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DESERT MOUNTAIN CLUB INC

SCOTTSDALE, AZ · EIN 273966137 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE N50 · Recreation & Sports · Very Large (>$50M) · www.desertmountain.com
revenue
$86.7M
expenses
$81.7M
net assets
$133.3M
employees
1,130
volunteers
9
mission · from form 990

WE PROVIDE PRIVATE GOLF COURSES, CLUBHOUSES, AND OTHER STANDARD AMENTITIES TO OUR MEMBERS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Private luxury golf and lifestyle community located on an 8,300-acre property in Scottsdale, Arizona. Offers seven private golf courses, including six Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses, along with extensive amenities such as clubhouses, fitness centers, spa services, dining, tennis, and hiking trails. Serves high-net-worth individuals and families seeking an exclusive residential and recreational experience in the Sonoran Desert.

named programs · 6 · from sources

what they call their work

Club Events & Culture
Social and cultural programming including wine tastings, art classes, and curated events that foster community engagement among members.
Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses
Six private championship golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, offering members a world-class golf experience within the Sonoran Desert landscape.
Jim Flick Golf Performance Center
State-of-the-art golf instruction facility offering advanced technology and professional coaching to enhance members' performance.
No. 7 at Desert Mountain
A par-54 championship golf course designed for fun and accessibility, catering to a range of skill levels and providing a unique golf experience distinct from traditional layouts.
Spa and Fitness Programs
Comprehensive wellness offerings including a full-service spa, expanded fitness center with personal training, Pilates, and group exercise programs.
The Ranch
33-acre western-themed recreational amenity bordering Tonto National Forest, serving as a hub for outdoor activities and events within the private trail system.
activities · 4 groups

