Ancala

Surrounded by the majestic McDowell Mountains, Ancala is a gorgeous guard-gated community encompassing 850 acres of master-planned real estate. Filled with sumptuous casitas and spectacular homes, this exclusive community is intimately nestled in the high Sonoran desert of North Scottsdale.

Home to one of Scottsdale's numerous championship golf courses, the centerpiece of Ancala is the Dye-designed 18-hole course that challenges low-handicappers and more casual golfers alike. The lush course features luxuriant jade-green fairways, dramatic views and immaculate greens ... and thanks to its five sets of tees, your day can be a test of skill and athleticism or a few much-needed hours of relaxing play-time. No matter which you choose – and you can change every time you play – the play of the course is intended to ensure that golfers of all levels have a memorable experience each and every time.

At Ancala Country Club, desert ravines grace the impeccably manicured fairways and a lake runs the length of two holes. Some of the highlights of the course include the 15th hole, a deceptive par-4 with tee-boxes that position the length of play from 169 yards to 304 yards and a bunker just 30 yards short of the green. Expert advice: Favor the right side of the fairway. Meanwhile, number six ... a worth-the-work uphill hole ... boasts right-there views of the McDowells and features tee-boxes that put you in play from 227 yards to 356 yards. Expert advice: Beware of the false front, since balls that don't make the slope will come back off the green. Last, but by no means least, number 18 measures 279 yards from the forward tees and a long 453 from the professional tees – but it's worth it. Walk away with a "four" and you can definitely pat yourself on the back. Expert advice: Watch out for the bunker on the left side of the hole and stay clear of water on the right.

Along with the luxuries of championship and recreational golf, home- and real estate-owners inside Ancala enjoy tennis, swimming and quiet streets filled with hiking and biking trails, including nearby Lost Dog Wash Trail. Ancala residents enjoy easy access to the Loop 101, and outdoor family fun can be had in Ancala Park with its basketball hoops, grassy play area, barbecue grills, shaded picnic tables and swing set. Fine dining venues and upscale shopping are nearby, as are top-rated schools and world-class medical facilities such as Scottsdale Healthcare Shea, the Mayo Clinic and the Virginia Piper Cancer Treatment Center.