The Golf Committee has a positive charter/mission. It will act as the Members’ collective voice… and it will strive to communicate and collaborate effectively with the Club's Ownership/Sponsors to bring awareness, and to create significant change and improvements to the "golf experience" at Seven Canyons.
| 08.18.2025 Quarterly Golf Committee Update |
2025 Villas Virtual Open Championship Fact Sheet |
Virtual Golf Championship Announcement |
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Dear Villa Owners,
Below is an update from the Golf Committee following our most recent meeting. We appreciate your continued engagement and hope you find this information helpful as we move into the upcoming season.
Meeting Date: February 2, 2026
Prepared by: Paddy Gough
Villa Owner / Member Representative & VOA Board Member
Although registration for the Villa Owners Virtual Golf Tournament has been open for more than a year, only one member has registered to date. Beginning immediately, both the Golf Club Staff and Villas Staff will increase awareness of the tournament and actively assist Villa Owners with the registration process.
The Golf Committee, working in collaboration with the Golf Club, Seasons Restaurant, and Villas Staff, remains committed to increasing Villa Owner participation through additional social and golf-related events during periods of residency.
Planned and proposed events include:
• Nine and Dine
• Six and Mix
• Villa Owner Mixers, with time split between an open villa and the Clubhouse
These gatherings are intended to strengthen community connections and enhance the overall Villa Owner experience.
The Membership Plan document (Paragraph 3.6, Fractional Membership) states that Villa Owners/Members may access the Club facilities and golf course only while in residence at the Villas. However, the universally accepted unwritten policy is that no such restriction is in effect.
Villa Owners/Members currently enjoy year-round access to all Club and golf facilities, regardless of residency status. Villa Owners represent approximately 40% of the total Golf Club Membership.
Several improvements are underway or planned, reflecting the strong commitment of the new ownership group to enhance member value and amenities:
• Season’s Restaurant Hostess Area
Renovations are underway and will include a new wine display case and a more functional, welcoming atmosphere. Completion is expected before April 1.
• Wine Cellar
A full wine cellar will be constructed downstairs near the cart barn, housing several thousand bottles across a wide range of price points. The space will ultimately support wine tastings and wine-focused events.
• Indoor/Outdoor Bar
Construction will begin soon on a new bar designed to maximize northern views while screening the parking lot.
• Snack Shack at “The Turn”
While the permanent structure awaits environmental compliance approval, a temporary mobile snack shack will be installed in early April at the same location. This will improve on-course food and beverage service and allow for convenient pick-up after completing the front nine.
• Bocce Ball Courts
Bocce courts are being considered, with a potential location in the terraced area near the upper Clubhouse parking lot, adjacent to the Chef’s herb garden.
• Long-Term Facility Plans
Future enhancements under consideration include a spa, on-site massage services, and expansion of the current fitness facility.
Significant efforts are underway to:
• Reduce or eliminate naturally occurring undergrowth along fairways
• Address the intrusion of Poa annua (annual bluegrass) on fairways and greens using advanced agronomic techniques
These initiatives will result in more consistent turf color, improved playability, and healthier playing surfaces. Additionally, three aging pumps that transfer water between the upper and lower ponds near Holes 16 and 17 are failing and will be replaced in the near term.
We are pleased to welcome Cole Chase as one of the Club’s new Golf Professional. Please stop by the Pro Shop to introduce yourself and help make him feel at home.
The Golf Club website continues to be updated with additional features and information. If you experience any issues or have suggestions for improvement, please notify the Golf Club Staff so corrections or enhancements can be made promptly.
Sedona and Seven Canyons in particular, is in a wildfire-prone area. Fire danger levels can be elevated depending on weather and seasonal conditions.
The Golf Committee is evaluating options that include:
• Designating the golf course as a No Smoking Zone, or
• Increasing communication regarding daily fire danger levels and smoking restrictions
Potential communication measures include:
• Golf cart messaging
• Signage at the Pro Shop and Starter Shack
• Verbal reminders from Pro Shop Staff and Starters/Marshals
At all times, discarding cigarette butts, cigar stubs, or pipe tobacco anywhere other than approved fire-safe containers is strictly prohibited.
Seven Canyons Golf Club has be recognized as one of the ...
