Top 10 Golf Course Communities in the US

Direct Answer

The Best Overall golf course community in the US is Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona, where homes run from about $1.5M to $15M+ and members get six Jack Nicklaus Signature courses plus a seventh par-3 course — the largest concentration of Nicklaus designs anywhere — alongside elite clubhouses, spa, and wellness amenities.

The Best Value pick is On Top of the World in Ocala, Florida, where active-adult homes start near $280,000–$450,000 with multiple included golf courses and no equity-membership cost, delivering serious golf living at a fraction of the price. This list is for buyers who want a home wrapped around championship golf and resort amenities, with budgets from a sub-$300,000 villa to a $15M+ estate.

Every community below uses real 2026–2027 home prices, course details, and membership facts.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted each community on what golf-home buyers actually evaluate: course quality, amenities, value, and lifestyle. We drew on Robb Report, Golf Digest, Mansion Global, Zillow, and community sources. The weighting:

• Golf course quality and quantity — 30%
• Home value and price range — 20%
• Amenities beyond golf — 20%
• Membership structure and access — 15%
• Climate and lifestyle — 15%

A community with one tired course but a mansion price tag, or great homes but limited tee access, drops fast. The winners pair championship golf with real value and amenities.

1. Desert Mountain — Scottsdale, AZ 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Type: Community | Entry price: $1.5M | Best for: Serious golfers who want the most championship courses anywhere

Desert Mountain is the gold standard for golf communities. Set across 8,000 acres in the high Sonoran Desert north of Scottsdale, it offers six Jack Nicklaus Signature courses plus the par-3 No. 7 — the most Nicklaus designs in any one community. Homes range from $1.5M villas to $15M+ custom estates, and members enjoy multiple clubhouses, a 30,000-sq-ft wellness center, racquet club, and miles of hiking trails.

The cooler high-desert elevation softens summer heat, and Arizona's low flat 2.5% income tax adds appeal for relocating buyers.

Pros:

• Six Nicklaus Signature courses plus a par-3 — most anywhere
• Elite wellness center, clubhouses, and racquet amenities
• Cooler high-desert elevation eases summer heat
• Low Arizona income tax for relocating members

Cons:

• High equity-membership cost on top of home price
• Entry pricing starts around $1.5M

Verdict: Desert Mountain wins as the most complete golf community — unmatched course quantity paired with elite amenities.

2. On Top of the World — Ocala, FL 💎 BEST VALUE

Type: Community | Entry price: $0.28M | Best for: Active-adult buyers who want golf living at low cost

On Top of the World is the value champion. This established active-adult community near Ocala, Florida offers homes from $280,000–$450,000 with multiple golf courses included and no expensive equity membership required. Residents get resort pools, fitness centers, hundreds of clubs, and on-site amenities, all in a no-state-income-tax state.

For buyers who want a golf-centered retirement without seven-figure estate pricing, it delivers far more golf-and-amenity living per dollar than any equity club on this list.

Pros:

• Homes from $280K with golf courses included
• No expensive equity membership required
• No Florida state income tax
• Resort pools, fitness, and hundreds of resident clubs

Cons:

• Active-adult age restrictions apply
• Courses are quality but not championship-tour caliber

Verdict: On Top of the World is the value leader — real golf living and amenities at a fraction of equity-club pricing.

3. The Reserve at Lake Keowee — Sunset, SC

Type: Community | Entry price: $0.6M | Best for: Buyers who want a Jack Nicklaus course plus lakefront living

The Reserve at Lake Keowee blends championship golf with mountain-lake living in upstate South Carolina. Homes run $600,000 to $3M+, and the community centers on a Jack Nicklaus Signature course alongside a 200-slip marina on Lake Keowee, a clubhouse, and a Blue Ridge foothills setting.

Members get both golf and water recreation, a rare combination, with cooler mountain summers than the Lowcountry. It suits buyers who want golf without giving up boating and lake access.

Pros:

• Jack Nicklaus Signature course plus lakefront marina
• Both golf and boating on Lake Keowee
• Cooler Blue Ridge foothills climate
• Strong clubhouse and outdoor amenities

Cons:

• Equity membership adds to total cost
• More remote than metro-area communities

Verdict: A golf-and-lake pick — best for buyers who want championship golf alongside boating and mountain scenery.

4. Sea Island — St. Simons Island, GA

Type: Community | Entry price: $1M | Best for: Buyers who want coastal Georgia luxury and tournament golf

Sea Island is a storied coastal Georgia golf resort and community. Homes run $1M to $10M+, and members access three courses including Seaside and Plantation, home to a regular PGA Tour event. The Forbes Five-Star resort, beach club, spa, and shooting school round out a refined Lowcountry lifestyle.

