By The Santistevan Group at SERHANT.
One of the questions we hear often from buyers relocating to the south Phoenix corridor is about country clubs. People want to know where the serious golfers go, where business relationships get built over a round, and which memberships come with the kind of resort-style amenities that make the dues feel like an easy decision. At The Santistevan Group at SERHANT., we have guided enough buyers through this process to know which clubs consistently deliver on all three fronts.
Key Takeaways
- The Phoenix metro offers some of the most desirable private country clubs in the country, concentrated heavily in Scottsdale.
- Several top clubs are accessible from Ahwatukee within 20–35 minutes, making them practical for south Phoenix residents.
- Membership structures, initiation fees, and waitlists vary considerably — understanding the differences saves significant time.
- Country club proximity is a meaningful factor in luxury home values across the Valley.
Troon Country Club: Scottsdale's Benchmark for Private Golf
Troon Country Club in North Scottsdale consistently ranks among the most respected private clubs in Arizona. The course was designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, runs ~7,000-plus yards at a slope of 146, and carries a Certified Audubon Sanctuary designation — meaning the Sonoran Desert landscape is woven into the course design rather than cleared away from it. Set at the base of Pinnacle Peak and Troon Mountain, the views from the fairways are the real thing.
What Troon Country Club offers members:
- A private 18-hole championship course that has hosted the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and the Arizona Open
- State-of-the-art fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts, and a heated pool available year-round
- An active social calendar including themed dinners, wine tastings, and holiday events
- Social membership waitlist recently shortened to 4–6 months after years of a fully closed list — a meaningful shift for buyers considering the club now
Homes in the Troon Village community surrounding the club range from $750,000 to $3+ million, and the elevation delivers notably cooler temperatures than the valley floor — a real consideration for buyers who plan to use the club through Phoenix's summer months.
The Country Club at DC Ranch: Community, Golf, and North Scottsdale's Best Location
For buyers who prioritize a genuine community feel alongside serious golf, The Country Club at DC Ranch is one of the most compelling memberships in the Valley. The course was redesigned by Tom Lehman and John Fought, and the club sits within the broader DC Ranch master-planned community at Thompson Peak Parkway in North Scottsdale.
What sets DC Ranch apart:
- A full amenities program including tennis, fitness, swimming, and dining — not just golf
- Membership is open to buyers from outside the DC Ranch residential community; property ownership is not required
- Dining venues that function as genuine social spaces, not just a post-round stop
- Consistent recognition as one of Scottsdale's premier private clubs for professional networking and family events
DC Ranch real estate — condominiums, townhomes, villas, and custom homes — sits directly adjacent to the club, making this one of the most integrated golf-community real estate options in Arizona.
Desert Mountain: The Valley's Most Comprehensive Private Club Experience
For buyers who want the deepest amenity set in the Phoenix metro, Desert Mountain in North Scottsdale is in a category of its own. The club features seven golf courses, the majority designed by Jack Nicklaus, across an 8,000-acre community at the northern edge of Scottsdale.
Desert Mountain by the numbers:
- Seven 18-hole courses, including multiple Jack Nicklaus Signature designs
- A 60,000-square-foot putting course — the first of its kind in the United States
- Full clubhouse, dining, tennis, fitness, and spa facilities
- Homes in the Desert Mountain community range from $1 million to $10+ million
Desert Mountain is the option for buyers for whom comprehensive access — across multiple courses and a full social program — is the deciding factor.
Moon Valley Country Club and Arizona Country Club: Phoenix Options Worth Knowing
Not every south Valley buyer wants to drive to North Scottsdale for a round. Both Moon Valley Country Club and Arizona Country Club offer strong private club experiences that are considerably closer for Ahwatukee and south Phoenix residents.
What these Phoenix clubs offer:
- Moon Valley Country Club — Located in north Phoenix at 151 W Moon Valley Drive, the club offers an 18-hole championship course designed by Dick Turner, along with tennis courts, aquatic center, fitness center, and a full dining program. The surrounding Moon Valley neighborhood — built around the club — gives the property a genuine community feel.
- Arizona Country Club — A long-established private club in central Phoenix with a traditional course and social programming that draws from across the metro.
Both clubs provide golf access and lifestyle amenities that buyers moving to the Valley often look for, without the 30-minute drive north that Scottsdale's top clubs require.
Ahwatukee Country Club: The Local Semi-Private Option
Ahwatukee Country Club, designed by John Bulla — a PGA Tour winner and the pilot who founded what became Frontier Airlines — sits directly within the community at a par-72, 6,713-yard layout that blends mature tree-lined fairways with desert terrain. As a semi-private facility, it offers membership options alongside public play access, making it the most immediately accessible option for Ahwatukee residents.
Ahwatukee Country Club at a glance:
- 18-hole par-72 course designed in 1974 specifically for the desert foothills environment
- Located minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor, Tempe, and Scottsdale
- Semi-private structure means membership benefits without the full exclusivity — or initiation fees — of North Scottsdale's private clubs
- A practical local option for residents who want regular course access close to home
FAQs
How far are Scottsdale's top country clubs from Ahwatukee?
Troon Country Club and The Country Club at DC Ranch are both roughly 25–35 minutes from Ahwatukee via the Loop 202 and SR-101. Desert Mountain runs slightly longer — closer to 40 minutes — but buyers who join typically view the drive as part of the experience.
Do you need to own property in a golf community to join its country club?
Not always. The Country Club at DC Ranch accepts members from outside the DC Ranch residential community. Desert Mountain and Troon Country Club also offer memberships to non-residents. Policies vary and waitlists apply — reaching out directly to each club's membership office is the most reliable way to get current information.
How does country club proximity affect home values in the Phoenix metro?
Golf course frontage and proximity to private clubs consistently support luxury home values across the Valley. Properties within established club communities like DC Ranch, Troon Village, and Desert Mountain carry a recognized premium, and that premium tends to hold through market cycles better than non-club inventory at similar price points.
Find Your Place in Phoenix's Luxury Golf Communities With The Santistevan Group at SERHANT.
The Santistevan Group at SERHANT. works with buyers across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and the south Valley who are looking for homes where the lifestyle matches the address. Whether a country club membership is the starting point or the finishing touch, we know which communities to target and how to match buyers to the right fit.
Reach out to us to learn more about how we help buyers find the right home in Phoenix's top golf communities and let's start a conversation.
Reach out to us to learn more about how we help buyers find the right home in Phoenix's top golf communities and let's start a conversation.
