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The Rim Club: Where Desert Meets Forest, and Golf Finds Its Sweet Spot
Image: Morning light at The Rim Club in Payson, Arizona, with the Mogollon Rim rising in the distance
There’s something magical about the meeting of two worlds — and nowhere is that more evident than in Payson, Arizona, home of The Rim Club.
Set at the edge of the dramatic Mogollon Rim — a 200-mile-long escarpment that marks the boundary between Arizona’s high desert and the world’s largest stand of ponderosa pine forest — this course feels like a true transition zone.
The Rim Club opened in 1998 and was designed by the legendary duo of Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf, two architects who knew how to create variety, strategy, and flow. Their routing through the high country of Payson brings out the best of the land — with elevated tee shots, dramatic vistas, and plenty of opportunities to test both nerve and creativity. The par-3s, in particular, are standouts, each framed by natural beauty and elevation shifts that make club selection a delicious puzzle.
Payson itself adds to the charm. At 5,000 feet elevation, it sits between Arizona’s sizzle and the cool calm of the mountains, making it an ideal climate nearly year-round. I’ve always loved the town — small, friendly, and nestled in one of the most naturally beautiful parts of the state. It feels like a place you could disappear into, in the best possible way.
Photographing The Rim Club was a joy. The light at sunrise creeps over the horizon and slowly washes down into the valley, revealing layers of greens, reds, and golds in the terrain. Every direction offers a different kind of beauty — a different kind of silence.
The name says it all. The Rim Club isn’t just near the edge — it lives on it. And once you’ve been there, it stays with you.
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Each week, we share a stunning golf image and a heartfelt, hilarious, or inspiring story. While they may not always align, both aim to elevate the game and uplift those who love it. These images aren’t for sale—they’re simply here to be enjoyed, just as the stories are meant to inspire, entertain, and celebrate the spirit of golf.
The legend of Moe Norman is one for the golf ages. The Canada-born professional (1929-2004) is considered by many to be the greatest ball striker in history.
Known for his ability to hit the ball straight with any club, “Pipeline Moe’’ won 54 tournaments in Canada and set 33 course records. He played in the only one Major – the 1967 Masters where he missed the cut – but his myth and magic still permeate the professional tours.
Norman was also of the great eccentrics in the history of North American sports, thanks to his signature long sleeve-turtle neck shirts and his repetition of key phrases, the latter of which many people attribute to a childhood accident.
Watching Norman hit a golf ball with his effortless, rhythmic motion was like watching Picasso paint: You might not understand the technique, but the result was always a masterpiece.
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