Best 55+ Golf Communities in Arizona · Golf Retirement Communities · Updated October 2026Best 55+ Golf Communities in Arizona (2026): Our Top Picks
Our pick for the best 55+ golf communities in Arizona this year starts with The Grand (formerly Sun City Grand), with four 18-hole courses. After that come Sun City West and Sun City, because they offer the most golf for the lowest home prices. So here are the 10 golf retirement communities in Arizona we show golfers first, West Valley and East Valley.
In fact, golf is one of the top reasons people plan a retirement move to Arizona. After all, you can play most of the year, and many of the Valley’s 55+ communities were built around their courses. Still, the golf varies a lot from one community to the next. Some have quick, walkable executive courses. Others, however, have long championship layouts, private clubs or 27 holes to rotate through. So this list sorts out the golf retirement communities in Arizona for you.
Founder Jarl Kubat has spent 22+ years helping buyers and sellers in Arizona 55+ communities. He also lives in one with its own golf course, Arizona Traditions in Surprise. As a result, this list comes from walking these fairways and back yards with buyers, not from a ranking website.
Our top 10: the best 55+ golf communities in Arizona for 2026
In short, this is founder Jarl Kubat’s list for most golfers. However, the right pick for you depends on how you play and what you want to spend. Also, prices are the “homes from” figures explained in the note below.
Picks 1 to 5
- The Grand (formerly Sun City Grand) · Surprise — Four 18-hole championship courses: Desert Springs, Cimarron, Granite Falls North and Granite Falls South. All four are by Billy Casper and Greg Nash, open to the public, with lower rates for residents. Granite Falls North is the toughest of the four. So it fits golfers who want big courses close to home. From about $270K Golf guide
- Sun City West · West Valley — Nine courses inside the community. Residents own and run seven of them (four regulation and three executive), and there’s also a public course and a private club. From about $190K Golf guide
- Sun City · West Valley — Eleven courses in all. In fact, residents own eight of them, and three more are private clubs. As a result, it’s the best value golf on this list. From about $160K Golf guide
- PebbleCreek · Goodyear — About 54 holes across Eagle’s Nest and the two Tuscany Falls courses, in a guard-gated community at the foot of the White Tank Mountains. From about $330K Golf guide
- Sun Lakes · East Valley, south of Chandler — Five courses and 99 holes across five communities, from par-60 executive golf to a par-72 championship course. From about $235K
Picks 6 to 10
- Victory at Verrado · Buckeye — Two par-72 Tom Lehman courses at Verrado Golf Club, Victory and Founders, with public tee times and passholder options. From about $345K Golf guide
- Sun City Festival · Buckeye — Copper Canyon Golf Club has 27 holes across three nines, plus newer Del Webb homes. From about $290K Golf guide
- Sunland Springs Village · Mesa — A 27-hole executive course with three nines, so rounds are quick and easy to walk. From about $365K Golf guide
- Sunland Village East · Mesa — An 18-hole, par-62 executive course that plays quick and friendly, with newer homes than original Sunland Village and a strong value for golfers. From about $320K
- Arizona Traditions · Surprise — Its own 18-hole course, Arizona Traditions Golf Club, in a smaller guard-gated community. Founder Jarl Kubat lives here. From about $300K
Also worth a look
- Westbrook Village (Peoria) — two 18-hole courses, Lakes and Vistas. Homes from about $300K.
- Corte Bella (next to Sun City West) — a gated community with a privately owned 18-hole, par-72 course. Homes from about $295K.
- Trilogy at Vistancia (Peoria) — an 18-hole Gary Panks course that’s open to the public, with resident discounts. Homes from about $405K.
- Sunland Village (Mesa) — the original Sunland, with its own 18-hole, par-62 executive course. Homes from about $295K.
Want more detail by side of town? In that case, see our West Valley 55+ communities guide and our Mesa and East Valley retirement communities guide.
About the prices: “Homes from” is the lowest single-family home sale in each community over the last 90 days, from the Arizona Regional MLS (fall 2026). It’s often a smaller home, a patio home or a home that needs work, so most homes sell for more. Prices shift as the market changes, so call or text (480) 710-6326 to check today’s numbers.
The best 55+ golf communities in Arizona at a glance
Here’s the golf at each of these retirement communities in Arizona side by side, so you can compare the courses before you compare the homes.
| Community | Area | Golf | Style | Homes from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Grand | Surprise | 4 courses, 72 holes | Championship | ~$270K |
| Sun City West | West Valley | 9 courses (7 resident-owned) | Regulation and executive | ~$190K |
| Sun City | West Valley | 11 courses (8 resident-owned) | Regulation and executive | ~$160K |
| PebbleCreek | Goodyear | About 54 holes | Championship | ~$330K |
| Sun Lakes | East Valley | 5 courses, 99 holes | Executive to championship | ~$235K |
| Victory at Verrado | Buckeye | 2 courses, 36 holes | Championship | ~$345K |
| Sun City Festival | Buckeye | 27 holes | Championship | ~$290K |
| Sunland Springs Village | Mesa | 27 holes | Executive | ~$365K |
| Sunland Village East | Mesa | 18 holes, par 62 | Executive | ~$320K |
| Arizona Traditions | Surprise | 18 holes | Shorter 18-hole course | ~$300K |
How we ranked the best 55+ golf communities in Arizona
Of course, we didn’t use a formula or paid placements. Instead, we judged these Arizona golf retirement communities by the same things our golf buyers ask about:
- How much golf — the number of courses and holes inside the community.
- Variety — a mix of quick executive rounds and full championship courses.