It's a destination community drawing affluent buyers who want tournament-caliber golf wrapped in coastal elegance and resort-level service.

Pros:

• PGA Tour-host courses including Seaside
• Forbes Five-Star resort and beach-club amenities
• Refined coastal Georgia Lowcountry setting
• Spa, shooting school, and full resort service

Cons:

• High home and membership pricing
• Coastal storm and humidity exposure

Verdict: A coastal luxury pick — best for buyers who want tournament golf and Five-Star resort living.

5. PGA National — Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Type: Community | Entry price: $0.5M | Best for: Buyers who want famous courses and South Florida access

PGA National is one of Florida's most famous golf communities, longtime home of a PGA Tour event on The Champion course and its "Bear Trap" stretch. Homes range from $500,000 condos to $5M+ estates, and members access five championship courses, a major spa and racquet complex, and a full resort.

Florida's no income tax and a prime Palm Beach Gardens location near beaches and airports make it convenient as well as prestigious.

Pros:

• Five championship courses including the famous Champion
• PGA Tour-host pedigree and "Bear Trap" reputation
• No Florida state income tax
• Wide price range from condos to estates

Cons:

• Busy resort traffic and tournament-week crowds
• South Florida summer heat and humidity

Verdict: A famous-name pick — best for buyers who want tour-caliber courses and convenient South Florida access.

6. The Concession — Bradenton, FL

Type: Community | Entry price: $1M | Best for: Buyers who want an elite, low-density championship course

The Concession offers one of Florida's most acclaimed courses in an exclusive, low-density setting near Bradenton. Homes run $1M to $6M+, built around a Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin co-designed championship course that has hosted high-level amateur and college championships.

With relatively few homesites and a focus on golf purity, it appeals to serious players who want an uncrowded, top-ranked course rather than a sprawling resort. Florida's no income tax adds appeal.

Pros:

• Acclaimed Nicklaus/Jacklin championship course
• Low-density, exclusive, uncrowded setting
• No Florida state income tax
• Host to elite amateur and college events

Cons:

• Fewer non-golf amenities than larger resorts
• High home and membership pricing

Verdict: A golf-purist pick — best for serious players who want an elite, uncrowded championship course.

7. Superstition Mountain — Gold Canyon, AZ

Type: Community | Entry price: $0.7M | Best for: Buyers who want two Nicklaus courses and dramatic desert scenery

Superstition Mountain sits east of Phoenix beneath the dramatic Superstition Mountains. Homes run $700,000 to $4M+, and the community offers two Jack Nicklaus courses (Prospector and Lost Gold), a clubhouse, fitness, and tennis. The striking desert-mountain backdrop is among the most scenic in Arizona golf, and the low flat 2.5% state income tax appeals to relocating buyers.

It's a quieter, scenery-driven alternative to the larger Scottsdale clubs.

Pros:

• Two Jack Nicklaus championship courses
• Dramatic Superstition Mountain backdrop
• Low Arizona flat 2.5% income tax
• Quieter alternative to crowded Scottsdale clubs

Cons:

• Extreme summer desert heat
• Fewer amenities than the largest mega-communities

Verdict: A scenery-and-golf pick — best for buyers who want Nicklaus courses framed by dramatic desert mountains.

8. Reynolds Lake Oconee — Greensboro, GA

Type: Community | Entry price: $0.5M | Best for: Buyers who want abundant golf plus a major lake near Atlanta

Reynolds Lake Oconee wraps golf around a massive Georgia lake within reach of Atlanta. Homes run $500,000 to $5M+, and members access six championship courses designed by names like Nicklaus, Rees Jones, and Tom Fazio, plus a Ritz-Carlton resort, marinas, and lake recreation.

The combination of abundant golf, lake living, and proximity to a major metro gives it broad appeal for both full-time residents and second-home buyers.

Pros:

• Six championship courses by top designers
• Ritz-Carlton resort and Lake Oconee recreation
• Within reach of Atlanta for second-home buyers
• Wide price range from $500K to $5M+

Cons:

• Equity membership adds to total cost
• Hot, humid Georgia summers

Verdict: A golf-and-lake pick — best for buyers who want abundant courses plus lake living near Atlanta.

9. The Bear's Club — Jupiter, FL

Type: Community | Entry price: $4M | Best for: Ultra-luxury buyers who want Jack Nicklaus's personal club

The Bear's Club is Jack Nicklaus's own ultra-exclusive Jupiter, Florida community. Homes run $4M to $30M+, and the Nicklaus-designed course is among the most private and prestigious in Florida, drawing tour pros and ultra-high-net-worth members. With a small number of estate homesites, a refined clubhouse, and Florida's no income tax, it represents the top tier of golf-community exclusivity.

This is a trophy address as much as a golf club.

