Five Golf Courses — All Pay-Per-Play
Sun City Center's five golf courses are a major draw — and the pay-per-play structure is worth understanding clearly before comparing to communities where golf is bundled into HOA fees. There is no mandatory golf fee at Sun City Center. You play when you want, pay what the course charges that day. For occasional golfers, this can be cheaper than a mandatory golf community. For daily players, it can add up significantly.
| Course | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caloosa Golf & Country Club | 18-hole | One of the most popular in the community. Semi-private, well-maintained. |
| Cypress Creek Golf Club | 18-hole | Views of The Preserve at La Paloma new construction area. Good condition. |
| Scepter Golf Club | 18-hole | Affordable rates, great for regular play. Popular with local residents. |
| Sandpiper Golf Club | 18-hole | Executive-length course, shorter rounds, good for beginners and seniors. |
| Hills Golf Club | 18-hole | Varied terrain for the area. Good value greens fees. |
Because all courses are pay-per-play, regular golfers (3–5 rounds per week) should budget $3,000–$6,000+ annually in greens fees depending on frequency and course selection. Add this to the HOA and amenity fees when comparing total cost to a golf-inclusive community.
The Amenity Nobody Else Can Match: A Hospital Inside the Community
South Bay Hospital sits inside Sun City Center's boundaries — not nearby, inside. This is genuinely unusual in the 55+ market. Most communities advertise proximity to hospitals measured in minutes. Sun City Center's hospital is reachable by golf cart.
Healthcare access becomes the defining quality-of-life factor as residents age into their 70s and 80s. Emergency response times, specialist availability, and the ability for a spouse or family member to visit without a car trip all improve when the hospital is literally inside the community. No other 55+ community in the Tampa Bay market offers this. It's one of the most undervalued assets of Sun City Center for long-term residents.
- South Bay Hospital — full-service hospital inside community boundaries
- Emergency room access without leaving the community
- Numerous medical offices, specialist clinics, and outpatient facilities along SR-674
- Pharmacy options within golf cart distance
- Tampa General Hospital and the full Tampa hospital network ~25–35 min away for advanced specialties
Multiple Pools and Fitness Centers Across the Community
Because Sun City Center developed across 60+ years and multiple neighborhoods, fitness and pool facilities are distributed throughout — not centralized in one mega-clubhouse. This means most residents have a pool within golf cart distance of their neighborhood rather than needing to drive across a large property.
- Indoor heated lap pools — climate-controlled, year-round
- Outdoor heated pools at multiple clubhouse locations
- Many neighborhoods have their own community pool in addition to master pools
- Water aerobics, lap swim, and open swim schedules throughout the week
- Multiple fitness centers with cardio and strength equipment
- Group fitness classes — yoga, aerobics, Zumba, strength, stretch
- Walking and biking paths throughout the community
- Pickleball courts — growing program with leagues and open play
- Tennis courts with organized play
- Lawn bowling, bocce ball, shuffleboard courts
200+ Clubs and a Performing Arts Program
The 200+ clubs at Sun City Center is not a marketing figure — it reflects a community that has been self-organizing social infrastructure for over 60 years. New clubs form when residents with shared interests connect through the community's club program. The result covers a range that most newer communities can't approach: competitive billiards, radio operators, investment groups, woodworking, stained glass, multiple language groups, multiple religious organizations, and sport-specific clubs for every activity offered on the grounds.
The performing arts program is resident-driven — theater groups, chorus, dance companies, and variety shows — using clubhouse facilities. Unlike On Top of the World's dedicated 500-seat Cultural Center, Sun City Center's performing arts happen in multi-purpose spaces. The programming is active and well-supported by a large enough resident base to sustain real productions.
Community Association Amenity Fee: What You Get
The SCCCA per-person amenity fee (~$307/person/year) covers access to master association amenities. Here's a clear breakdown of what's in versus what costs extra.
- Access to all SCCCA clubhouses and common facilities
- Pools — indoor and outdoor at master facilities
- Fitness centers at SCCCA facilities
- Club membership — joining any of the 200+ clubs
- Courts — tennis, pickleball, bocce, shuffleboard, lawn bowling
- Arts and crafts studios — woodworking, ceramics, stained glass
- Performing arts events (most)
- Golf — all 5 courses pay-per-play; not covered by any fee
- Golf cart — purchase or lease separately
- Neighborhood HOA — separate from SCCCA fee
- Some performing arts tickets
- Dining — restaurants on-site are commercial, not HOA-covered
- Some club activity fees (supply-based or event tickets)