The Phoenix metro area has more golf courses per capita than virtually any metropolitan area in the world — more than 200 courses within the metro, ranging from world-ranked private clubs to accessible daily-fee courses that would be private-club equivalents in most other US cities. For buyers who want to live in a golf community, the East Valley and North Scottsdale offer an almost overwhelming range of options: private club ownership, semi-private with daily fee access, community-adjacent with preferred tee times, and pure residential communities with courses visible from the road.
This guide ranks the best golf communities by tier, with honest assessments of course quality, access level, price range, and who each community is best suited for. Rated on: Course Quality (1–5), Home Value for Price (1–5), Access Level, Price Tier, and Lifestyle Fit.
“Phoenix has more world-class golf per capita than almost anywhere on earth. The challenge isn’t finding quality — it’s knowing which community fits your game.”
Tier 1 — World-Class Private Golf
These communities offer genuinely world-ranked golf in residential settings. Price range: $800K to $20M+. Best for serious golfers and luxury buyers for whom the course is central to the purchase decision.
Troon North Golf Club — featuring the Trophy and Pinnacle courses — is consistently ranked as the #1 public course in Arizona and among the top desert golf experiences in the world. The Pinnacle course, set in a dramatic Sonoran Desert canyon with elevation changes and boulder-framed fairways, is a legitimate bucket-list course. Separate from Troon North Golf Club is the private Troon Country Club, a member-only club with a championship course in a gated residential community.
The Troon North area offers homes from luxury townhomes to custom estates. Living here provides easy access to one of the world’s premier public-access courses while the private Troon Country Club provides a separate membership option for those who want full private-club access. Best for: serious golfers who want the world’s best desert golf accessible without requiring full private club commitment, combined with a luxury home lifestyle in North Scottsdale.
DC Ranch is one of North Scottsdale’s premier master-planned luxury communities, anchored by The Country Club at DC Ranch (private, championship quality, 4.5 out of 5 stars). Silverleaf is the ultra-luxury enclave within DC Ranch featuring The Club at Silverleaf — a world-ranked private course with dramatic McDowell Mountain views that is widely considered one of the finest private golf experiences in the United States.
Membership at both clubs is available to residents only — you cannot buy a club membership without buying a home in the community. This exclusivity is central to the value proposition. DC Ranch proper offers a broader price range ($1.5M–$5M+) while Silverleaf is the Valley’s most exclusive residential enclave at $3M–$15M+. Best for: buyers who want private club community identity and are purchasing at the absolute top of the Scottsdale market.
Grayhawk is arguably the most accessible entry point for legitimate world-class Scottsdale golf community living. The community is anchored by two Tom Weiskopf-designed courses: Raptor (private, member-only) and Talon (semi-private, with daily fee tee times available to the public alongside members). Both courses earn 4.5 out of 5 stars and rank among the top community-golf experiences in the Valley.
Grayhawk’s residential side ranges from condos and townhomes in the $450K range up to custom homes above $2M, making it the most price-accessible Tier 1 golf community in Scottsdale. The combination of Raptor’s private-club experience and Talon’s semi-private access gives residents maximum flexibility. Scottsdale USD serves the area with A+ school ratings. Best for: buyers who want a Scottsdale golf community lifestyle without requiring $2M+ to enter.
Tier 2 — Premium Community Golf
These communities offer excellent to outstanding golf with strong residential lifestyle packages. Price range: $400K to $2M+. Best for buyers who prioritize golf as a primary lifestyle driver without necessarily requiring world-ranked exclusivity.
McCormick Ranch offers 36 holes of semi-private golf — the Palm Course and Pine Course — in one of Scottsdale’s most established and centrally located golf communities. The courses earn 4 out of 5 stars: mature, consistently maintained, and with the aesthetic character of classic Scottsdale golf rather than the dramatic desert canyon settings of North Scottsdale. The semi-private model means daily fee tee times are available alongside member play.