Top 20 Golf Courses in Arizona (#17)
And the Seven Canyons Golf Club is in the process of being officially ranked by Golf Magazine: Hoping to be in the…..
Top 100 Golf Courses in the United States
Congratulations to the staff and members whose efforts continue to make Seven Canyons one of the premier golf destinations in the country.
March 23–27, 2026
For the third consecutive year, Seven Canyons will host the Team Semper Fi Golf Clinic, welcoming twelve severely wounded or injured military veterans from all branches of service.
In collaboration with The Villas at Seven Canyons and Seasons Restaurant, the Club will provide:
• Classroom instruction
• Practice facility coaching
• Full and partial rounds of golf
If you are in residence during this time, we strongly encourage you to join a round, share a meal, or simply spend time with these remarkable service members and help make their visit truly memorable.
Music is permitted on the golf course, provided it is played at a low volume and cannot be heard by players on adjacent holes. If music becomes disruptive, please notify the Pro Shop or Course Marshal.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment. We look forward to seeing you on the course and at upcoming events.
Warm regards,
Paddy Gough
Villa Owner / Member Representative
VOA Board Member
Golf Committee
We are thrilled to introduce an exciting new addition to the Seven Canyons tournament lineup, the Villas Virtual Open Championship, an exclusive, year-long competition just for Villa Owners and Members!
Duration: The tournament kicks off immediately and runs through December 31, 2025.
Eligibility: Open to all Villa Owners/Members.
Entry Fee: $27.00 per person
Includes access to both Championship (Gross) and Net (Handicap) divisions
Covers year-end awards and prizes
Sign up via the Member Portal under the tournament’s ending date: 12/31/25
If you need assistance locating the event or submitting your entry, please reach out to the Golf Shop — we’re happy to help!
Separate Men’s and Ladies’ Divisions
Awards will be presented to:
Gross Score Champions (no handicap)
Net Score Champions (full GHIN handicap applied)
One entry qualifies you for both categories
Participants may submit up to five (5) 18-hole rounds played at Seven Canyons in 2025
Score Submission Requirements:
Scores must be turned into the Golf Shop on the day of play
Each scorecard must be attested by a qualified witness
Witness must be 18+ years old and either a Seven Canyons Member or an accompanying adult guest
Your official tournament score will be calculated as the aggregate of your lowest three (3) submitted scores
We look forward to your participation in this exciting new tradition. Don't miss out — get involved, compete throughout the year, and join the fun!
Frank Durso, GM / The Villas at Seven Canyons
Dear Villa Owner-Members,
As you're aware, your VOA fractional Golf Club Membership includes access to participating in the full-slated tournaments hosted by the Seven Canyons Golf Club each year. However, due to the residency restrictions outlined in your Membership Agreement, specifically, the requirement to be “in residence” at the time of play, taking part in the Club’s most prestigious events has been impractical, and in most cases, statistically improbable.
Given the equitable rotation schedule for Villa reservations, each fractional member has only about a 1-in-9 chance of being in residence during key events such as the Club Championship, Member-Member, or Member-Guest Tournaments. Realistically, that means you might only get to participate once every 9 years, hardly ideal for fostering an engaged and active golf club experience.
A New Championship, Just for You: After thoughtful discussions and thanks to some innovative support from the Golf Shop, The Villas are proud to announce a new annual event created exclusively for VOA Fractional Members:
The Seven Canyons VOA Members’ Virtual Open Club Championship!
This new “virtual” tournament mirrors the prestige and structure of the Club’s major events, with one important twist: you can compete no matter when you’re in residence throughout the year! Whether you're visiting in spring, summer, or late December, simply play your rounds, have them witnessed, and submit your scores. At year’s end, both Men’s and Ladies’ Gross and Net Champions will be crowned, just like in the Club’s traditional championships.
How It Works:
Questions? Contact the Golf Shop or reach out to our committee chair, Paddy Gough, at poseidenconsulting@gmail.com
More to Come: Golf + Social Events: We’re also working on launching new events that blend social connection with fun golf formats, including:
These casual events will offer great opportunities to get on the course, visit the clubhouse, and mingle with fellow Villa Owner-Members and the broader Golf Club community. We're also exploring Villa Owner Mixers at the Clubhouse, allowing everyone to enjoy the recently renovated space while expanding on our Villa-based gatherings.
