Three communities include golf in the HOA: Trilogy Verde River (18-hole), Trilogy Encanterra (18-hole), and Sun Lakes Oakwood (country club). Five don't. Here's the honest golf cost comparison across all eight communities.
Golf is the most common amenity decision driver in East Valley 55+ community selection — and the most frequently miscalculated. The question isn't just whether a community has golf. It's which community produces the best total golf cost for your specific frequency.
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Talk to a Specialist →| Community | Golf | HOA Golf Overhead | External Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trilogy Verde River | 18-hole included | ~$200–$300/mo embedded | N/A |
| Trilogy Encanterra | 18-hole included | ~$150–$200/mo embedded | N/A |
| Tonto Verde | Two courses (verify bundle) | ~$150–$200/mo embedded | N/A |
| Sun Lakes Oakwood | Oakwood CC included | ~$100–$150/mo embedded | N/A |
| Scottsdale Heights | None | $0 | TPC Scottsdale, Troon North ~20 min |
| Sunland Springs | None | $0 | Mesa courses, Superstition Mountains courses |
| Solera Johnson Ranch | None | $0 | Queen Creek area courses, San Tan courses |
| Encore at Eastmark | None | $0 | Mesa/Gilbert area courses |
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Daily golfer (5x/week): Trilogy Verde River or Encanterra's embedded golf is approximately $40–$60/round effective cost (HOA golf portion / weekly rounds). External private club in Scottsdale: $400–$600/month dues + cart. Golf-included communities win decisively for daily golfers.
Moderate golfer (2–3x/week): Golf-included HOA overhead: ~$150–$300/month. External semi-private: ~$200–$400/month in pay-per-play. The gap narrows. Golf-included communities remain advantaged but less dramatically. Other amenity factors can drive the decision for 2–3x/week golfers.
Occasional golfer (1x/week or less): HOA golf overhead: ~$150–$300/month for courses you use once a week. External pay-per-play at $60–$100/round: $240–$400/month for 3–4 rounds. Non-golf communities are clearly better financially for occasional golfers — no monthly overhead for infrequent use.
Arizona's golf culture and course quality in the Scottsdale area is exceptional relative to price — TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa, Quintero, and dozens of quality courses are accessible to East Valley residents at non-peak pricing. The dry desert climate means year-round playability with no cart path restrictions from wet conditions. For buyers who golf but don't need an on-site course, Arizona's public and semi-private course ecosystem is deeper and more affordable than most other major retirement markets.
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