what they do

  • Professional Golf Tournament Hosting 8 activities
    • Operation of private golf courses
      Operates seven private championship golf courses, including six Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses and one par-54 course, in Scottsdale, Arizona, recognized as the No. 1 Private Country Club in Arizona (2023–2024) and No. 8 in the U.S. (2025–2026) by Platinum Clubs of America. The courses are part of the world’s largest collection of Jack Nicklaus-designed courses and have hosted professional events such as The Tradition, a Senior PGA Tour championship.
    • Operation of private golf courses
      Operates seven private championship golf courses, including six Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses and one par-54 course, in Scottsdale, Arizona, developed as the world's largest collection of Jack Nicklaus-designed courses. These courses have hosted professional events such as The Tradition, a Senior PGA tour championship, on the Cochise Course for over a decade.
    • Operation of private golf courses
      Operates seven private championship golf courses, including six Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses and one par-54 course, in Scottsdale, Arizona, providing a year-round golf experience due to higher elevation and cooler temperatures. The club has developed the world's largest collection of Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and hosted The Tradition, a Senior PGA tour championship event, for over a decade on the Cochise Course.
    • Operation of private golf courses
      Operates seven private championship golf courses, including six Jack Nicklaus-designed Signature Courses and one par-54 course, in Scottsdale, Arizona, providing a year-round golf experience due to higher elevation and cooler temperatures. The club is recognized for its golf excellence, having hosted The Tradition, a Senior PGA tour championship, on the Cochise Course for over a decade.
    • Operation of private golf courses
      Operates seven private championship golf courses, including six Jack Nicklaus-designed courses and one par-54 course, in Scottsdale, Arizona, providing a year-round golf experience due to higher elevation and cooler temperatures. The club has developed the world's largest collection of Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and has hosted professional events such as The Tradition, a Senior PGA tour championship, on the Cochise Course.
    • Operation of private golf courses
      Operates seven private championship golf courses, including six Jack Nicklaus-designed courses and one par-54 course, in Scottsdale, Arizona, providing a year-round golf experience due to higher elevation and cooler summer temperatures. The club has developed the world's largest collection of Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and has hosted professional events such as The Tradition, a Senior PGA tour championship, on the Cochise Course.
    • Operation of private golf courses
      Operates seven private championship golf courses in Scottsdale, Arizona, including six Jack Nicklaus-designed courses and one par-54 course, providing a year-round golf experience due to higher elevation and cooler temperatures. The club is recognized for hosting professional events such as The Tradition, a Senior PGA tour championship, on the Cochise Course.
    • Recognition and awards in golf, design, and conservation
      The organization has received multiple recognitions since 1986, including being ranked No. 8 Private Country Club in the Nation (2025–2026) and No. 1 in Arizona (2023–2024) by Platinum Clubs of America, No. 9 Top Private Golf Club in Arizona (2021) by Ranking Arizona, Distinguished Club by Boardroom Magazine, American Trails Developer Award (2013), Quiet Conservation Area designation (2023), and Cashman Award for Visual Merchandising (2020).
  • Resident Representative Council Organization 7 activities
    • Community governance and resident engagement
      Facilitates community governance through a Council of Presidents, composed of one volunteer resident representative from each of the 32 villages, to support resident engagement and organizational leadership within the Desert Mountain community.
    • Community governance and resident engagement
      Organizes community governance through a Council of Presidents, with one volunteer resident representing each of the 32 villages, fostering resident participation in community leadership and decision-making.
    • Community governance and resident engagement
      Organizes community governance through a Council of Presidents, with one volunteer resident representing each of the 32 villages, to support resident engagement and collective decision-making within the Desert Mountain community.
    • Community governance and resident engagement
      Facilitates community governance through a Council of Presidents, composed of one volunteer resident representing each of the 32 villages within the Desert Mountain community, supporting resident-led leadership and engagement.
    • Community governance and resident engagement
      Facilitates community governance through a Council of Presidents, composed of one volunteer resident representative from each of the 32 villages within the Desert Mountain community, supporting resident-led leadership and engagement.
    • Community governance and resident engagement
      Organizes community governance through a Council of Presidents, with one volunteer resident representing each of the 32 villages, fostering resident engagement and participatory management within the Desert Mountain community.
    • Community governance and resident engagement
      Organizes community governance through a Council of Presidents, with one volunteer resident representing each of the 32 villages, to support resident engagement and community leadership.
  • Golf Instruction & Skills Development 3 activities
    • Golf instruction and performance technology access
      Provides members with access to professional golf instruction and advanced golf technologies through the Jim Flick Golf Performance Center, opened in 2013.
    • Operation of golf performance and instruction center
      Operates the Jim Flick Golf Performance Center, opened in 2013, which provides members with access to advanced golf technologies and professional instruction to enhance player performance.
    • Operation of golf performance and instruction center
      Operates the Jim Flick Golf Performance Center, opened in 2013, which provides members with access to advanced golf technologies and professional instruction to enhance player performance.
  • Uncategorized 19 activities
    • Conservation and trail system management
      Manages an extensive trail system across 8,300 acres, recognized with the American Trails Developer Award in 2013 and designated a Quiet Conservation Area by Quiet Parks International in 2023 for its commitment to preserving natural soundscapes and native desert habitat.
    • Conservation and trail system management
      Manages an extensive trail system recognized with the American Trails Developer Award in 2013 and designated a Quiet Conservation Area by Quiet Parks International in 2023, reflecting a commitment to environmental preservation and low-impact recreation.
    • Conservation and trail system management
      Maintains an extensive trail system across natural desert landscape, recognized with the American Trails Developer Award in 2013 and designated a Quiet Conservation Area by Quiet Parks International in 2023 for its preservation of natural soundscapes.
    • Conservation and trail system management
      Maintains an extensive trail system across its 8,300-acre property, recognized with the American Trails Developer Award in 2013 and designated a Quiet Conservation Area by Quiet Parks International in 2023 for its preservation of natural quiet and habitat.