In Summary: The VOA Board remains committed to enhancing your membership experience and ensuring that Villa Owner-Members are meaningfully included in every aspect of life at Seven Canyons, on the course, in the clubhouse, and throughout the community.
We hope you’ll join us in making this new championship and future VOA events a success.
With appreciation,
Paddy Gough
Chair, VOA Golf Club Liaison Committee Colonel, USMC (Ret.)
Villas at Seven Canyons / Golf Committee Update
Meeting Date: August 18, 2025
Prepared by: Paddy Gough, Villa Owner/Member Representative
Temporary Smoking Ban
Due to heightened fire danger in the areas surrounding Seven Canyons, smoking (cigarettes or cigars) is prohibited on the course until further notice. This restriction is expected to be lifted later this fall when conditions improve.
Music on the Course
To maintain the peace and solitude of Seven Canyons:
New Golf Club App
The new Seven Canyons app provides improved access to Golf Club and Clubhouse services. While there are still growing pains, the upgrades are being well received.
Member-Only Events
Upcoming Golf Club events are exclusive to members and not open to the public.
Sand Traps & Course Design
There has been discussion regarding sand trap conditions.
Greens Upkeep
Our greens continue to be the best in the market thanks to consistent care. To help maintain them:
Tee Time Requests
Several members have requested earlier tee times (7:00 AM instead of 7:30 AM) during late spring, summer, and early fall.
Thank you for your cooperation and continued commitment to keeping Seven Canyons the premier golf experience.
Hit ’em long and straight,
Paddy Gough
Dear Villa Owner-Members,
As you're aware, your VOA fractional Golf Club Membership includes access to participating in the full-slated tournaments hosted by the Seven Canyons Golf Club each year. However, due to the residency restrictions outlined in your Membership Agreement, specifically, the requirement to be “in residence” at the time of play, taking part in the Club’s most prestigious events has been impractical, and in most cases, statistically improbable.
Given the equitable rotation schedule for Villa reservations, each fractional member has only about a 1-in-9 chance of being in residence during key events such as the Club Championship, Member-Member, or Member-Guest Tournaments. Realistically, that means you might only get to participate once every 9 years, hardly ideal for fostering an engaged and active golf club experience.
A New Championship, Just for You: After thoughtful discussions and thanks to some innovative support from the Golf Shop, The Villas are proud to announce a new annual event created exclusively for VOA Fractional Members:
The Seven Canyons VOA Members’ Virtual Open Club Championship!
This new “virtual” tournament mirrors the prestige and structure of the Club’s major events, with one important twist: you can compete no matter when you’re in residence throughout the year! Whether you're visiting in spring, summer, or late December, simply play your rounds, have them witnessed, and submit your scores. At year’s end, both Men’s and Ladies’ Gross and Net Champions will be crowned, just like in the Club’s traditional championships.
How It Works:
Questions? Contact the Golf Shop or reach out to our committee chair, Paddy Gough, at poseidenconsulting@gmail.com
More to Come: Golf + Social Events: We're also working on launching new events that blend social connection with fun golf formats, including:
These casual events will offer great opportunities to get on the course, visit the clubhouse, and mingle with fellow Villa Owner-Members and the broader Golf Club community. We're also exploring Villa Owner Mixers at the Clubhouse, allowing everyone to enjoy the recently renovated space while expanding on our Villa-based gatherings.
In Summary: The VOA Board remains committed to enhancing your membership experience and ensuring that Villa Owner-Members are meaningfully included in every aspect of life at Seven Canyons, on the course, in the clubhouse, and throughout the community.
We hope you’ll join us in making this new championship and future VOA events a success.
With appreciation,
Paddy Gough
Chair, VOA Golf Club Liaison Committee Colonel, USMC (Ret.)
Prepared by: Paddy Gough, Villa Owner/Member Representative
Villa Owners Virtual Golf Tournament
Although registration has been open for months, only one Villa Owner has signed up for the Virtual Golf Tournament. The Golf Committee and Pro Shop are making another strong push to encourage participation.
We encourage all Villa Owners to get involved in this fun event.
