Central Arizona has no shortage of golf courses, but it’s hard to beat having a golf course right in your own community. It’s a treat to be able to head down there on your own golf cart without having to go out onto the public streets. Some of the biggest and best communities have several courses, so you don’t have to worry about a lack of variety.
These are some of the best Central Arizona golf course communities.
Sun City – Sun City, AZ
Below $100k – High $800s
Sun City is the biggest active adult community in Arizona with eight courses for residents to choose between. They are all 18-hole courses except for the 9-hole Quail Run Golf Course, and they all have pro shops. They also all have snack shops apart from Quail Run.
The South golf course is the longest course if playing from the back tees, but there are plenty of tee options to satisfy every grade of player. The North course was the first course to be built and was designed with very few straight holes.
The Lakes West course has meandering streams and strategically-placed lakes to challenge you. The Riverview course also has water hazards, and this course also has the most movement from tee to green of any of the Sun City courses. The Willowcreek course has a creek and other water features next to many of the greens. All five of these courses are par 72.
The Lakes East and Willowbrook are shorter par 60 courses that manage to both challenging and fun. The 9-hole Quail Run course gets its name from the abundant wildlife here, including quail. It has six par 3s, two par 4s, and one par 5.
Sun City is a 55+ active adult community with over 27,000 condo, attached, and single-family homes. It has numerous other amenities as well as the golf, and homes are priced from below $100k up to the high $800s.
Learn more information about Sun City here.
Sun City West – Sun City West, AZ
Low $100s – High $600s
Sun City West is second only to Sun City if you’re a keen golfer as it has seven 18-hole courses for residents to use. Four are regulation courses for the avid golfer, and three are executive courses for the more casual golfer.
The Deer Valley course has 6,547 yards from the back tees or 4,380 yards from the front tees. It offers wide fairways, large greens, water hazards, and bunkers. It also has a snack shop and a pro shop. The Grandview course is the longest at 6,775 from the back tees with contoured fairways, lakes, and bunkers as well as a pro shop and a restaurant. Both courses are par 72.
The par 72 Pebblebrook course has fairways lined with mature trees and sloping greens, and it has a pro shop that serves snacks and beverages. The fourth regulation course is Trail Ridge, another par 72 course with a yardage of 6,581. This has desert landscapes, lakes, and bunkers as well as a pro shop. The three executive courses comprise one par 61 course and two par 60 courses.
Sun City West has 16,900 attached and single-family homes for the 55+ active adult and a wide range of other amenities, including numerous tennis and pickleball courts.
Learn more information about Sun City West here.
Sun City Grand – Surprise, AZ
Low $200s – Mid $800s
Sun City Grand has four 18-hole par 72 courses, all designed by Billy Casper and Greg Nash. They all have pro shops, and there are also driving ranges and food and beverage services available.
The Desert Springs course is the longest with a yardage of 7,006 from the back tees. Hole 11 is the longest hole, a par 5 of 592 yards, and there are three other par 5s on the course. The shortest course is the Granite Falls North Course, but it is still 6,720 yards from the back tees with four par 5 holes and 540-yard challenging hole at the end.
Sun City Grand has many other amenities available, including four clubhouses. It’s an active adult community with a lower 45+ age restriction and 9,802 condo, attached, and single-family homes.
Learn more information about Sun City Grand here.
Sun Lakes – Sun Lakes, AZ
Mid $100s – High $700s
Sun Lakes is another good option for the keen golfer as it has no fewer than four 18-hole courses and three 9-hole courses in five country clubs.
The three 9-hole courses are all at the Oakwood Clubhouse and Restaurant. One is a parkland-style course, the second has traditional links, and the third features lakes in and around the course. There’s also a driving range.
Of the 18-hole courses, the par 67 Ironwood is 5,100 yards and includes two par 5 holes. The course at the Palo Verde Country Club is 4,060 yards and par 62, while the Cottonwood course is a par 72 with a yardage of 6,737 and a driving range. Finally, the Sun Lakes Country Club is a shorter par 60 course of 3,811 yards and with a driving range.
Sun Lakes is a gated community of 6,683 homes for the 40+ active adult. It has many other sporting amenities, including courses for tennis, bocce, racquetball, and handball.
Learn more information about Sun Lakes here.