Pros:

• Jack Nicklaus's personal, ultra-exclusive club
• Among Florida's most private and prestigious courses
• No Florida state income tax
• Trophy estate homes and elite member base

Cons:

• Entry pricing starts around $4M
• Very limited inventory and tight membership

Verdict: An ultra-luxury pick — best for buyers who want the most exclusive Nicklaus address in Florida.

10. Pinehurst — Pinehurst, NC

Type: Community | Entry price: $0.4M | Best for: Buyers who want historic golf and a true village lifestyle

Pinehurst is the historic "Home of American Golf," anchored by the famed Pinehurst No. 2, a repeat U.S. Open host. Homes range from $400,000 cottages to $3M+ estates across the charming village and surrounding courses, with nine-plus courses in the resort complex.

North Carolina's declining flat income tax and the sandhills' mild climate add appeal. It blends championship and historic golf with a walkable, traditional village lifestyle unlike the gated resorts elsewhere on this list.

Pros:

• Historic Pinehurst No. 2, repeat U.S. Open host
• Nine-plus courses across the resort complex
• Charming, walkable traditional village
• Wide price range from $400K cottages up

Cons:

• Less gated-resort exclusivity than peers
• Hot, humid sandhills summers

Verdict: A historic pick — best for buyers who want legendary golf and a true village lifestyle.

Which One Is Right for You?

What to Look For

• Course quantity and quality — Confirm how many courses you can actually access and who designed them; Desert Mountain's six Nicklaus courses and Reynolds' six top-designer courses lead on variety.
• Membership structure — Equity clubs (Desert Mountain, Sea Island) carry large upfront membership costs on top of the home; bundled-amenity communities (On Top of the World) include golf in lower pricing.
• Amenities beyond golf — Spa, fitness, racquet, marina, and dining depth matter for the whole household; weigh these, not just the courses.
• Tax climate — Florida (no income tax) and Arizona (low flat 2.5%) keep more in your pocket than higher-tax states.
• Climate and elevation — Desert Mountain's elevation and the Carolina/Georgia foothills ease summer heat versus low-desert or coastal humidity.
• Resale demand — Established names like Pinehurst and Desert Mountain hold value; confirm recent sales velocity before buying.

What matters less than the hype: the sheer number of holes advertised. A community with one superb, well-maintained course you'll actually play beats one with many crowded or tired layouts. Prioritize course condition, access, and the amenities your household will use.

FAQ

What is the best golf course community in the US overall? Desert Mountain in Scottsdale ranks first for offering six Jack Nicklaus Signature courses plus a par-3 — the most anywhere — alongside elite wellness and clubhouse amenities, with homes from $1.5M to $15M+.

What is the best-value golf community? On Top of the World in Ocala, Florida offers homes from about $280,000 with golf courses included and no expensive equity membership, delivering the most golf living per dollar.

Which golf communities have the most championship courses? Desert Mountain (six Nicklaus courses plus a par-3) and Reynolds Lake Oconee (six top-designer courses) lead on course variety; PGA National has five.

Which communities are best for combining golf with lake or water living? The Reserve at Lake Keowee and Reynolds Lake Oconee both pair championship golf with major lakes and marinas.

Which golf communities have the most prestigious tournament pedigree? Sea Island and PGA National host PGA Tour events, and Pinehurst No. 2 is a repeat U.S. Open host.

Do these golf communities require expensive memberships? Equity clubs like Desert Mountain, Sea Island, and The Bear's Club carry significant upfront membership costs on top of the home, while On Top of the World and Pinehurst offer lower-cost or included-golf options.

Bottom Line

For 2027, Desert Mountain is our Best Overall golf course community — six Nicklaus Signature courses, a par-3, and elite amenities across a $1.5M–$15M+ range, all in low-tax Arizona. On Top of the World is our Best Value, with golf living from about $280,000 and no equity-membership cost.

If you want lake-and-golf living, ultra-exclusivity, tournament pedigree, or historic village charm, use the decision tree above to route yourself to Lake Keowee, The Bear's Club, Sea Island, or Pinehurst. Buy on course access, membership structure, and the amenities your household will actually use — not just advertised hole counts — and your golf home will deliver for years.

Sources

• Robb Report — golf communities and luxury living
• Golf Digest — course rankings and reviews
• Mansion Global — golf-community real estate
• Zillow — community home value data
• Realtor.com — golf community listings and guides
• Wall Street Journal — golf and resort real estate
• Desert Mountain Club — courses and community
• Sea Island — resort and community
• Pinehurst Resort — courses and village
• Reynolds Lake Oconee — golf and amenities

*Golf course communities review — golf community reviews, rating, best golf course communities 2027, and a review of where to buy a golf home for buyers.*