Sterling Grove GCC
A view from Sterling Grove Golf & Country Club.
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Rating Index Rating
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4.6
351 Reviews (351)
5 Stars
220
4 Stars
92
3 Stars
26
2 Stars
9
1 Stars
4
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.5
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.9
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.6
93.6%
Recommend this course
318 out of 351 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
18 Reviews (18)
5 Stars
16
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.8
Value
4.6
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.9
94.4%
Recommend this course
17 out of 18 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
37 Reviews (37)
5 Stars
29
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.5
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.7
StaffFriendliness
4.9
91.9%
Recommend this course
34 out of 37 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Sterling Grove's staff consistently earns top marks, from the welcoming pro shop team to starter Terry's personable on-course presence. Fairways and greens hold up impressively even during Arizona's peak summer heat.

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private
Par 72
Length 7258 yards
Slope 133
Rating 74.1
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Sterling Grove Golf & Country Club
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Course Details

Year Built 2021
Golf Season Year round
Architect Nicklaus Design (2021)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Indoor Practice Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Yes
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Proper attire is required.

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Off-course amenities in the U.S. (2025 #4)
  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Arizona (2024 #20) (2022 #22)
  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Courses for Pace of Play in the U.S. (2024 #16)
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Reviews

4.6
351 Reviews (351)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Still new, go easy

I wouldn’t take the reviewer from 4/17 too seriously, the course definitely shows its’ youth at this point, but in the future should be a fine club. At no point did I feel the course conditions were a detriment, however everything from the landscaping to the man-made water features to the greens, felt overly-manufactured. That was my impression on the front 9 at least. The back 9 is visually more appealing and I think more enjoyable to play. Overall, it’s always fun to play a new course in the Valley, but I don’t think this one is memorable enough to be considered top tier. Still a pretty fun round though, as you will be forced to hit a variety of shots.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Boring

This course sucks! They were obviously challenged with land management. Holes are pretty short, and there isn't a single tree. So their defense is to make the greens a challenge. Which would be fine, but the greens are similar to concrete, severely sloped and full of dead grass. Good drives to good wedge shots are rewarded with a ball that literally bounces 10 ft in the air off the green. 60 bucks wouldve been a fair price for the conditions of the course. Not 130$. They are banking on their brand name. Worst Troon course i have ever played. Maybe with time, conditions will improve. You would assume so. Fairways were spotty and greens were terrible. Lots of dead spots. And the most unresponsive i may have ever played. I have played alot. Will not be back there. Was pretty bummed out. Expecting a troon course to have immaculate greens. Dont waste your money

Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/25/2021

To the poster on 4/17, so by your post I am assuming that you think you are a single digit handicapper when in all serious you are more like a 20. Maybe not set your expectations so high about taming a challenging course like Sterling Grove. Yes, there are some shorter holes. #2, 6, 14, and 16 are all driveable par 4s with good tee shots. But there are risks for going for the green on those holes. I can tell you, there is an abundance of acreage at this course, so land management wasn't an issue. Just native grasses alone consists of 40 acres I believe. Being a 1st year course, greens will be harder, but at no time will a ball bounce 10' in the air. If you noticed greens #8-15 were softer because this is their 2nd year. Other greens once aeration is done will be softer. Nicklaus designs are known for their big and undulating greens. You must pay attention to not only putts but chip shots as it forces you to be creative. You can't go at the hole. Actually fairways are very lush and almost like carpet. Immaculate conditions. I think you should play the course again, lower your scoring expectations, and realize this course has been open for less than 6 months. Overall it is in great shape for such a young course. Oh, and there are literally thousands of trees, just not huge towering mature trees yet.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Taking the fun out of Golf

Greens are beyond unfair, leading to 5+ hours rounds. Not enjoyable at all.

Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Excellent Conditions / Very Difficult Greens

This is a terrific new course. But the green complexes are very difficult with a number of false fronts and severe side slopes that lead to sharp drop offs. The course rating does not seem to reflect the challenges on the greens.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Gorgeous facility and course. Greens were a little hard and fast. Will play again now that I know where to not hit it

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

New Gem

A true Jack course. Amazing facilities and prime conditions. The greens are some of the toughest I have played on. Very quick and tough to hold a shot on. The course itself is a challenge with strategic shots needed throughout. Need to hit fairways and play the slope of the course for success. It’s a developing community and the course gives off a very peaceful setting up against the White Tank Mountains. Play this while you can before it goes private. A gem.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great track, but beware

Super excited to play this course for the first time as I heard a lot of good things. Definitely didn't disappoint. The layout is great. The greens are definitely a challenge. I played with two members and it was way too hard for them. I think this course is going to be amazing but they probably need to enforce pace of play a lot more, especially with how difficult it plays. No one wants 5+ hour rounds of golf. Will definitely be back to try and to score better next time. Would recommend to anyone looking for a challange.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 29
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
California Advisor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Cool Opportunity

This course only opened to the public in February and it shows! The tee boxes, fairways, traps, and greens were unbelievably pure. Yes, the greens (especially holes 1-6) play very fast, but the layout is really fun with a nice mix of par 3s and a couple drivable par 4s. There's a great set of practice facilities and the staff are super friendly. We finished in just under four hours on a Wednesday afternoon and I would have happily played it again if I lived in the area. Get out and give it a try before it goes private!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 102
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Worth a Shot

I tried out this course for the first time this weekend. I was very excited. We showed up a little tight on time but everyone was very nice and didn't rush us to the first tee. We got paired up with a single who was nice to play with. The layout of the course was alright. Nothing special but nothing to complain about. The reoccurring complaint here is how hard the greens and even tee boxes are. No balls are stopping on these greens. Putting a tee in the tee box your tee would break most of the time because it was so hard. Putting the drive able par 4 followed by a longer par 3 was a poor design. This causes a bottleneck wait. The tall grass where they tried to make it look like a link style course is not attractive. The tall lush green grass is strange in the desert and doesn't look aesthetically right. Overall it was nice and was ok. I don't really think it was worth about $90 to play right not but I would consider trying it out in a few years to see if it has changed.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 28
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Will be better in time

Beautiful course with a great staff. The greens were tricky and the tall grass eats balls but that has more to do with my game than anything else.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great all around

I drove from Scottsdale and honestly by far one of the best courses. Worth the drive

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Challenging Course

Great opportunity to play a very challenging Nicholas course. Overall in terrific condition. One exception was the greens. Numerous greens had patchy areas, with some exhibiting disease or blight. We played during a fairly steady wind, which added to the challenge. I would definitely play this course again.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Being such a new course, you have to be ready for some things; construction pretty much everywhere surrounding the clubhouse, patches of the course where the grass hasn't fully matured yet (on greens in some cases unfortunately), but generally the spots that have been well-manicured are in fantastic shape.

The layout is much different than most desert courses. There's ample room off the tee and not many tricks with blind shots and hidden hazards (except for 11), but the place stands out with it's greens. Most severe I've played in Arizona, in some cases it's better to miss the green and be chipping that hit the wrong part of the green. Played on a Saturday and the pins were placed generally fairly alternating between hard-to-get-to spots and spots where you could get it really close with slopes. Makes for a really enjoyable day as long as you understand how to use the severity to your advantage approaching and around the greens.

Played in a foursome with carts, 3 from blue tees one from black, finished in just under 4 hours with very little waiting. Practice facilities check every box, and had no issue with any of the staff. Will definitely make the drive back from Scottsdale again (if I can get on for less than $140)

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Sterrling Grove will be a staple for us going forward...great start for them

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 33
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Immature

The greens are hard as rocks and way too undulated. Shards to the middle of the grain either roll off the back or off the sides the greens are way way way too hard. The rest of the course is very good nice layout and fair. Until the greens get softer and more receptive it’s just way too high a slope.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
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