The Estancia Club occupies a unique position in Scottsdale's private golf landscape. With approximately 280 members, it's the most exclusive club in the market — smaller than Whisper Rock (580), DC Ranch (325+), or Desert Mountain (thousands). The Tom Fazio-designed course consistently ranks as the #1 or #2 private course in Arizona, and the membership experience reflects that distinction.
But Estancia's pricing causes confusion online. You'll find "$35,000 initiation" cited alongside "$350,000 initiation." Both numbers are real — they just refer to different membership tiers. Here's the complete picture.
Estancia Membership Fees
Golf Membership
| Detail | Mid-2025 | Early 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Initiation Fee | $295,000 | $350,000 |
| Annual Dues | $29,225/year | $28,500/year |
| Billing | Annual (not monthly) | Annual (not monthly) |
The golf membership initiation has increased significantly — from $295,000 in mid-2025 to $350,000 by early 2026, based on multiple realtor sources. This is a $55,000 increase in roughly six months, reflecting strong demand for Estancia's limited membership slots.
Annual billing is unique. Estancia is the only private club in Scottsdale that bills dues annually rather than monthly. Your $28,500 payment covers the full year of golf and club access. While the annual amount is comparable to other premium clubs ($2,375/month equivalent), the lump-sum billing structure requires different cash flow planning.
Social Membership
| Detail | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initiation Fee | $35,000 |
| Annual Dues | $9,500/year |
| Property Requirement | Must own in Estancia community |
| Golf Access | None |
The social membership at $35,000 is the number that gets confused with the golf membership online. This tier provides access to dining, fitness, spa, tennis, and social programming — but no golf. It requires property ownership in the Estancia residential community.
The Pricing Confusion
When you see "$35,000 Estancia membership" anywhere online, it's the social membership — not golf. The actual golf membership is 10x that amount at $350,000. This distinction is critical for anyone researching Estancia costs.
| Membership | Initiation | Annual Dues | Golf? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf () | $295K-$350K | $28,500 | Yes |
| Social | $35K | $9,500 | No |
Why Estancia Commands Premium Pricing
The Tom Fazio Course
Estancia's golf course is the primary justification for the price tag. Tom Fazio designed 27 holes that wind through high Sonoran Desert terrain at the base of Pinnacle Peak, offering multiple 18-hole combinations. The routing emphasizes strategic options over forced carries, making the course simultaneously challenging for scratch players and playable for higher handicaps.
Fazio's desert golf philosophy at Estancia focuses on natural beauty integration — the course doesn't fight the landscape but works with it. Wide landing areas off the tee give way to precise approach shot requirements, and the greens complexes reward skilled short-game players.
The course consistently appears in national rankings:
- Ranked among Arizona's top 2-3 private courses annually
- Featured in Golf Digest, Golfweek, and GOLF Magazine rankings
- Course conditioning rivals any club in the Southwest
Extreme Exclusivity (~280 Members)
With roughly 280 members, Estancia is smaller than most public course membership rolls. This creates an intimate experience where members know each other by name and tee times are virtually always available. Compare this to Desert Mountain's thousands of members or even Whisper Rock's 580.
The small membership also means the course sees dramatically fewer rounds, resulting in better conditioning. When a golf course serves 280 members instead of 1,000+, every aspect of maintenance benefits.
Full Club Amenities
Despite its golf-first reputation, Estancia provides full country club facilities:
- Golf — 27 holes (Tom Fazio), practice facility, instruction
- Tennis — Courts with professional programs
- Fitness — Full-service center with personal training
- Spa — Wellness and spa services
- Dining — Multiple venues from casual to formal, contemporary Southwestern clubhouse
- Social — Active calendar including family events, holiday celebrations, themed dinners
- Junior programs — Youth golf and social activities
The Pinnacle Peak Setting
Estancia sits at the base of Pinnacle Peak, one of North Scottsdale's most iconic landmarks. The elevation and setting provide dramatic mountain views from the course, clubhouse, and throughout the community. This location, combined with the exclusive membership, creates an atmosphere that feels removed from the busier Scottsdale corridor.
