The rugged grandeur of Arizona’s high Sonoran Desert surrounds Rancho de los Caballeros, a 20,000-acre Wickenburg retreat that combines a historic guest ranch, modern meeting facilities, and 18 holes of championship golf.
Los Caballeros Golf Club rates as one of America’s top 75 resort courses according to Golf Digest. Designed by Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin, its ribbon of green winds through dramatic natural terrain, showcasing spectacular views of the Bradshaw Mountains to the north and Vulture Peak to the south.
The course’s two lakes, 40 strategically placed bunkers, and four sets of tees challenge golfers at every skill level. The signature thirteenth hole—one of the toughest holes in the state—plays at 598 yards from the blue tees. Golfers aiming for a par 5 must navigate numerous elevation changes to reach a small, well-protected, undulating green.
Off the course, Western-themed activities rule. Resident wranglers lead twice-daily horseback treks into the desert, choosing horses from the ranch’s string of 100 to match each guest’s riding ability. Visitors in search of their inner cowboy compete in team penning or attend riding clinics sponsored by the renowned Galles-Harrel Five Star Cutting Program.
A dip in the sparkling pool or an in-room massage completes a day of desert adventure. Evenings bring semiformal dining in the restaurant or, for a change of pace, the ranch’s famous cookouts, where guests enjoy mesquite-grilled steaks, chicken, and ribs along with entertainment by Will Dudley, the “Cookout Cowboy.”
Events for up to 200 guests take place in a secluded complex, the Palo Verde Conference Center. Five meeting rooms come with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and Wi-Fi Internet access. The expansive Sonoran Patio hosts private luncheons, dinners, and receptions, as does the newly remodeled golf clubhouse.
Groups thrive on the ranch’s team-building events, such as Frank Bennett’s five-day Western Challenge Workshop that uses horses to train executives in communication, motivation, and relationship development.
With 79 comfortable rooms and suites, plus three meals a day included on the American plan, Rancho de los Caballeros makes it easy to experience both the exhilaration and the serenity of the Sonoran Desert.