The community sits along Scottsdale Road between Camelback Road and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard — an outstanding central location for Scottsdale convenience. Lakes, mature trees, and established neighborhood character give McCormick Ranch a different feel from newer master-planned communities. Best for: buyers who want established Scottsdale golf community character, central location, and mature neighborhood aesthetics at a price point below North Scottsdale premium communities.
Las Sendas Golf Club is the standout golf community in the East Valley for buyers who want dramatic course scenery without crossing into Scottsdale price territory. The 18-hole championship course earns 4.5 out of 5 stars — the Red Mountain backdrop creates one of the most spectacular golf aesthetics in Arizona, rivaling North Scottsdale courses in visual drama while sitting at a significantly more accessible price point.
The community offers membership tiers and limited daily fee access. Homes in Las Sendas benefit from both golf views and the Red Mountain setting. Best for: buyers who want dramatic golf and mountain lifestyle at price points below Scottsdale golf communities, in a family-oriented East Mesa setting with good school options. The East Valley’s best-value combination of course quality and residential community character.
Eagle Mountain Golf Club is an 18-hole public/resort course set in dramatic canyon terrain in Fountain Hills, with panoramic views among the most scenic in the East Valley. The course earns 4 out of 5 stars: excellent desert terrain design, elevation changes, and a setting that takes full advantage of Fountain Hills’ topography. Public resort tee time access means no membership required to play regularly.
Fountain Hills is a distinctly different community character from Scottsdale or the master-planned East Valley cities — smaller town, stronger sense of community identity, the famous Fountain Hills fountain at the center of town. Best for: buyers who want golf and mountain panorama views in a genuine small-town community atmosphere, at price points accessible across a wide range.
Tier 3 — Family & Active Lifestyle Golf
These communities balance golf access with family community amenities, 55+ active adult lifestyle, or value-oriented East Valley living. Price range: $350K to $1.5M+.
Seville Golf & Country Club is Gilbert’s most recognizable private club address — a well-maintained 18-hole private course earning 3.5 out of 5 stars. The course operates at a Gilbert private club level rather than Scottsdale Tier 1 quality, but it provides genuine private club access with the significant advantage of Gilbert USD schools (among Arizona’s top-performing districts) and the master-planned Gilbert lifestyle.
For buyers committed to Gilbert for family or lifestyle reasons who also want private golf, Seville is the clear answer. The private club community identity — member tee times, club events, community social calendar — is the primary draw. Best for: Gilbert-committed families for whom Gilbert USD A+ schools plus private golf club access is the target combination.
Encanterra is the East Valley’s premier 55+ active adult golf community, managed by Troon Golf — the same management company behind Troon North — and earning 4 out of 5 stars for course quality. The 18-hole course is residents-only, giving Encanterra the private club feel that distinguishes it from communities with daily-fee access models.
The resort-style amenity campus rivals full-service resorts: multiple pools, tennis, pickleball, spa, fitness center, dining, and a full events calendar. The course serves as a social hub as much as a golf destination. Located in Queen Creek, Encanterra represents the Southeast Valley’s premier 55+ lifestyle offering. Best for: 55+ active adult buyers for whom golf course quality, Troon management standards, and a resort-style community amenity package are the primary criteria.
The Trilogy at Power Ranch section (55+ active adult) features its own golf club — Trilogy Golf Club at Power Ranch — as a resident-exclusive amenity alongside an extensive active adult clubhouse campus. Power Ranch proper is a family master-planned community adjacent to Trilogy with a distinct residential product and a community amenity focus that does not include on-site golf, though the broader Power Ranch location provides East Valley golf proximity.
Best for: 55+ buyers who want a golf-included community at a price point below Encanterra, or family buyers who prioritize community amenity quality (lakes, parks, pools, events) with East Valley convenience and Gilbert USD schools.
What Type of Golf Access Do You Want?
Frequently Asked Questions: Phoenix East Valley Golf Communities
Ryan Moxley is a REALTOR® with My Home Group (ADRE SA643872000), specializing in golf community homes across the Phoenix East Valley and Scottsdale. Contact Ryan at (480) 227-9143 or moxleysellsaz@gmail.com.