Golf at The Grand: Four Courses in a 55+ Community (Surprise, AZ)
The Grand (formerly Sun City Grand) is built around four golf courses the community owns and runs. Here’s how they work, what you’ll pay, and what it’s like to live on the fairway.
The short answer: The Grand has four golf courses — Desert Springs, Cimarron, Granite Falls North, and Granite Falls South. The community owns and operates all four, so residents play at cardholder rates and the courses are also open to the public. Golf is paid as you play — it is not part of your annual HOA fee. You can play a lot of golf here without ever leaving home.
Golf is a big reason buyers land at The Grand. This is a Del Webb-built active adult community in Surprise, in the northwest Valley, and golf is woven right through it. In 22+ years guiding buyers through the Valley’s 55+ communities, Jarl Kubat — founder of Arizona 55+ Communities Real Estate — has helped a lot of golfers find a home here, and the first thing he tells them is that these courses belong to the community itself. That changes how you play, and what it costs.
The four courses at The Grand
The Grand runs four championship courses across the community, so you’re never far from a tee time. Each is 18 holes and par 72, each plays from eleven tee combinations (from the Black championship tees down to the forward Orange tees), and all four are open to the public with lower rates for resident Activity Cardholders. Two of them earned spots on GolfPass’s 2025 Golfers’ Choice list of Arizona’s Top 25 public courses.
Desert Springs · 7,006 yds
A “manicured desert” layout with generous fairways and large greens — plus over 75 bunkers and numerous lakes to keep even strong players honest. Some of the best White Tank and Bradshaw Mountain views in the West Valley.
Cimarron · 6,809 yds
A Greg Nash design that opened in January 2003. Water comes into play off the tee and around the greens on most holes, and unique palm-tree groves give it a Palm Springs / Coachella feel. Voted 12th of Arizona’s Top 25 public courses (GolfPass, 2025).
Granite Falls North · 6,720 yds
Part of the 36-hole Granite Falls club, with a surprising Midwestern feel in the Sonoran Desert. Large, undulating greens and rolling fairways demand accurate tee shots — often called the most challenging of the four.
Granite Falls South · 6,839 yds
The longer of the two Granite Falls courses, with the same rolling, Midwestern character and big undulating greens. Voted 5th of Arizona’s Top 25 public courses (GolfPass, 2025) — the highest-ranked of The Grand’s four.
Course-by-course, at a glance
| Course | Yards (Black) | Par | Rating / Slope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Springs | 7,006 | 72 | 72.1 / 124 |
| Cimarron | 6,809 | 72 | 71.9 / 129 |
| Granite Falls North | 6,720 | 72 | 71.5 / 124 |
| Granite Falls South | 6,839 | 72 | 71.6 / 122 |
Yardages and ratings shown from the championship (Black) tees; every course also plays much shorter from forward tees. Current for 2025–2026 and subject to change — verify with The Grand’s golf operations.
How residents play — and what it costs
Here’s the part that surprises people: at The Grand you don’t pay for golf through your HOA dues. The courses run as their own operation. Your annual assessment covers the community’s shared amenities — the fitness centers, pools, courts, and clubs — but green fees are separate, paid each time you play. As a resident with an Activity Card, you get cardholder rates that are lower than what the public pays.
Tee times are booked through the community’s golf system (online at livegrandaz.com/golf), and the operation is led by PGA Director of Golf Brandon Dougherty. Because the courses are public, you can also invite friends and family from outside the community to play with you.
The honest money part
Golf here is pay-as-you-play, not “included.” That’s actually good news if you don’t golf — you’re not subsidizing courses you never use through your HOA fee. And if you do golf, resident rates make regular play affordable. Either way, we’ll walk you through the current fee structure so you know exactly what you’re signing up for.
Living on the golf course
Plenty of homes at The Grand back right up to a fairway, and those golf course lots are among the most sought-after in the community — long green views, open space behind you, and beautiful sunsets. A few honest things to know before you buy on a course:
There are golf easements, which means the courses aren’t liable for the occasional errant ball or overspray — part of fairway living anywhere. The Grand also has specific landscaping and gravel guidelines for golf-course lots, so the look stays consistent along the fairways. None of this is a dealbreaker — it’s just the kind of detail we make sure you understand on the specific home you like. You can browse current golf course homes for sale at The Grand any time.
Is golf-course living at The Grand right for you?
A great fit if you… play regularly and want courses a cart ride from your door; love an open view and don’t mind a stray ball now and then; like the idea of resident rates and inviting guests to play.
Worth knowing… golf is paid as you play, not through HOA dues; course-lot homes carry easements and specific landscaping rules; and fairway homes often cost more than interior lots for the view. If any of that matters, that’s exactly what a visit sorts out.
The best way to judge a course is to stand on it. When you come to town, you ride with us and we drive — our gas, not yours. We’ll show you the four courses, the golf-course neighborhoods, and how a home on the fairway compares to one just off it.
Keep exploring The Grand
New here? Start with the full The Grand buyer’s guide. Wondering who can live here? The Grand has an unusually flexible age rule — see how it works. Comparing the Sun Cities? Del Webb’s original Sun City is the most affordable, and Sun City West has seven of its own golf courses. Each has a different golf story worth knowing.
Thinking about a golf home at The Grand?
I’m Jarl Kubat, a licensed Arizona REALTOR® with 22+ years in the state’s 55+ communities. I’ll help you compare the courses, weigh a fairway lot against an interior one, and find the right home — at a pace that’s comfortable for you.
Call or Text: (480) 710-6326 Contact PageFrequently asked questions
How many golf courses does The Grand have?
Four — Desert Springs, Cimarron, Granite Falls North, and Granite Falls South. The community owns and operates all four, and they’re open to the public with resident rates for Activity Cardholders.
Is golf included in the HOA fee at The Grand?
No. Golf is paid as you play through green fees, separate from your annual assessment. Residents get lower cardholder rates. Your HOA dues cover the community’s shared amenities like fitness centers, pools, courts, and clubs.
Can non-residents play the courses?
Yes — the courses are open to the public, so you can bring guests. Residents simply play at lower cardholder rates and book through the community’s golf system.
Are homes on the golf course worth more?
Usually. Fairway lots offer open views and space, and they tend to sell at a premium over interior lots. They also come with golf easements and specific landscaping rules — we’ll go over both on any home you’re considering.
Ready to find your home on the fairway?
Start with live golf-course listings, or reach out and we’ll build your search around the course and lifestyle you want.
See Golf Course HomesCommunity information: Golf course details, fees, and amenities are summarized here for general information and are subject to change by The Grand (Sun City Grand Community Association). Golf is paid separately from HOA assessments; verify current green fees, resident rates, and course details with The Grand or a licensed Arizona agent before you rely on them.
Listing accuracy: Property listings are drawn from the Arizona Regional MLS and are believed accurate but not guaranteed. Listings change throughout the day; confirm details with your agent before relying on them. Jarl Kubat is a licensed Arizona real estate agent.