The community comprises 1,000 acres with a population of nearly 4,300. The golf course uses 150 acres; 350 acres are left as "green" or natural area and the balance of 500 acres are built with homes.

Golf Information
The Sun City Vistoso Golf Course is a private golf course open to all residents of Sun City Vistoso. The 18-hole par 72-championship golf course will play at 5,100 to 6,723 yards and includes multiple tee placements accommodating all skill levels. A computerized tee time program is used for scheduling. Golf fees pay for upkeep and maintenance of golf course and salaries of employees. All golf courses in Oro Valley will be converted to recycled water by 2008. The course in Sun City Vistoso is currently being re done and scheduled to be completed, in the fall of 2005. Residents can also play The Golf Club at Vistoso, a public course designed by Tom Weiskopf in Rancho Vistoso at a discounted fee of 30-45% by buying a Vistoso Resident Card for $125. This includes green fees and cart rental.

History and Management

Sun City Vistoso was started in 1986, with the first residents occupying their homes in June 1987 on Chalk Creek Drive alongside the brand new Greg Nash designed 18-hole championship golf course. Initially, Del Webb Corporation appointed one of the residents to the newly formed nine person Board of Directors of the Sun City Vistoso Community Association. Since then, Del Webb gradually brought more residents into increasing responsibility on the board, initially appointing them, and then by elections. By the time 75% of the community had been built-out (in approximately 1995), Del Webb had relinquished all of its positions on the now seven person board to the residents. From the beginning, day-to-day management has been by a professional staff hired by the Community Association. As the golf course and recreational facilities were completed, ownership was turned over to the Community Association. Sun City Vistoso is not a gated community, since this would have involved more expense to the residents in the way of road maintenance. The Town of Oro Valley maintains roads. A 600+ volunteer neighborhood watch group called the "Posse" patrols two shifts each night in two vehicles, which has been successful as a crime deterrent. At one time, attempts were made to expand the size of the community. When those were unsuccessful, Del Webb completed its project as originally designed for under 5,000 residents.

A vote taken by the residents in 2002 favored reducing the minimum age to 45 (for up to 15% of the community) from 55. This meets HUD requirements for an age-restricted community for seniors.

Recreational Facilities

The $17 million community-wide assets incorporate an 18-hole golf course, three separate recreation centers that include a multipurpose auditorium, card rooms, dance studio, billiard room, arts and crafts, sewing and woodworking shops. The sports complexes includes one large, and one smaller heated pool and a large indoor spa, with handicapped access, exercise rooms, a racquetball court, a nine-hole miniature golf course, eight tennis courts (six are lighted), two lighted shuffleboard courts and seven lighted bocce ball courts. The Vistoso Center is an 11,000 sq. ft. building formerly used by the Del Webb sales organization that was purchased and renovated. It includes a computer classroom, extensive library (hard cover, paperbacks, audio & video tapes CDs, DVDs, large print books, reference), Sun City offices, genealogy room and conference rooms. A horseshoe pit and croquet court is also provided. A picnic area is located adjacent to the main recreation center.

Homeowners Association Fee

The annual homeowners association fee for the period July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006 is $1,058. This pays for maintenance and upkeep of all Sun City common areas and recreational facilities as well as salaries of Community Association employees. The Cafe is self-supporting. Sun City Vistoso has received no developer subsidy for several years. Renters who wish to use the association facilities can purchase a Renters Pass for $40. A one-time Capital Contribution Fee equal to one years' association fee is charged to new buyers at time of purchase. This is to be used for improvements and updating the community.

Medical Facilities

A fire station is on site with ambulance and paramedic services staffed 24 hours a day. There are twelve hospitals in Tucson. A new hospital built within Rancho Vistoso and located about three miles from Sun City Vistoso called Northwest Medical Center--Oro Valley opened in January 2005 (for more details see Health Care section in Retirement Living in Tucson on this website). An office building for doctors located next door to the hospital.

Five minutes away from Sun City, Northwest Medical Center has a 50,650 sq. ft. urgent care facility just north of the shopping center mentioned above at Oracle Road and Rancho Vistoso Boulevard. This facility has physicians' offices, diagnostic services (such as radiology, mammography, ultrasonography, cardiac diagnostics, and CT), an urgent care area, lab and an ambulatory surgery center.