Private Golf Clubs in Scottsdale: Rankings & Membership Guide (2026)

Scottsdale's private golf clubs include some of the most exclusive facilities in the country -- six-figure initiation fees, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio designs, and course conditioning that public courses can't match. Here's what each club actually offers, what it costs, and who it's built for.

The draw goes beyond golf. These clubs offer dining, spa, tennis, and social programming that turns a golf membership into a lifestyle. For serious golfers, the real appeal is access to perfectly maintained courses with minimal tee time competition.

Country Clubs vs. Golf-Only Clubs

Scottsdale private clubs fall into two categories.

Traditional country clubs provide full-service amenities: dining, tennis, fitness, pools, and social events. Golf is one piece of a broader membership. You'll pay for everything whether you use it or not -- but families who use multiple amenities get strong value.

Golf-only clubs put every dollar toward the courses and golf operations. No tennis courts to subsidize. Lower initiation fees in most cases. If you want excellent golf without paying for amenities you'll skip, this model works.

Equity vs. Non-Equity: Know the Difference

Equity clubs are member-owned. Your initiation fee buys a share. You vote on decisions, elect board members, and may get a portion back when you resign (varies by club and market).

Non-equity clubs are privately owned by developers or investment groups. You pay for access without ownership. No vote in governance, but often newer facilities and more flexible membership terms.

Scottsdale's Top Private Golf Clubs

Tom Fazio designed the course across dramatic desert terrain with elevation changes and McDowell Mountain views. The defining feature: walking only. No golf carts allowed. Fazio routed the course specifically for walkers.

The club caps membership to keep tee times wide open. The clubhouse is intentionally minimal -- golf is the focus, not the dining room. The course regularly appears in national rankings, with holes featuring 100+ foot elevation drops through desert corridors.

Membership: Equity club. Reported initiation around $300,000+, annual dues ~$60,000. Notoriously secretive about pricing. .

Phil Mickelson's home course. Two 18-hole layouts designed by Mickelson and Gary Stephenson. The Lower Course hosted the LG Skins Game. The Upper Course delivers equally strong golf with dramatic bunkering and elevation changes.

Members get both courses, tour-level practice facilities, and a clubhouse with casual dining. PGA Tour pros use the course for practice rounds -- that tells you about the conditioning. Greens are firm, fast, and tournament-ready year-round.

Membership: Equity. Initiation $100,000-$130,000, annual dues ~$15,400. Golf only -- no social tier. .

Tom Fazio golf at the base of Pinnacle Peak. 27 holes through high Sonoran Desert, offering multiple 18-hole combinations. Fazio emphasized strategic options over forced carries, keeping the course playable across skill levels while still testing low handicappers.

Beyond golf: tennis, fitness, spa, multiple dining venues, and an active social calendar. Families value the programming -- junior golf camps, member events, holiday parties. The clubhouse captures contemporary Southwestern style with mountain views from every dining area.

Membership: Full equity. Golf initiation $295,000-$350,000. Social membership $35,000 (no golf). Annual dues ~$28,500. .

Six Jack Nicklaus Signature courses across thousands of acres. Apache, Cochise, Chiricahua, Geronimo, Outlaw, and Renegade -- each with its own character. You can play a different Nicklaus design every day for a week without repeating.

Multiple clubhouses, tennis, fitness, and social programming serve a member base that's heavily seasonal. Located near Carefree at higher elevation, Desert Mountain runs slightly cooler than central Scottsdale with different vegetation.

The math works here: six courses for $250K initiation is roughly $42K per course. Most Scottsdale clubs charge more per course.

Membership: Three tiers. Full Golf $225,000-$250,000 initiation (~$2,472/month dues), Seven Golf $154,000, Lifestyle/Social $123,000. Initiation increases ~$25K/year. .

Another Tom Fazio design in North Scottsdale. The golf course plays through natural desert terrain with mountain backdrops. Strategic design rewards smart play over raw distance.

