changed with the new building? Director of Purchasing Andy Nelson and Director of Housekeeping & HorticultureJeremy Bobber walk us through day-to-day operations in the facility and how the RLRF helps the Club save money, water, and energy. Hear some quick facts about the facility, and how it’s making inroads with efficiencies at the Club!

The architects working with the Club on the proposal to restore the Cochise Golf Course provided us with an animated look at each hole. On the podcast this week, PGA Director of Golf John Lyberger and Director of Agronomy Todd Bohn take us hole-by-hole, using this animation to show how our restored course will look and feel.

The Club's vision and mission statements areaspirational in nature and are in place to guide strategic planning for the future. Following weeks of Member informational meetings and drop-in “Ask Us” sessions, Board Member Athena Kaviris and Club CFO Andrea Randall reflect on Club communications, the development of the 5-year rolling strategic planand capital plans, and how each adapt based onmarket conditions and the needs of our Members.

Breaking a real estate record and winning a Club championship, all in one week? It was an epic one for the record books for Member Barry Conser, a Russ Lyon Sotheby’s real estate agent and professional golfer. On this week’s Desert Mountain Podcast, Mr. Conser shares his personal story to learn about the Cochise course restoration project and how his viewpoint was shaped through his experience. He also breaks down the parallels between the course restoration, our real estate values and the reputation and awareness of our Club outside our gates.