Sun City clubs and activities run through three separate organizations: the Recreation Centers of Sun City, the Recreation Centers of Sun City West, and the Sun City Grand Community Association. Each one charters its own clubs, and each uses its own recreation card. Here is what the official sites list and how club access works.
Sun City clubs and activities at a glance
- Sun City: the Recreation Centers of Sun City lists 124 chartered clubs and 8 recreation centers.
- Sun City West: the Recreation Centers of Sun City West says it has more than 90 chartered clubs and four recreation centers.
- Sun City Grand: The Grand lists more than 60 chartered clubs and interest groups.
- Access: each organization issues its own card, and club membership is tied to that card.
- Community rules: all three are age-restricted communities. The rules are in each community's CC&Rs.
Call Terry: 602-483-4665 See Sun City and Sun City West homes for sale
I am Terry Day, REALTOR with DeLex Realty. When buyers tell me they want a woodshop, a clay studio or a theater group, I separate three things: the house, the recreation membership that comes with it, and the club itself. Each of the three Sun Cities handles them its own way.
Sun City: 124 chartered clubs across 8 recreation centers
The Recreation Centers of Sun City (RCSC) is a private, non-profit corporation that owns and operates the recreational and social facilities in Sun City. Its site lists 124 chartered clubs, 8 recreation centers and 8 golf courses.
The club directory on the RCSC site is long. A few examples that buyers ask me about:
- Workshops: Lapidary at Bell, Woodworking at Bell, Woodworking at Fairway, Woodworking at Lakeview, Metal Club at Bell and Silvercraft Club at Bell.
- Ceramics and clay: Ceramics at Fairway, Ceramics Club at Bell, Clay Club and Clay Corner.
- Technology and learning: Computer Club, Lifelong Learning Club and World Languages Club.
- Stage and music: Players Community Theater of Sun City, Community Orchestra, Concert Band and Women's Chorus of Sun City.
- Hobbies and sports: Rockhound Club and Mineral Museum, Model Railroad Club, Pickleball Club and several lawn bowls clubs.
For more on the community itself, see my moving to Sun City guide.
Sun City West: more than 90 chartered clubs
The Recreation Centers of Sun City West says it has more than 90 chartered clubs and four recreation centers. The chartered club directory is posted at scwclubs.com, which the Rec Centers site links to, and it is sorted into categories such as Arts and Crafts, Hobbies, Performing Arts, Social and Sports.
Examples from the current directory:
- Arts and crafts: Johnson Lapidary Club, SCW Woodshop, Ceramics West, SCW Clay Club, Glass Fusing and Enameling, Stained Glass Crafters and Weavers West.
- Hobbies: Computers West, Rockhounds West, Model Railroad Club and SCW Broadcast.
- Performing arts: Theatre West Productions, Dance Sensations and Westernaires of SCW.
- Sports: Pickleball Club, Bocce Club, Johnson Lawn Bowls and Tennis Club.
The community's new member packet points newcomers to the club directory, the Newcomers Orientation and the club news in the monthly Rec Center News. See my Sun City West homes guide for the housing side.
Sun City Grand: more than 60 clubs and interest groups
Sun City Grand in Surprise is run by the Sun City Grand Community Association, which does business as The Grand. Its site lists more than 60 chartered clubs and interest groups. Per the clubs page, each chartered club has at least 100 members, and each interest group has at least 25 members.
Examples from The Grand's clubs page include the Woodcrafters Club, Clay Arts Club, Glass Arts Club, Art Club, Tech Club, Drama & Comedy Club, Music Club, Photo Club and Pickleball Club. I did not find a lapidary club on The Grand's list, so if stone work is your hobby, compare that with the lapidary clubs in Sun City and Sun City West.
Ask Terry for the floor plan on any Sun City Grand home you are considering. My Sun City Grand homes for sale page covers the community in more detail.
How the rec card and club membership work
In all three communities, your recreation card comes first and the club comes second. Here is how each organization describes it, in general terms:
- Sun City: RCSC cardholders fall into two groups. Members are Sun City property owners who meet specific qualifications. Renters and other non-owner occupants may be able to buy a Privilege Card if they meet eligibility rules. RCSC says chartered club rosters are checked against its records during the year, and a property sale, a move to a new home or an unpaid annual assessment can affect club privileges.
- Sun City West: the new member packet says you need your rec center card to buy box office tickets and to check out library materials, and guests must be checked in by a member. Residents of a member's household who are not members may buy an Associate Membership.
- Sun City Grand: the Association's rules say only holders of valid Activity Cards, plus guests with one-day receipts, may use Association facilities. Its chartered club policies say club membership is open to anyone with a valid activity card, and each club sets its own dues from an annual budget.
Two practical points. First, the card belongs to one organization. A Sun City card does not make you a Sun City West member, so do not assume shared privileges. Second, joining a club is a separate step from getting your card, and some clubs may have their own dues, orientation or shop rules. Ask the club before you count on its equipment.
Bring it back to the house
A shared woodshop is a great amenity, but the home still has to work for you. When I tour homes with buyers, we look at garage space, storage, laundry location, the patio and the condition of the roof and cooling system. If you need a hobby space at home, review the community's alteration rules before you plan any changes.
If you are still deciding between the three, my Sun City vs Sun City West vs Sun City Grand comparison lays them side by side, and the Arizona 55+ living hub covers other communities across the Valley.
Questions buyers ask
How many clubs does Sun City have?
The Recreation Centers of Sun City lists 124 chartered clubs on its website. Sun City West says it has more than 90 chartered clubs, and Sun City Grand lists more than 60 chartered clubs and interest groups.
Does buying a home automatically put me in a club?
No. Your recreation card gives you access to the facilities, and joining a chartered club is a separate step. Some clubs charge their own dues or require an orientation, so check with the club.
Can Sun City owners use Sun City West clubs?
Do not assume it. Each community has its own recreation organization and its own card. Confirm any guest or shared-use rules with both organizations before you buy.
Is there a lapidary club in each of the Sun Cities?
Sun City lists Lapidary at Bell, and Sun City West lists the Johnson Lapidary Club. I did not find a lapidary club on Sun City Grand's current clubs page.
Can renters join clubs?
Sun City offers a Privilege Card to eligible non-owners, and Sun City Grand issues Renter Activity Cards. For Sun City West, ask the Rec Centers about current renter rules. In every case, card access comes before club membership.
Want to match a home with the clubs you care about? Terry Day with DeLex Realty can walk you through homes in Sun City, Sun City West and Sun City Grand and help you request the current recreation documents for each property.