    • Management of residential community and real estate
      Operates a fully gated and guarded residential community across 8,300 acres, offering homes for sale ranging from 2,000-square-foot golf villas to custom estates over 10,000 square feet. The community enforces architectural integrity and building envelopes that preserve at least half of each lot for native desert habitat, while overseeing security and critical infrastructure.
    • Provision of lifestyle and recreational amenities
      Offers a range of recreational and cultural activities including tennis, hiking, wine tastings, art classes, and access to The Ranch—a 33-acre western wilderness amenity bordering the Tonto National Forest. Members also enjoy fine dining, a spa, fitness facilities exceeding 30,000 square feet, and expanded wellness offerings including personal training and pilates following a $12 million renovation in 2016.
    • Provision of lifestyle and recreational amenities
      Offers members access to a wide range of recreational and cultural activities including tennis, hiking, wine tastings, art classes, a western wilderness ranch amenity (The Ranch), fine dining, a spa, fitness facilities exceeding 30,000 square feet, and personal training. These amenities are located across 8,300 acres of natural landscape and include the expanded Sonoran Fitness Center and the Jim Flick Golf Performance Center.
    • Provision of lifestyle and recreational amenities
      Offers members access to a wide range of recreational and cultural activities including tennis, hiking, wine tastings, art classes, a world-class spa, fitness facilities exceeding 30,000 square feet, fine dining, and The Ranch—a 33-acre western wilderness amenity bordering the Tonto National Forest. These amenities are available across an 8,300-acre natural landscape.
    • Provision of recreational and lifestyle amenities
      Provides members with access to a full range of lifestyle amenities including tennis, hiking, wine tastings, art classes, fine dining, a spa, fitness facilities exceeding 30,000 square feet, and The Ranch—a 33-acre western wilderness amenity bordering the Tonto National Forest. The Sonoran Fitness Center was expanded in 2016 after a $12 million renovation to include personal training and pilates.
    • Provision of recreational and lifestyle amenities
      Offers members access to a wide range of recreational and cultural activities including tennis, hiking, wine tastings, art classes, a western wilderness amenity called The Ranch bordering Tonto National Forest, a world-class spa, fitness facilities, fine dining, and golf instruction through the Jim Flick Golf Performance Center. The Sonoran Fitness Center was expanded in 2016 after a $12 million renovation to include personal training and pilates.
    • Provision of recreational and lifestyle amenities
      Provides members with access to a wide range of recreational and cultural activities including tennis, hiking, wine tastings, art classes, fine dining, a spa, fitness facilities exceeding 30,000 square feet, and The Ranch—a 33-acre western wilderness amenity bordering the Tonto National Forest. The Sonoran Fitness Center was expanded in 2016 after a $12 million renovation to include personal training and pilates.
    • Provision of recreational and lifestyle amenities
      Offers members access to a wide range of recreational and cultural activities including tennis, hiking, wine tastings, art classes, fine dining, a spa, fitness facilities exceeding 30,000 square feet, and The Ranch—a 33-acre western wilderness amenity bordering the Tonto National Forest. These amenities are available across an 8,300-acre natural landscape.
    • Provision of year-round golf and climate-based recreational access
      Provides members with year-round golf and outdoor recreational access due to higher elevation and cooler summer temperatures, enhancing playability and comfort in the Arizona desert climate.
    • Residential community development and management
      Develops and manages a fully gated and guarded residential community featuring homes ranging from 2,000-square-foot golf villas to custom estates over 10,000 square feet. The community emphasizes architectural integrity, security, and preservation of native desert habitat through building envelopes that protect at least half of each lot.
    • Residential community development and management
      Develops and manages a fully gated and guarded residential community featuring homes ranging from 2,000-square-foot golf villas to custom estates over 10,000 square feet. The community emphasizes architectural integrity, conservation, and infrastructure oversight, with building envelopes preserving at least half of each lot for native desert habitat.
    • Residential community development and management
      Operates a fully gated and guarded residential community across 8,300 acres, offering homes for sale ranging from 2,000-square-foot golf villas to custom estates over 10,000 square feet. The community emphasizes architectural integrity, security, and privacy, with oversight of critical infrastructure and building envelopes designed to preserve at least half of each lot for native desert habitat.
    • Residential community development and management
      Operates a fully gated and guarded residential community with homes ranging from 2,000-square-foot golf villas to custom estates over 10,000 square feet. The organization oversees security, architectural integrity, and critical infrastructure, and enforces building envelopes that preserve at least half of each lot for native desert habitat.
    • Residential community development and management
      Operates a fully gated and guarded residential community across 8,300 acres of natural landscape, offering homes for sale ranging from 2,000-square-foot golf villas to custom estates over 10,000 square feet. The organization oversees security, architectural integrity, and critical infrastructure, and implements building envelopes that preserve at least half of each lot for native desert habitat.
    • Residential community development and management
      Operates a fully gated and guarded residential community across 8,300 acres, offering homes for sale ranging from 2,000-square-foot golf villas to custom estates over 10,000 square feet. The organization oversees security, architectural integrity, and critical infrastructure, and implements building envelopes that preserve at least half of each lot for native desert habitat.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$86.74M
Contributions & grants$4K0%
Program service revenue$78.23M90%
Investment income$-104K-0%
Other revenue$8.60M
expenses
Total expenses$81.67M
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$47.82M
Grants paid out$11K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$176.34M
Cash$34.59M
Investments$0
Liabilities$43.08M
Net assets$133.25M
Liquid reserves5.1 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -4.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 10
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DAMON DIORIO CEO 45 $916K
TODD BOHN DIRECTOR OF AGRONOMY 45 $534K
JOHN LYBERGER PGA DIRECTOR OF GOLF 45 $499K
TODD BRUEN DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES & MAINTENANCE 45 $371K
ANDREA RANDALL CFO 45 $370K
GREGG LEONARD DIRECTOR OF CLUB OPERATIONS 45 $314K
BERTRAND BOUQUIN DIRECTOR OF CULINARY 45 $293K
ARNDALDO COCUZZA DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS & SONORAN 45 $273K
WESLEY PUDWILL DIRECTOR OF TALENT & CULTURE 45 $268K
AMY BROWN CONTROLLER 45 $205K
board members · 9
  • ATHENA KAVIRIS — BOARD MEMBER
  • CHRIS STORBECK — BOARD MEMBER
  • JEFF HEUPLE — BOARD MEMBER
  • JEFF SMITH — VICE PRESIDENT
  • JOHN SHANHOLT — BOARD MEMBER
  • KATHY KORY — SECRETARY
  • PAMELA FORBES LIEBERMAN — TREASURER
  • STEVE CARDINAL — BOARD MEMBER
  • STEVE HARPER — PRESIDENT
relationships · 13

