Desert Highlands.
One of the very first guard-gated luxury communities in North Scottsdale — anchored by Jack Nicklaus's earliest desert masterpiece.
40 years. 586 homes. Still member-owned.
$2.3M+
Median Price
586
Total Homes
1984
Established
13
Tennis Courts
1,000 ac
Community Size
Inside Desert Highlands.
Selected scenes from around Desert Highlands — the homes, the amenities, and the everyday details that define the neighborhood.
Living at the Highlands
The Scottsdale luxury community that wrote the playbook.
When Desert Highlands opened in 1984, the concept of a master-planned, guard-gated golf community in the Sonoran Desert was new. The community's founders paired Jack Nicklaus's first desert signature course with a fully equipped private clubhouse and a member-owned governance structure — and effectively defined the template every North Scottsdale luxury enclave has followed since.
Forty years later, Desert Highlands is fully built out at 586 home sites across approximately 1,000 acres at the base of Pinnacle Peak. The Nicklaus course has been thoroughly renovated. The clubhouse received a $15M refresh in 2017. The tennis program — 13 courts strong — is the most active in Scottsdale. And the member-owned club model means decisions about the community are still made by the people who live there.
For buyers exploring luxury Scottsdale homes, Desert Highlands offers something newer communities cannot: an established character built over decades of owner stewardship, paired with a price point meaningfully below Silverleaf, Estancia, or Desert Mountain for comparable amenities.
Forty Years of Highlands
A community measured in decades.
1984
Founding
Desert Highlands opens as one of the first guard-gated luxury communities in North Scottsdale, anchored by a brand-new Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course.
1985
Skins Game
Desert Highlands hosts the Skins Game on national television, putting both the community and Jack Nicklaus's desert design philosophy on the world stage.
1995
Sold Out
All 586 home sites are sold and the community closes to new lot sales — making Desert Highlands one of the most fully built-out luxury enclaves in Scottsdale.
2017
Club Renovation
$15M renovation of the clubhouse, fitness center, and dining program — modernizing the amenity set while preserving the community's original character.
Today
Living Legacy
586 homes, ~1,000 acres, a renovated Nicklaus course, and a multi-generational owner community that defines what an established Scottsdale luxury address feels like.
Member-Owned Amenities
Every dollar spent here belongs to the people who live here.
Jack Nicklaus Course
One of Nicklaus's earliest signature desert designs, recently renovated to modern championship standards. The course winds through mature saguaros and boulder outcroppings at the base of Pinnacle Peak.
The Clubhouse
70,000+ square feet across the main clubhouse, fitness, and racquet center. Multiple dining venues, locker rooms, and member-only event spaces — fully renovated in 2017.
13 Tennis Courts
One of the most active racquet programs in Arizona — 13 lighted tennis courts (8 hard, 5 har-tru), pickleball, and a full junior program. Hosts USTA and member tournaments year-round.
Pinnacle Peak Trail
Direct community access to the Pinnacle Peak Park trailhead — the 3.5-mile summit trail starts within walking distance of many homes.
Award-Winning Fitness
30,000+ sq ft fitness center with private trainers, group classes, indoor lap pool, spa services, and a full pilates and yoga studio.
Member-Owned
Desert Highlands is one of the few large communities in Scottsdale where the club is owned by its members. Decisions are made by residents, not a corporate operator.
The Investment Case
Why buy at Desert Highlands.
"We've been Desert Highlands members for sixteen years. When we decided to sell and downsize within the community, Pamela found us a renovated patio home and an estate buyer for our larger home in the same month. She understands this community."
— D. & L. Patterson, Desert Highlands members
Frequently Asked
Desert Highlands — Buyer & Member FAQs
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Tour a 40-Year Community.
Walk the course, see the renovated clubhouse, and meet the community that defined Scottsdale luxury living. Pamela arranges private tours by appointment.