Desert Highlands

About Desert Highlands in Scottsdale, Arizona

Desert Highlands is a guard-gated private golf community at the base of Pinnacle Peak in north Scottsdale, off Happy Valley Road east of Pima Road. Founded in 1983 by developer Lyle Anderson, it’s often credited as the first community in the area built around a country club. It has 560 home sites on 850 acres, with about half the land preserved as natural desert. The Jack Nicklaus Signature course hosted the first two televised Skins Games in 1983 and 1984, with Nicklaus, Palmer, Watson, and Player. Desert Highlands is one of the most exclusive addresses in Scottsdale. The tradeoffs: club membership is mandatory and expensive, monthly costs are high, many original homes are dated, and the setting comes with wildfire risk.

The Homes

Most homes are custom builds, many on acre-plus lots with Pinnacle Peak and city-light views. There are also two semi-custom neighborhoods, The Heights and Hillside Villa Estates. All 560 lots have long since sold, though a few vacant lots remain unbuilt. Recent listings run from about $3.75 million to $4.7 million.

Here’s the honest part: many early homes are showing their age. The club’s own marketing director has said outdated housing is hurting membership: people love the club but not the old houses. In response, Desert Highlands launched a Residential Remodel Program that lets builders and investors buy, update, and resell older homes without paying the initiation fee. If you’re looking at an original 1980s or 1990s home, budget seriously for renovation.

Mandatory Membership, and It’s Not Cheap

Desert Highlands is the only club in the Scottsdale area where membership is tied to real estate. Every homeowner is a member, and only residents can join.

• Membership fee: The buyer pays a one-time, non-refundable fee at closing. It has climbed fast, from $75,000 in older listings to $150,000, and a recent listing put it at $205,000. Confirm the current amount before writing an offer.
• Monthly costs: Combined club dues and HOA fees were about $1,225 a month in older sources. A recent listing shows about $1,925 a month. That covers the guard gate, security patrols, and club facilities.

The upside: you don’t have to wait on a membership list, and you get full access the day you close. The downside: there’s no option to opt out, and you’ll pay these costs whether you play golf or not.

Club Amenities

• A Jack Nicklaus Signature championship course, about 7,100 yards with a slope rating of 147, renovated in 2011
• An 18-hole putting course
• A clubhouse with Jack’s Gastropub and Jack’s Backyard
• A racquet club with 13 tennis courts, including four grass courts, plus pickleball and bocce
• A fitness center, walking paths, and a busy social calendar

The course is known for being tough, with target-style desert golf and tricky greens.

Wildfire Risk

Desert Highlands sits against Pinnacle Peak and preserved desert. North Scottsdale has had several major brush fires in recent years, and the city’s fire marshal has said the area’s desert and dry climate make it especially vulnerable. Ask about defensible space and check homeowners insurance availability early, especially for homes backing to open desert.

Location

Stores, restaurants, banks, and medical offices are about 10 minutes away. Central Scottsdale, Old Town, and Sky Harbor are a much longer drive.