Built along the Santa Cruz River, Haven Golf Course offers scenic views of the Santa Rita Mountains. Built in 1967, it is Green Valley’s oldest golf course and the only course in the area where walking is allowed. The landscape is covered with mature pines, palms, and eucalyptus trees. more»
Nestled in the desert foothills of the Tortolita Mountain Range, the 27 holes at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain feature dramatic elevation changes and stunning views. The Wild Burro/Saguaro golf course combines Nicklaus' favorite nine, Wild Burro, with the front nine of the Accenture Match Play Championship. more»
The Golf Club at Dove Mountain features 27 challenging holes that are played in three different 18-hole combinations. The Saguaro/Tortolita golf course is naturally named after its beautiful landscape of centuries-old Saguaro cacti nestled at the base of the Tortolita Mountain Range. more»
A classic desert-style, target course, the Mountain has many changes in elevation and several elevated tees. Putting is a challenge because the greens are undulating and typically fast. more»
Located in the North Tucson area, SaddleBrook Ranch Golf Club borders the Santa Catalina Mountains. The course meanders through the high Sonoran desert, incorporating natural washes into the design and providing stunning mountain views from almost every hole. Abundant desert flora and fauna further enhance the rugged, gently rolling terrain. more»
The desert foothills of the Tortolita Mountain Range provide the stunning backdrop for the three nines designed by Jack Nicklaus at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain. They are played in three different 18-hole combinations, one of them being Tortolita/Wild Burro. more»
San Pedro Golf Course is an 18 - hole championship facility located on the banks of the San Pedro River. The golf course winds through the mesquite and along the banks of the San Pedro on the front nine. The back nine travels through four canyon like settings and finishes up with the 457-yard par four split fairway eighteenth hole. more»
Located in Green Valley just a short drive south of Tucson, lies San Ignacio Golf Club. An Arthur Hills design, San Ignacio features well placed grass bunkers, dynamically shaped Bermuda fairways and some of the smoothest greens in Arizona. more»
The Conquistador Course is one of three courses at the El Conquistador. The course has been consistently ranked as one of the top courses not only in Arizona but throughout the Southwest. more»
It's hard to tell if Tucson is embarrassed or intrigued about its status as the state's second-largest city. Tucson natives will gladly explain to you how Phoenix is a new-fangled mess of freeways, subdivisions, and strip malls, and how their "Old Pueblo" is a bastion of good, clean living and liberal thinking.
Forgive native Tucsonans, however, if they are given to a bit of hyperbole when pontificating about their rival city. One need only attend the annual University of Arizona (based in Tucson), Arizona State University (Tempe, outside of Phoenix) football game to understand there's no love loss between these two desert dales. Truth is, millions of residents see Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and the other municipalities of the Valley as a fine places to live, work and play. And they, in turn, savor every last second of peering down their noses at the little "college" town to the south, with its liberal attitudes and underdeveloped downtown.
Savvy Arizona golfers are also quick to remind anyone who asks that the Valley of the Sun is like the Old Pueblo on steroids when it comes to fairways available for public consumption.
But since the early 1990s, Tucson has made a respectable run in the realm of high-end resort and daily-fee golf.
If you are in need of more encouragement to forgo Phoenix for Tucson on your next Arizona golf trip, consider this: Tucson is not nearly as inundated with players as Phoenix or Scottsdale, and the Old Pueblo's lack of serious traffic issues will enable you to get from one course to another in a much more expedient fashion than in grid-locked Phoenix.
Tucson Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Tucson?
Bigger than you might think. While smaller than its neighbor Phoenix, Tucson has more than 800,000 residents and is the 35th largest city in the nation. It is still one of the most rapidly growing cities in America as well.
Where did Tucson get its nickname "Old Pueblo"?
Tucson was formally founded in 1775, about the time the nation's forefathers were signing the Declaration of Independence. Locally, the city is still called the Old Pueblo for the adobe fortress or "presidio" that marked its early borders.
I don't remember Tucson having this much golf. What happened?
The Tucson golf scene came into its own in the early 1990s with the introduction of a handful of high-end, daily-fee courses. Courses like Arizona National (formerly the Raven at Sabino Springs) and Heritage Highlands were added to a formidable lineup that already included Tom Fazio's Mountain and Canyon courses at the Lodge at Ventana Canyon, the TPC Starr Pass, and Tucson Omni National Resort.
