When it opened in February of 2021, Sterling Grove Golf & Country Club was the first 18-hole golf course built in the greater Phoenix area in five years. In 2026 it remains the most recently built venue in this golfing mecca of close to 200 courses.
Now the club in Surprise, Arizona, has gone fully private. That was the plan all along, so everything's right on schedule. The shift was official Nov. 1.
The course allowed public play for five years as a semi-private club, but membership has grown to more than 300. The community also has 1,100 homes, so the time was right for the change.
"Transitioning to a fully private club allows us to enhance the member experience by focusing on personalized service and exclusive events," general manager Al Larose
said in a media release.
The 18-hole course by Nicklaus Design is set against a backdrop of the White Tank Mountains west of Phoenix. The course is a parkland-style layout with wide landing areas in fairways and undulating greens. There's an expansive practice area and a large, 18-hole putting course.
The club also features three resort-style pools, nine pickleball courts, five tennis courts and bocce courts. The clubhouse features the Flora Spa, a state-of-the-art fitness and movement studio, a full-service restaurant called Copper + Rye, and The Market, which has grab-and-go food items.
"Watching Sterling Grove grow from a vision and mounds of dirt into the thriving club and community it is today has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” membership director Hanna Atkins said. “As we celebrate the transition to a fully private club just five years after opening, we're incredibly grateful for the trust and support of our members and excited to continue building on our vision of the modern country club for generations to come."
The club said there are still limited membership opportunities available for residents and non-residents.
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This article originally appeared on Golfweek: The last 18-hole golf course built in Arizona officially goes fully private