Membership Process
Invitation Only
Estancia operates strictly by invitation. The process involves:
- Member sponsorship — existing members vouch for prospective members
- Application with detailed background and financial information
- Committee review and personal interviews
- Board approval — the membership committee makes final decisions
- Initiation payment and onboarding
Equity Structure
Estancia is an equity club. Your initiation fee purchases ownership in the club, granting voting rights and potential partial recovery upon resignation. The equity component adds investment value to the membership, though recovery depends on market conditions and club policies.
Contact Information
For membership inquiries, the club's Membership Liaison can be reached at (480) 473-4400.
Who Should Consider Estancia
Estancia is a good fit if you:
- Want Arizona's highest-ranked private course experience
- Value extreme exclusivity and a small, intimate membership community
- Can comfortably afford $350K initiation plus $28,500/year in annual dues
- Prefer annual billing over monthly dues
- Want full amenities alongside top-ranked golf
- Appreciate the Pinnacle Peak setting and North Scottsdale location
Consider other clubs if you:
- Want course variety (Desert Mountain offers six courses for less)
- Prefer a more accessible price point (Whisper Rock at $100-130K, Pinnacle Peak at ~$50K)
- Need a family-first club with extensive youth programming (DC Ranch is stronger here)
- Want a more social, events-driven atmosphere (Scottsdale National)
- Prefer monthly billing for cash flow management
How Estancia Compares
Estancia vs Mirabel
offers a Tom Fazio course at $200K-$250K — $100K-$150K less than Estancia. Both are Fazio designs in North Scottsdale with full amenities. Mirabel is known for strong dining and social programming; Estancia is known for golf course rankings and exclusivity. If top-ranked golf is the priority, choose Estancia. If dining and social experience matter more, consider Mirabel.
Estancia vs Silverleaf
at $400K-$500K is more expensive than Estancia but requires property ownership and serves a larger membership. Estancia is more exclusive (~280 vs Silverleaf's larger roster) and higher-ranked on golf course lists. Choose Estancia for pure golf prestige; choose Silverleaf for the integrated residential community experience.
Estancia vs Desert Mountain
at $225K-$250K offers six Nicklaus courses — more variety at a lower price. But Estancia's single Fazio course outranks any individual Desert Mountain layout. If quality over quantity is your philosophy, Estancia wins. If variety and value matter more, Desert Mountain is hard to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Estancia Club membership cost?
As of early 2026, Estancia Club golf membership initiation is reported at $295,000-$350,000 with annual dues of approximately $28,500 billed annually. Social membership is $35,000 initiation with $9,500 annual dues. Prices have been increasing rapidly.
Why is Estancia so expensive?
Estancia's premium reflects its combination of a top-ranked Tom Fazio course, extreme exclusivity (~280 members), full amenities, and prime Pinnacle Peak location. The small membership ensures top-tier course conditions and virtually guaranteed tee time access.
Is Estancia more exclusive than Silverleaf?
By membership count, yes. Estancia limits membership to approximately 280, making it the smallest private club in Scottsdale. Silverleaf's membership is larger, though both are considered ultra-exclusive.
Does Estancia bill monthly or annually?
Estancia is unique among Scottsdale clubs in billing dues annually ($28,500/year) rather than monthly. This is equivalent to approximately $2,375/month but requires a lump-sum annual payment.
What's the difference between Estancia golf and social membership?
Golf membership ($295K-$350K initiation, $28,500/year) includes full golf and amenity access. Social membership ($35K initiation, $9,500/year) includes dining, fitness, spa, and social programming but no golf access. Social membership requires property ownership in the Estancia community.
Pricing reported as of February 2026 from multiple real estate and membership sources. Private golf clubs do not publish official pricing, and fees are subject to change. Contact The Estancia Club at (480) 473-4400 for current membership availability and pricing.
Related Guides
Comparing premium clubs? See our guides to ($200-250K, same architect), ($400-500K), and ($100-130K). For a complete overview, read our guide to .
