Southern Highlands Golf Course Communities: Complete Guide (2025)

by Ryan Rose

Southern Highlands Golf Club features two private championship courses—the Robert Trent Jones Jr. course and the Jack Nicklaus signature course—with golf course homes ranging from $700,000 to over $5 million. For golfers seeking to live on the course, Southern Highlands offers one of the premier golf lifestyle communities in Las Vegas. This guide covers the courses, golf course neighborhoods, membership options, and what to expect when buying a golf course home.

The Golf Courses

Robert Trent Jones Jr. Course

The original Southern Highlands course opened in 1999, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. This 7,381-yard par-72 course features dramatic elevation changes, desert landscaping, and views of the Spring Mountains. The design incorporates natural desert washes and rock outcroppings throughout the layout.

Jack Nicklaus Signature Course

The second course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, opened in 2006. This 7,243-yard par-72 layout offers a different playing experience with wider fairways and more strategic bunkering. The Nicklaus course winds through some of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Southern Highlands, including Olympia Ridge.

Private Club Status

Both courses are private and require membership for access. Unlike some Las Vegas golf communities where courses are semi-private or public, Southern Highlands Golf Club is exclusively for members and their guests. This maintains course conditions, pace of play, and the exclusive atmosphere.

Golf Course Neighborhoods

Membership Options and Costs

Golf club membership is separate from homeownership and HOA fees. Living in Southern Highlands does not automatically include golf access—you must purchase or lease a membership.

Membership Types

Full Golf Membership: Unlimited access to both courses, full club privileges, dining, practice facilities. Highest initiation and monthly dues.
Sports Membership: Limited golf access, full use of fitness and social facilities. Lower cost option for less frequent golfers.
Social Membership: Dining and social privileges, no golf. Pay guest fees when playing.
Legacy/Family Membership: Includes spouse and dependent children. Family pricing available.

Cost Structure

Membership costs include initiation fees and monthly dues. Private club memberships in Las Vegas typically range from $25,000-$100,000+ for initiation with $500-$1,500+ monthly dues depending on membership level. Specific Southern Highlands Golf Club rates are available through the club's membership office. Some resale homes include membership transfer—verify during purchase.

What to Know About Golf Course Homes

Premium Pricing

Golf course lots command significant premiums over non-course properties in the same neighborhood. Expect to pay 15-40% more for direct fairway frontage compared to interior lots. Premium varies by hole desirability, view orientation, and privacy factors.

View Considerations

Fairway views: Most common; watch play from your backyard
Tee box views: See golfers teeing off; more traffic/activity
Green views: Watch putting; can see backup on busy days
Desert/natural area: Between holes; more privacy, less direct course view

Lifestyle Realities

Errant balls: Golf balls will land in your yard. Frequency depends on hole difficulty and location.
Early morning noise: Maintenance crews work at dawn; golfers start early in summer heat
Privacy: Golfers can see into your backyard; landscaping helps but cannot fully block
Restrictions: Cannot enter course; must stay on your property
Landscaping limits: HOA and club rules govern what you can plant and build near course

Southern Highlands vs Other Golf Communities

vs Red Rock Country Club

Red Rock in Summerlin offers similar private golf lifestyle with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus courses. Red Rock is closer to Red Rock Canyon and has Summerlin's schools and amenities. Southern Highlands offers shorter Strip/airport commute and typically lower home prices for comparable properties.

vs TPC Summerlin

TPC Summerlin is a public/resort course that hosts the PGA Tour Shriners Open. Homes around TPC have tournament week activity and public course traffic. Southern Highlands' fully private courses offer more exclusivity and controlled access.

vs Anthem Country Club

Anthem CC in Henderson offers private golf with Hale Irwin design. Henderson location provides different commute patterns. Anthem benefits from Henderson's city services and schools. Southern Highlands offers two course options and closer Strip access.

Questions to Ask Before Buying

Does the home include a transferable membership, or must I purchase separately?
What are current initiation fees and monthly dues for the membership level I want?
Are there waitlists for membership?
What hole does the property overlook, and what is typical play volume?
What are the landscaping and construction restrictions near the course?
Are there mandatory food and beverage minimums for members?
What special assessments has the club had recently?

The Bottom Line

Southern Highlands Golf Club offers one of the premier private golf experiences in Las Vegas with two championship courses and golf course homes from $700K to $5M+. Membership is separate from homeownership—factor initiation and dues into your total cost of living. For golfers seeking a daily golf lifestyle with shorter Strip commute than Summerlin options, Southern Highlands delivers excellent value.

I help buyers evaluate golf course properties and understand the full cost of golf community living. If you want to tour golf course homes in Southern Highlands and compare with other Las Vegas golf communities, reach out for personalized guidance.

