Tucson Area Golf Courses
Arizona National Golf Club is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. course that opened in1995. The 6785-yard, par-71 course is recognized for its incredible beauty. It is located at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains where it is follows the natural arroyos and outcroppings of the mountains. The 5 tee boxes allow you to customize your game. You will find it has challenges at each turn. There are narrow fairways, desert vegetation, deep ravines, and sand traps and water hazards. Each hole is a masterful combination of any of these things that you will find will give you a memorable game of golf. When it opened it was called “one of the top 10 new courses in the United States” by Golf Digest. The Arizona Republic has called it “the Top Golf course in Tucson”.
The Dell Urich Golf Club was originally called Randolph Park South when it opened in 1961. William F. Bell designed the 6663-yard, par 70 Course that was redone a short time ago and renamed to Dell Urich. It is a short, but challenging course with lush vegetation. The large number of water hazards and trees complicates the shots. Randolph North is also park of the same municipal golf system. It is the longest of the courses at 7000 yards. It is an LPGA tournament site so it meets their specifications. The landscaping is lush with water and sand hazards sure to challenge all abilities. It showcases magnificent views of the surrounding mountains.
El Conquistador is a Hilton property with 45 holes of golf. Hilton el Conquistador has 3 courses - The Conquistador, The Canada, two 18-hole courses, and the 9-hole Pusch Ridge course. Greg Nash designed all the courses, but they have recently been renovated. The Conquistador Course opened in 1985 and is 6801-yards and par-71. The renovations have made the course “very playable” so the ball sits up higher in the lie. The greens are fast and true. Heavy bunkering and water complicate some of the holes. Each course offers elevation changes with the Canada course having the highest at 140+. The Canada course is 6713-yards and par 72. It is a complicated by natural ravines and arroyos and heavy mounding and bunkers blocking some of the greens. Holes # 4 and 5 are set up to practice your “target” golf shots. Holes # 8 and 16 are particularly complicated and need you to add more strategic shots to your game! The Pusch Ridge Course has elevation changes of 175 feet front to back, and a 2788-yard, par-35 rating. It takes full advantage of the desert location and all that this offers. There are desert vegetation and wildlife, arroyos, ravines, and breath-taking views found on any one of the courses.
The El Rio has a long golfing relationship with the public. It opened as a private country club in the 1930’s and continued until 1968 when it was bought by the city of Tucson. It is only 6400 yards long with flat, narrow, tree-lined fairways. The greens are small with multiple water hazards.
William F. Bell designed the 6641-yard, par-72, Forty Niner Country Club in the classic traditional style. It features a park like setting where you can use a cart or walk along the rolling terrain. The fairways are situated along a forested riverbed so there are a wide variety of mature weeping willow, eucalyptus, cottonwood and mesquite trees. The front nine are the most difficult, with the back nine simply relaxing. There are 3 tees to pick from. You will find a few slightly elevated greens and several dogleg holes.
The Fred Enke Golf Course is a municipal course that opened in 1983. The golf course has 4 tee boxes with a maximum length of 6800. It has desert landscaping with grass only in tee and landing areas, plus greens. The terrain is hilly with large greens.
The Lodge at Ventana Canyon Golf and Racquet Club is the location of two Tom Fazio designed courses. The Mountain and Canyon courses sit on 600 acres in the midst of the Sonora Desert outside of Tucson. The Canyon Course wanders through the Esperro Canyon and showcases Whaleback Rock on one of its holes. The Mountain Course is a target course with many elevation changes and fast undulating greens. Together they form a course with impressive views of the surrounding vistas and providing a game of good golf.
Silverbell is a municipal golf course that opened July 28, 1979. The course has wide flat fairways with medium sized greens and runs along the Santa Cruz River.
Starr Pass Country Club and Spa is a JW Marriott. It provides a true resort experience with all the amenities. The golf course is a jewel!!! Set on the path of an old stagecoach trail developed by Richard Starr, the fifteenth hole has the view those old travelers saw. The magnificent views capture the thrill of the Tucson Mountains and Sonora Desert. It has all been incorporated into a 27-hole facility designed by Arnold Palmer. The three nine hole courses are named the Rattler, Coyote and The Roadrunner. Arnold Palmer, who designed the 18 in 1986, recently redesigned them, plus adding another 9 holes. The result is a must play course for any Tucson golfer.
The Pines Golf Club at Marana is one off the most interesting courses in Tucson. It began in 2000 when the local quarry was set to close. The golf course and quarry owner combined to form the course as it is today. Ten holes incorporated the quarry terrain while an original 8 were transformed to lead into the 10. The result is a truly beautiful and unique course with large elevation changes. There are three tee boxes, which have a maximum distance of 6318-yards with a par-71.
The Golf Club at Vistoso is located outside of Tucson. It is a 6932-yard, par-72 course set in the midst of the Sonora Desert. The landscaping gives your game a true desert experience with the sights and sounds of nature all around you.
