Fountain Hills is located in eastern Maricopa County, on the eastern edge of the Phoenix urbanized area. It is 31 miles (50 km) northeast of downtown Phoenix and sits on the east side of the south end of the McDowell Mountains. Fountain Hills Golf Club was established in 1971 and was renamed in 1998 as Desert Canyon Golf Club .Spectacular mountain views surround the golf course, and the world-famous fountain can be seen from almost every hole. Fountain Hills has a hot desert climate, but gets its water from the nearby Verde River, a tributary to the Salt River (Rio Salado).