Building Villa Owner Participation
The Golf Committee is committed to hosting more social events to enhance community involvement, such as:
The goal is to make Villa Owners a stronger presence within the overall Golf Club experience.
Clarification on Golf Course & Club Access
Some Owners expressed concern that use of the golf course and facilities was restricted to periods of residence. While this wording exists in The Plan, it has never been enforced, and ownership has confirmed that:
Save the Date: Semper Fi Fund Golf Clinic – April 2026
The Villas and Club will again host Team Semper Fi for their third annual golf clinic.
Agronomy & Course Updates
Villas & Clubhouse Enhancements
Member Feedback
Your input is always welcome! Please share any constructive recommendations regarding the golf course or Clubhouse. I will continue to represent Villa Owners on the Golf Committee.
Hit ’em long and straight,
Paddy Gough
THE VALUE OF VILLA FRACTIONAL GOLF MEMBERSHIP AT SEVEN CANYONS
Few things are as rewarding as being part of an exclusive club where members are the driving force of the community. There’s something magical about our 18-hole championship course. You feel it from the moment you step up to the first tee. Sedona’s red rocks are the masterpieces of Seven Canyon’s gallery of natural beauty to be savored for generations to come.
Kiersten Cole, the Membership & Event Sales Manager at Seven Canyons recently shared with Greg Hillgren, VOA President and Cheryl Shipe, General Manager a thoughtful overview of the many benefits associated with a Villas Golf Membership.
Dear Mr. Hillgren and Ms. Shipe,
You’ve asked me to briefly outline the current Club at Seven Canyons’ Fractional Golf Membership structure so that the Villa Owners Association (‘VOA’) Fractional Unit Property Owners can better understand the benefits and value of their Membership.
Here is an overview:
One Fractional Golf Membership may be acquired by each VOA Fractional Property (Unit) Owner from the Club at Seven Canyons. The Initiation Fee for a Fractional Golf Membership is currently $20,000 (that figure has been constant since the origination of the Club). Acquisition of a Fractional Golf Membership does not confer any equity or voting rights at the Club at Seven Canyons and all Club Members are subject to the Membership Plan, Plan of Operation and the current Club Rules and Regulations at all times.
A Fractional Golf Membership requires payment of Monthly Dues of $350 per month and an Annual Food & Beverage Minimum spend of $600 per year.
The benefits of your Fractional Golf Membership are available to you year-round, not just when you are staying in your villa. These include:
When a VOA Fractional Ownership Unit is sold/transferred, the associated, existing Fractional Golf Membership may simultaneously be transferred to the new Owner (currently with no transfer fee). The outgoing Club Member must settle up any outstanding amounts due the Club, and the incoming Club Member will commence their new Fractional Golf Membership coincident with the close of Escrow. Fractional Golf Memberships are only available to Fractional Unit Property Owners and may not be sold separately from the Unit or assigned to someone who is not on the deed of the property.
A Fractional Golf Membership is not required. Owners may resign their Fractional Golf Membership. However, there are a few things that VOA Owners should be aware of when resigning:
I hope this brief summary is helpful to the many VOA Owners at Seven Canyons as they consider their ownership situations. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any additional questions on the above, or if I can be of assistance in any way during your next visit to Seven Canyons.
Sincerely,
Kiersten Cole
Membership & Event Sales Manager | Seven Canyons
625 Golf Club Way, Sedona, Arizona 86336
EMAIL: kiersten.cole@sevencanyons.com
DIRECT: 928.203.2008 | MAIN: 928.203.2001
Update #1 as of March 31, 2021
Golf Club Liaison Committee Charter:
The Villa Owners Association (VOA) Board of Directors established a Golf Liaison Committee based on the Charter listed below:
We recognize that many VOA Owners/Members are increasingly sensing – and expressing – that they are being taken advantage of by the 7C Developer/Club Sponsorship’s strategic business plans for Golf… and that a broad consensus now seems to be emerging, specifically:
As 2021 arrives, Seven Canyons is not a “private club” anymore, it’s actually becoming a marginalized, daily fee/public course, now… so why incur the monthly financial burden of “private membership” dues? Yes, we’ve probably reached the ‘inflection point’ here in 2021… and we’ll soon know which direction the Club goes. And, as goes the Club, so goes the property values – and the quality of experiences – for every VOA Owner and Homeowner (and Regular Golf Member) at Seven Canyons.