Ready to explore southwest Las Vegas? Call or text Ryan Rose at 702-747-5921 for a neighborhood tour.

Southern Highlands Golf Course Communities: Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Do I automatically get golf membership if I buy a home in Southern Highlands?

No. Golf club membership is completely separate from homeownership. Living in Southern Highlands does not automatically include golf access—you must purchase or lease a membership separately. Some resale homes may include a transferable membership, but you should verify this during the purchase process and understand all associated costs.

Q2: What is the price range for golf course homes in Southern Highlands?

Golf course homes in Southern Highlands range from $700,000 to over $5 million depending on the neighborhood, lot size, and home features. Olympia Ridge offers the highest-end properties ($1.5M-$5M+) with Nicklaus course views, while Tuscan Cliffs starts at approximately $700K. Golf course lots typically command a 15-40% premium over non-course properties in the same neighborhood.

Q3: How much does membership at Southern Highlands Golf Club cost?

While specific rates are available through the club's membership office, private club memberships in Las Vegas typically range from $25,000-$100,000+ for initiation fees with $500-$1,500+ in monthly dues depending on membership level. Full Golf Membership provides unlimited access to both courses, while Sports and Social memberships offer more limited access at lower costs. Additional food and beverage minimums may also apply.

Q4: What are the two golf courses at Southern Highlands?

Southern Highlands features two private championship courses: the Robert Trent Jones Jr. course (7,381 yards, par 72) opened in 1999 with dramatic elevation changes and desert landscaping, and the Jack Nicklaus Signature course (7,243 yards, par 72) opened in 2006 with wider fairways and strategic bunkering. Both courses are exclusively private and require membership for access.

Q5: Which neighborhoods offer the best golf course views?

Olympia Ridge offers views of the Nicklaus course with homes ranging from $1.5M-$5M+. Promontory Ridge ($800K-$1.5M) and Augusta Canyon ($900K-$2M+) provide views of the RTJ course. All three are guard-gated communities. View quality varies by specific lot—fairway views are most common, while tee box and green views offer different experiences with varying levels of golfer traffic.

Q6: What are the downsides of living on a golf course?

Golf course living includes some lifestyle realities: errant golf balls will land in your yard, maintenance crews work at dawn creating early morning noise, golfers can see into your backyard reducing privacy, you cannot enter the course from your property, and there are HOA and club restrictions on landscaping and construction near the course. These factors vary depending on which hole your property overlooks and its specific location.

Q7: How does Southern Highlands compare to Red Rock Country Club?

Red Rock Country Club in Summerlin offers similar private golf lifestyle with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus courses, closer proximity to Red Rock Canyon, and access to Summerlin's schools and amenities. Southern Highlands offers a shorter commute to the Strip and airport, and typically lower home prices for comparable properties. Both provide exceptional private golf experiences with different location advantages.

Q8: Are the Southern Highlands golf courses public or private?

Both courses at Southern Highlands Golf Club are fully private and exclusively for members and their guests. Unlike semi-private or public courses in Las Vegas such as TPC Summerlin, Southern Highlands maintains strict private access, which ensures better course conditions, improved pace of play, and an exclusive atmosphere for members.

Q9: What types of memberships are available at Southern Highlands Golf Club?

Southern Highlands offers several membership types: Full Golf Membership (unlimited access to both courses with full club privileges), Sports Membership (limited golf access with full fitness and social facilities), Social Membership (dining and social privileges with pay-per-play golf), and Legacy/Family Membership (includes spouse and dependent children). Each level has different initiation fees and monthly dues structures.

Q10: What questions should I ask before buying a golf course home in Southern Highlands?

Key questions include: Does the home include a transferable membership? What are current initiation fees and monthly dues? Are there membership waitlists? What hole does the property overlook and what is typical play volume? What landscaping and construction restrictions exist? Are there mandatory food and beverage minimums? What special assessments has the club had recently? Understanding these factors helps you calculate the true cost of golf course living.

Q11: Which golf course neighborhoods are guard-gated in Southern Highlands?

Four of the five main golf course neighborhoods are guard-gated: Olympia Ridge, Promontory Ridge, Augusta Canyon, and Estates SH all feature 24-hour guard-gated security. Tuscan Cliffs is gated but without guard service. Guard-gated communities provide an additional level of security and exclusivity, contributing to the premium pricing in these neighborhoods.

Q12: How much premium do golf course lots command over non-course properties?

Direct fairway frontage golf course lots typically command a 15-40% premium over interior lots in the same neighborhood. The exact premium varies based on several factors including which hole the property overlooks, view orientation (fairway, tee box, green, or desert area), privacy considerations, and overall desirability of the specific location on the course.

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Ryan Rose

Agent | License ID: S.0185572

+1(702) 747-5921 | ryan@rosehomeslv.com