•Spillover effects of golf courses on life satisfaction are significant and decay over space.•Association between golf courses and life satisfaction is varied across social and golf landscape dimensions.•Complementary effects of public green space and private green space are considered in the perceived evaluation. This paper examines the perceived spill-over effects of proximity to golf courses on life satisfaction based on a large-scale individual survey conducted in Beijing in 2013. We find a positive association between residential proximity to golf courses and life satisfaction. This association is more pronounced for residents living at the closest distance margins and tends to vary by housing and golf landscape characteristics. Additional results quantify the evidence on potential complementary effects of public green spaces and golf courses. Findings of this study suggest that club-based green amenities should be considered in land use policies aiming to improve urban greenness and landscape.