Tucked away in a quiet corner of the bustling Phoenix metropolitan area the Verde Communities, three adult golf communities, still offer a modern laid back version of the old west.

Vista Verde

The newest of the Verde communities is in the final stages of approval by Maricopa County and the developer expects to submit Unit I of Vista Verde to the Arizona Department of Real Estate for Public Report approval in December 2006 or January 2007.

There are 185 lots in that first unit at Vista Verde and there are conditional sales contracts and builder representation on all but 20 of those lots, which are available for conditional sale at this time.

The infrastructure construction for streets and utilities will begin as soon as the final plat is approved. Model home construction will follow soon after in 2007.

The first 18 holes of the Vista Verde Golf Club, designed by golf architect Ken Kavanaugh are complete.

The course is designed to accommodate golfers of all abilities. It measures about 7,000 yards from the championship tee boxes, while the forward tees measure about 5,000 yards. There are two additional tee boxes for each hole which creates a total range of 6,000 and 6,500 yards respectively.

Kavanaugh said the views surrounding the golf course will make it a big attraction. He said the Mazatzal foothills across the Verde River, the prominence of Four Peaks on the horizon along with the gently rolling terrain will make for a pleasing golf experience.

Kavanaugh has been designing golf courses since the 1980s. He has created 15 courses in eight states, as well as numerous remodel projects.

Kavanaugh was the designer for the Longbow course in Mesa and the Mountain Course at Gold Canyon Ranch. He is also the architect of several courses in Tucson.

Heise & Associates Architects was hired to design the clubhouse/community center facility for Vista Verde. Ritchie said the design will include food service, a fitness facility, meeting rooms and the golf shop.

Tonto Verde

At Tonto Verde, the second of the Verde sister communities, the developer has no more lots to sell for custom single family homes.

Alexander Homes, the primary builder in the Verdes, has only 13 new homes available at Tonto Verde as of this writing. Those include 10 new custom homes in Unit 10 and three new custom town homes.

These opportunities are going fast, with a price range from $600,000 to $700,000 including upgraded amenities and landscaping.

There are only three new custom home units available at Tonto Verde out of 79 that were built. There are two different floor plans and two elevations with size ranging from 2,400 to 2,500 square feet.

One of these remaining town houses is ready to move in immediately, while the other two have been taken through the drywall stage of construction allowing new owners to select their own decorating scheme.

Of the 10 new homes in Unit 10, there are four different floor plans to choose from, each with two elevations.

These floor plans range from 2,400 to 27,00 square feet. Construction here is also being taken to the drywall stage to give buyers decorating options.

There is also one completed model home for sale. It is completely furnished and ready for move-in. The home offers outstanding views and the $750,000 price includes the furniture valued at more than $55,000.

This home is on Lot 715 in Rio Verde.

Alexander Homes will be offering two new award winning floor plans in Vista Verde and they have redesigned the floor plan and elevation for the popular Toscana model. This will be one of the four models Alexander Homes will offer at Vista Verde.

Rio Verde

Rio Verde Country Club, the oldest of the Verde communities is, making plans to undergo a facelift on its two golf courses.

The club recently announced that the Scottsdale based Lehman Design Group, headed by PGA Tour professional Tom Lehman, will handle the redesign.

Chris Brands and Josh Taylor, two senior designers with Lehman’s team are assisting with the Rio Verde project.

The redesign will focus on the tee boxes and the green areas of each hole with little change to the fairways. The fairways will be tilled and replanted with a hybrid Bermudagrass.

The goal is to create two distinctive courses. The teeing areas will have four separate options, and the irrigation and drainage will be replaced in the green and tee areas, as will the sod.

Work is scheduled to begin on the golf courses with the Quail Run Golf Course in April 2007. The White Wing Golf Course will be done in the summer of 2008.

Signature Golf will be the contractor for the project.

 The three Verde Communities are master planned for 849 lots, and up to 27 golf holes.

Development in the Verde Communities began in the early 1970s with Rio Verde. Ground was broken for Tonto Verde in the early 1990s. Work began at Vista Verde in 2004.