- Cost to play — who owns the course, and whether residents get lower rates.
- Home prices — what it costs to buy in.
- Location — in other words, healthcare, shopping, family and the airport.
- First-hand experience — what we see on these courses and streets week after week.
So this is a judgment call from people who sell here, not a lab test. As a result, you should still tour your top two or three in person.
Best for… quick golf picks by buyer type
So which of these Arizona golf retirement communities fits your game? Here are our quick picks, based on what matters most to you.
- Best value golf: Sun City. Homes start around $160K, and the 2026 resident annual golf pass is about $2,800.
- Most golf: Sun City, because it has eleven courses. Meanwhile, Sun Lakes leads the East Valley with 99 holes.
- Best executive golf: Sunland Springs Village, since it has 27 executive holes. Also, Sun City and Sun City West each have three executive courses.
- Best championship golf: The Grand, because it has four 18-hole championship courses. For example, Victory at Verrado is a strong second, with two Tom Lehman courses.
- Best East Valley golf: Sun Lakes for variety, and the Sunland communities in Mesa for easy, walkable executive golf.
What golf really costs in Arizona golf retirement communities
Here’s the part buyers get wrong most often. First of all, in these communities your HOA dues do not pay for golf. Instead, golf has its own fees, and the people who play pay for it. In general, golf works one of three ways.
1. Resident-owned courses
In Sun City, for example, residents own eight courses through the Recreation Centers of Sun City. Also, the 2026 assessment is about $680 per home, and it doesn’t cover golf. Instead, golfers pay green fees or buy a resident annual pass, about $2,800 in 2026.
2. Private clubs
For example, Corte Bella’s course is privately owned, and owning a home there doesn’t give you the right to play. In that case, ask the club about membership costs first.
3. Public courses with resident perks
Some courses are open to the public, but residents get a better deal. For instance, The Grand’s residents play at lower resident rates. Trilogy at Vistancia residents also get a discount off public rates.
Golf fees change every year, so we don’t quote them as fixed. Instead, ask us and we’ll get you the current numbers for any community before you write an offer. Finally, to compare dues, see our Arizona 55+ HOA fees guide.
Thinking about a home right on the course?
Of course, a fairway view is a big draw. However, golf lots come with a few strings. Some lots catch stray golf balls, and some communities limit back walls so the course stays open. That’s why founder Jarl Kubat does the same thing at every fairway showing: he stands in the back yard, finds the tee box and works out where a slice would land. It takes five minutes, and it has changed buyers’ minds more than once.
Meanwhile, to see what’s for sale on the fairways right now, visit our golf course homes page, or browse the live listings below.
Golf course homes for sale in Arizona 55+ communities
These listings show single-family golf course homes across 55+ communities in both the East Valley and the West Valley, not just our top 10. Prefer less yard work? Tap the townhome and patio home button below. Want to narrow it to one community? Call or text us at (480) 710-6326.
Golf Homes Full Screen Golf Townhomes & Patio Homes
Best 55+ golf communities in Arizona: your questions answered
Picking a golf retirement community in Arizona
What is the best 55+ golf community in Arizona?
There isn’t one winner for every golfer. However, our top pick for 2026 is The Grand (formerly Sun City Grand) in Surprise, because it has four 18-hole championship courses. Sun City West and Sun City follow close behind, since they offer the most golf for the price.
Which Arizona 55+ community has the most golf?
Sun City has eleven courses, so it has the most on this list. Sun City West has nine. Meanwhile, in the East Valley, Sun Lakes has five courses with 99 holes.
Which East Valley retirement communities have the best golf?
Sun Lakes is our East Valley pick because it has five courses. Also, Sunland Springs Village has 27 executive holes, and Sunland Village East has an 18-hole executive course. All three sit near Mesa and Chandler, so they’re easy to reach.
Golf fees and golf course homes
Do HOA dues pay for golf?
No. In these communities, golf is paid separately, through green fees, passes or club memberships. Meanwhile, the HOA covers things like common areas and recreation centers. So always ask what golf costs on its own.
Can the public play these golf courses?
Some, yes. For example, Copper Canyon at Sun City Festival, Verrado Golf Club and the Trilogy course at Vistancia welcome public play. On the other hand, some courses are private, like Corte Bella’s, so ask about each course before you buy.
Do I have to play golf to buy a golf course home?
No. You can own a home on the course and still never pick up a club. In fact, many residents choose these communities for pickleball, clubs and the social life instead.
The best way to pick a course is to see it
Of course, a list can only take you so far. When you come to town, you ride with us and we drive — our gas, not yours. Then we’ll loop through the golf communities on your short list, walk the clubhouses and stand on a few back patios.
Planning a retirement move from out of state? Most of our buyers are, so tell us when you’ll visit and we’ll help lay out the trip. Also, read our guide to moving to a retirement community in Arizona, or see our overall list of the best Arizona 55+ communities.
I’ll answer your call or text myself, and there’s never any pressure. — Jarl
Let’s find your golf community.
First, tell us how you play and what you want to spend. Then we’ll point you to the right courses and homes, and show them to you in person.
Call or Text: (480) 710-6326 Contact PageGolf details (courses, holes, par and ownership) come from the clubs, associations and published scorecards, and they can change. Golf fees, memberships, HOA dues, age rules and gated status are set by each community and club — always confirm them before you buy. Also, for Sun City’s official golf and recreation details, visit the Recreation Centers of Sun City. “Homes from” prices are the lowest recent sales from the Arizona Regional MLS, believed accurate but not guaranteed. Jarl Kubat is a licensed Arizona REALTOR® with West USA Realty.