who they work with

  • American Trails Partner — Awarded Desert Mountain the American Trails Developer Award for its Trail System.
  • Association of Golf Merchandisers Partner — Awarded Desert Mountain's golf shops "Best of the Best" and other recognitions.
  • Boardroom Magazine Partner — Recognized Desert Mountain as a Distinguished Club.
  • CCMC Partner — National master-planned community management firm that maintains an on-site office and assists the HOA with regulatory compliance and community operations.
  • Club Leaders Forum Partner — Publishes the Platinum Clubs of America rankings, which have recognized Desert Mountain.
  • Jack Nicklaus Partner — Golf course designer for seven award-winning courses at Desert Mountain
  • Jack Nicklaus Partner — Partnered with Lyle Anderson to design the golf courses, including the "two-pin concept."
  • Platinum Clubs® of America Partner — Distinguishes Desert Mountain Club with recognition in the private club industry.
  • Quiet Parks International Partner — Designated Desert Mountain Trail System as a Quiet Conservation Area.
  • Ranking Arizona Partner — Ranked Desert Mountain Club among the Top Private Golf Clubs.
  • Russ Lyon | Sotheby’s International Realty Partner — Official on-site, full-service real estate partner responsible for selling luxury homes within the Desert Mountain community.
  • Taliesin Associated Architects Partner — Architectural firm that collaborated with Lyle Anderson to design the Desert Mountain community.
  • Taliesin Associated Architects Partner — Conceptualized the Club's master plan.