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Golf more than a game in Sun City West

Attracts home buyers as well as players

Posted 10/21/19

One of every four residents in Sun City West plays golf at least once every year, according to Recreation Centers of Sun City West officials.

Patrick O’Hara, RCSCW golf operations manager, …

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Golf more than a game in Sun City West

Attracts home buyers as well as players

Posted

One of every four residents in Sun City West plays golf at least once every year, according to Recreation Centers of Sun City West officials.

Patrick O’Hara, RCSCW golf operations manager, said tracking owner member recreation cards,  26 percent of the residents play a round of golf during the year.  Most communities, he said, average about 8-10 percent.

But he adds just playing the game isn’t the only reason people are attracted to the community.

Mr. O’Hara said Sun City West bills itself as Arizona’s premier active golf community and people like to buy homes with golf course views. There are 2,360 homes bordering one of the seven RCSCW golf courses, representing about 14 percent of the homes in the community.

Playing the game, though, is the main attraction.

“I love to play golf and love the social part,” said Lucille Lynn, Sun City West resident. “Golf definitely helped get us here. We visited people here and decided to move.”

Ms. Lynn said she used to play three times a week until she hurt her shoulder, and now is part of a putter group playing every week.

Norma Miller and her husband had been retired for a few years, but just moved to Sun City West from Washington in the last year.

“We came here because there are seven golf courses available,” Ms. Miller said.“ I play at least once per week, maybe more.

They are not alone for their love of the game in the community.

The annual average number of rounds played is 289,566, Mr. O’Hara said.

He added about 11 percent of the play is by non-residents who are not guests and pay higher fees. Projected income for that group is $1.18 million in the 2019-20 budget.

In the 2018-19 fiscal year, RCSCW golf income was $8,468,969.   However, the expenses for the year exceeded that amount by $1,410,727.  The difference is made up in resident member dues, Mr. O’Hara said, adding green fees stayed the same for residents for the past three years.

“Yes, there is a deficit in golf, but there are also deficits in many of our programs, such as dog parks,” Mr. O’Hara said.

“The beauty of the golf courses and the many activities we offer help make this a great community,” he added.

The golf department also promotes special programs, including first swing and green team programs for first time and new golfers. 

These are residents teaching other residents, Mr. O’Hara said, adding 4,500 lessons given last year.

He added there are 19 charter golf clubs,61 groups that conduct regular play every week.

Visit suncitywest.com/sun-city-west-golf.

Reporter Roger Ball can be contacted at rball@newszap.com and 62