What are some good museums in town?
It is worth seeing the Pima Air and Space Museum and the Old Tucson Studios. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is an incredible collection of live desert animals and plants. For aviation fanatics, the many Airplane Graveyards, with countless rows of abandoned airliners are stunning. To get a perspective of the area's history and for a real Southwestern sight visit the Mission San Xavier del Bac which has stood since the 1700s. Columbia University's Biosphere 2 is a half-hour north of Tucson as well.
How far is Tucson from Phoenix?
Tucson is 111 miles southeast or about a 2-hour drive on I-10 from Phoenix.
Is the city of Tucson just like a smaller Phoenix?
Absolutely not. Tucson is just far enough away from Phoenix to have its own identity. Its rich Spanish heritage is abundant to its Southwestern feel. Tucson is also much easier to get around than Phoenix.
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Omni Tucson National's two golf courses feature completely different looks and feels. The Catalina Course is a traditional-style layout with gentle contours and tree-lined fairways. While Tom Lehman's Sonoran Course features a desert design. ... full article »
The Lodge at Ventana Canyon in Tucson, flanked by a pair of gorgeous championship Tom Fazio golf courses, is now owned and operated by the well heeled members of the golf club itself. With only 50 rooms, the destination feels homey and personal and is a top stay-and-play option in Arizona. ... full article »
The beautiful desert backdrop and views that stretch to the Catalina Mountains in the distance are what inspired the name of The Views Golf Club at Oro Valley. The course rolls across the gentle contours of the landscape, blending seamlessly into its surroundings. There are several holes that require some thought but the layout is a manageable length at just over 6,700 yards and it is also quite forgiving. Regardless of skill level, the views alone are worth the round. ... full article »
The western foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains are rugged, rocky and unforgiving and can be a harsh environment. But golf course architect Dick Bailey tamed the land -- somewhat -- when he designed The Preserve Golf Club at SaddleBrooke. The par-72, 7,006-yard course, sitting at 3,200 feet in elevation, may be one of the finest Tucson golf courses you've never heard of. Golf course reviewers haven't exactly rushed to the site, but you should. ... full article »
Quarry Pines Golf Club isn't the glitziest golf course in Tucson, but it is the best bargain. Quarry golf courses are some of the most entertaining you will ever play, and Quarry Pines is no exception. It's a fun and challenging course, and you can't beat the scenery -- or the price. ... full article »
Is Torres Blancas Golf Club where you want to play, with so many high-end resort courses in Tucson? Well, yes. The fairways are generous, the bunkers few and it's possible to play a variety of shots around the green. If you like an old-fashioned, straight-forward golf course that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, you can do a lot worse than Torres Blancas. ... full article »
There are so many forced carries over desert at The Golf Club at Vistoso in northeast Tucson that it should be included in the course's name. How difficult are the forced carries? You may want to fill out a flight plan before you play a round there, Scott Bordow writes. Vistoso might be one of the more difficult 6,900-yard tracks in all of Arizona. ... full article »
It's hard to know where to start when describing the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa just northwest of Tucson. Do you begin with the world-class golf course that sits on the property? How about the 10 tennis courts, four of which are clay? Or maybe the 18 treatment rooms at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa? Maybe it's best just to say this: La Paloma is a bit of north Scottsdale dropped into the Tucson desert. ... full article »
Jack Nicklaus designed the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain for match play, but that doesn't mean you won't enjoy it for a casual round of golf. With PGA Tour-like conditions, first-class service and top-of-the-line practice facilities, clubhouse and dining options, the 27-hole Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Marana, Ariz. is a treat for anyone looking for a premium golf experience. Plus, there are six sets of tees, so you don't have to play it at 7,800 yards; just pick a comfortable distance. ... full article »
When Tucson's golf scene exploded in the 1980s, nationally acclaimed golf course architects all flocked to the desert to add their names to the design stable. From Tom Fazio to Jack Nicklaus to Robert Trent Jones Sr., if you have a favorite golf course architect in mind, chances are, he has a golf course in Tucson. ... full article »
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