Mirabel balances golf and lifestyle well. Tennis facilities rival the golf in quality. The club has developed a reputation for excellent dining with multiple restaurant options. Programming covers all ages -- casual pool days to formal holiday events.

Membership: Equity. Golf initiation $200,000-$250,000 (up from $200K in mid-2025). Social membership $40,000-$50,000. Annual dues ~$31,000 with $1,500 F&B minimum. .

Tom Weiskopf routed the course through McDowell Mountain slopes, creating dramatic elevation changes and views you'll remember. Several par 3s play across desert canyons to elevated greens. The par-3 5th hole -- a dramatic downhill shot -- shows what Weiskopf does best with natural terrain.

Full-service country club with dining, tennis, fitness, and aquatics. Strong year-round community since many members are full-time residents. Course conditioning holds through summer, which isn't true everywhere in the desert.

Membership: Equity. Golf initiation $400,000-$500,000. Clubhouse/social $100,000. Monthly dues $2,750-$3,900. Property ownership in Silverleaf required. .

Rees Jones and Tom Lehman designed the course with playability in mind -- wide fairways, strategic bunkering, and water features that add challenge from the back tees without punishing higher handicappers from forward tees.

DC Ranch functions as a neighborhood club. Many members live in the surrounding community, creating a casual atmosphere where you see familiar faces regularly. Tennis, fitness, dining, and aquatics round out the amenities. Strong junior programs.

Membership: Equity. Golf initiation $250,000-$275,000 (market-based). Sport membership under 50 at $75,000. Clubhouse $35,000. Monthly dues ~$1,990 plus capital dues. Waitlists run 1.5-3+ years. .

One of Scottsdale's established clubs with two Jay Morrish/Tom Weiskopf courses. The Monument Course maintains tournament conditioning year-round. Pinnacle offers a more relaxed alternative for casual rounds.

Country club amenities cover tennis, fitness, dining, and social programming. The club's longevity has built multigenerational membership -- families that have belonged for decades. Mature landscaping and trees that you don't find at newer desert courses.

Membership: Equity. Golf initiation ~$200,000. Sport social $60,000. Monthly dues $1,800-$2,000 plus $200/month capital dues. F&B minimum $1,500/year.

Greg Nash designed the course in the 1990s with lakes that are unusual in desert golf. Water features create a distinct visual character and strategic hazards throughout.

Dining, tennis, and fitness facilities serve an active membership. Located in North Scottsdale near newer developments, Ancala attracts members who prefer modern facilities. The course leans parkland-style rather than desert target golf.

Membership: Equity. Initiation in the $40,000-$60,000 range.

Established in the 1960s at the base of Pinnacle Peak. Mature trees and established landscaping create a parkland feel that most desert courses can't replicate. The course has been renovated to modernize while keeping its traditional character.

Casual, established member culture with multigenerational families. Dining, tennis, swimming, and social programming. This is a neighborhood club -- members value the community feel and accessible North Scottsdale location.

Membership: Non-equity. Initiation ~$50,000 (5-year interest-free plan available). Trial membership $5,000 for one year, commitment-free. F&B minimum $1,500/year. .

Old-guard prestige in the Town of Paradise Valley. History dates to the 1950s with a membership roster that has included prominent business and civic leaders for decades. William F. Bell designed the original course.

Classic country club lifestyle: formal dining, tennis programs, social events with traditional standards. The club expects active member participation beyond golf. Membership selection prioritizes existing member sponsorship.

Membership: Equity. Exact figures not publicly disclosed.

Comparison Table

How to Get Into a Private Club

The Process

Most Scottsdale private clubs follow the same path:

1. Get sponsored. You need 2-3 current members who know you personally and will recommend you. No sponsor, no application.

2. Apply. Formal application covering your background, golf experience, and interest in the club. Membership committee reviews it.

3. Interview. Committee members meet you and often your spouse. They're evaluating culture fit as much as financials.

4. Financial verification. The club confirms you can comfortably afford the initiation and ongoing dues. They want members who see the cost as appropriate, not a stretch.