Accordingly, the VOA Board has acted and we hope to bring some informed, collective voice to our VOA Owners/Golf Members (and others) in this matter, by providing an effective contemporary platform for bringing attention, information and thoughtful conversation (and, hopefully, solutions) to the topic.
This month you will learn about the launch of the VOA’s Golf Committee.
Consisting of engaged VOA Owners/7C Property Owners, the Golf Committee will be the place where all VOA/Golf Members who have been unable to effectively speak or raise legitimate concerns or voice solutions about Seven Canyons Golf matters – can do so.
The Golf Committee will have accessible social media platforms, this page on the VOA’s Website, and will also hold regular meetings – in person and virtually – to address the “Golf Experience” at Seven Canyons.
Our Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/sevencanyonsgolfcommittee
We welcome you – we urge you – to immediately get engaged… and begin to work with and through this important new committee effort.
The VOA Board shares those concerns… and we are now becoming alarmed at the strategic direction and deteriorating “golf experience” and unacceptable conditions/performance levels we are all – as private Club Members – enduring at Seven Canyons, now. While the Golf Club/Course are completely independent from the VOA (or any other Seven Canyons homeowners groups), we have launched some initiatives to begin to immediately address this urgent situation.
The Clubhouse – particularly the restaurant – remain wholly unsatisfactory for a ‘private club/first class’ experience and is getting worse.
We’ve all suffered the ‘revolving door’ effects of the kitchen for years… losing multiple chefs over time; and while we remain optimistic the new chef/team will be successful, we are concerned.
Moreover, the restaurant’s physical ambiance and features (except for the canyon views, of course) are seriously degraded… with its “Denny’s-like” furnishings, flat/stemware, degraded artwork, and of course the terrible noise-abatement problems (infamous at 7C, but never seriously addressed by the Club).
Outside “daily fee” groups are allowed to bring extraordinarily foul language and boorish behavior commonly spread loudly across the dining room and patios.
And, now, as a final insult to its “Club Members”, we’ve learned the restaurant has recently been made widely available for outside public reservations via “Open Table” and other sites.
As you can imagine, we’ve received complaints from VOA Owners/Members about the inability to get tables, reasonably make reservations or enjoy the expected benefits of a preferred, ‘private club’ experience.
The situation has become a sad one, approaching intolerability… and we share that disappointment and concern with our VOA Owners/Members.
· Importantly, we do NOT think these problems are the result of any inadequacies or incapabilities of the current Club/Course professional management and leadership team.
Specifically, we – based on significant observations and interactions with them over extended timeframes – strongly believe that Josh Clay (GM), Jason Bazyub (Course Superintendent), Adam Copeland (Head Golf Professional) and Kiersten Cole (Membership Director) are excellent executives and are doing everything possible with the limited resources they have been provided, and the narrow strategies they have been authorized.
They are, we think, part of the solution, NOT part of the problem… and we continue to fully support them… we are fortunate to have them at Seven Canyons. For example, the Course Maintenance team extraordinarily dedicated, hardworking and capable, but… it is a mere fraction of the size it should be for a first-class golf course. Yet, no critically needed staff increases are forthcoming from Club Ownership.
· Rather, we surmise that the problem is more likely one of a lack of appropriate financial resources being provided by the Developer/Sponsor of the Club, and a narrow business strategy directive intended perhaps to quickly – and unsustainably, as Members begin an exodus – inflate the Golf Operations’ net revenue performance statistics in anticipation of an impending ‘exit’ capital event… which will be either a sale to an outside operator (likely a “daily fee” golf facility operator, or perhaps a hybrid ‘daily fee with some minor private play component’) or a new debt/equity restructuring.
Unfortunately, in the meantime, the remaining Seven Canyons Golf Club Members – fractional and regular members, alike – have been left to bear the brunt and are now suffering the consequences… and it’s likely, we think, to continue to get worse.
We anticipate that there will perhaps be an exodus of Members over time, unfortunately, should the Developer/Club Sponsorship not substantively and immediately resolve the “Membership Crisis”…as the remaining hopes for any realistic return to a “private club/first class” experience evaporate and fade away.