5. Wait. Waitlists range from weeks to years depending on the club. Prestigious clubs with limited membership can have multi-year waits.

Building Connections Without Knowing Members

New to Scottsdale? Here's how people get in:

Play as a guest when opportunities come up. Charity tournaments, member-guest events, corporate outings. Make a positive impression and sponsorship conversations follow naturally.

Corporate connections are real entry points. Many clubs have business executives who extend invitations to clients and colleagues. Ask your company about club affiliations.

Community involvement puts you in rooms with members. Scottsdale civic organizations, charitable boards, and business groups overlap heavily with private club membership.

Questions to Ask Before Joining

Financial health: Ask about recent capital assessments and planned projects. Deferred maintenance means surprise bills after you've paid your initiation.

Membership trends: Growing, stable, or losing members? Healthy clubs have waiting lists. Struggling clubs offer discounted initiations.

Usage patterns: Visit at different times -- weekday mornings, weekend afternoons, holidays. See when it's busy and when you'll have easy tee times.

Resignation terms: What happens when you leave? Any refund on initiation? What's the timeline? Ongoing obligations?

Culture fit: Eat in the dining room. Watch how members interact. Attend a social event if you can. Club culture varies dramatically -- formal vs. casual, old-money vs. new-money, golf-focused vs. lifestyle-focused. Join where you'll feel comfortable.

Is Private Membership Worth It?

Do the Math

Calculate your cost per round honestly. At a club with $100,000 initiation (amortized over 10 years) and $1,200 monthly dues, each round costs roughly $500 if you play 50 times a year. Compare that to $150-$250 public rounds -- you need 75+ rounds annually to break even on golf alone.

The math changes when you use the non-golf amenities. Dining, tennis, fitness, pool, social events -- families who use everything get more value from the investment.

When It Makes Sense

• You'll play 50+ rounds per year
• You want guaranteed tee times without lottery systems
• Non-golf amenities (dining, tennis, social) add real value for your family
• You want to be part of a golf community
• The cost is comfortable, not stressful
• You plan to stay in Scottsdale 5+ years

When to Stay Public

• You prefer variety over consistency
• You play fewer than 30-40 rounds per year
• Travel or seasonal residence limits how often you'll use it
• You're still exploring Scottsdale and don't know what you want yet
• The initiation fee would be a financial stretch

Alternatives: Playing Private Without Joining

Member-guest tournaments. Most clubs host annual events where members invite non-member playing partners. Express interest to any club members you know.

Charity events. Private clubs host fundraising tournaments with entry fees of $300-$500+. You support a cause and play an otherwise inaccessible course.

Reciprocal programs. Troon Prive, ClubCorp, and similar organizations offer playing privileges at partner clubs. If you belong to a private club elsewhere, check for reciprocal agreements.

Limited memberships. Some clubs offer sports-only or young professional categories with reduced initiation and dues. Access without the full commitment.

National membership clubs. Dormie Network, Troon Prive, and others charge $10,000-$30,000 annually for access to portfolios of private clubs. You won't be a full member anywhere, but you get playing privileges at multiple locations.

Build genuine relationships. The most natural path to playing private courses. Develop real friendships through work, community, or shared interests. Members enjoy hosting friends as guests -- no awkwardness when the relationship is authentic.

Start Your Search

If you're considering private membership, start by playing Scottsdale's best . Establish your commitment to regular golf while exploring which areas and course styles you prefer.

Attend prospective member events -- many clubs host tours, information sessions, and demo days. These structured events let you learn about the club without needing member sponsorship.

Allow 6-12 months from first research to membership approval. Building sponsor relationships, completing the application, navigating committee review, and waiting for available slots takes time. Start early rather than rushing.

The right club enhances your life through great golf, genuine community, and experiences worth the investment. The wrong club becomes an expensive obligation. Take time to find the fit.

Explore More Scottsdale Golf

Check our for championship golf without membership, our rankings covering public and private options, or the for building your itinerary around weather and rates.