Tucson
Old Pueblo home to plenty of new golf options
 It’s
hard to tell if Tucson is embarrassed or intrigued about its status as
the state’s second largest city. Native Tucsonans 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. Metro Phoenix, they’ll tell you,
is a mecca of republican politics run amok. Ubiquitous stucco homes spring
from the desert like weeds after a thundershower, four lane arterial roadways
criss-cross the valley like ribbons, and smog infested air hangs over
the city skyline like some harbinger of the apocalypse.
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 (squinty eyes, tanned skin, bleached out hair)
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 1990’s, Tucson Golf Courses
have made a respectable run in the realm of high-end resort and daily
fee golf.
In Golf Magazine’s 2002 edition of the “Top 100 Courses You
Can Play,” Tucson Golf placed two tracks on the list – the Mountain
Course at Ventana Canyon at No. 81 and the Raven at Sabino Springs at
No. 99. The city also has an admirable history of hosting professional
golf events. The remodeled North Course at Randolph Park is home of the
LPGA Welch’s/Circle K Championship and Omni Tucson National Resort
hosts the PGA’s venerable Tucson Open.
If you are in need of more encouragement to forego Phoenix for Tucson
Golf on your next golf trip to the Sonoran Desert, consider this: Tucson
Golf scene 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
on the grid-locked freeways and arterials of Phoenix.
Where to Play
 The
Lodge at Ventana Canyon (520.577.4061) is the crown jewel of Tucson
golf resort, and features two splendid Tom Fazio designed layouts, the
Mountain and Canyon courses. The Mountain course, with its par 3, third
hole standing in as the “most photographed hole west of the Mississippi,”
is the most sought-after play at the resort. But the Canyon Course is
just as popular among locals, not to mention resort employees. Both courses
play through the craggy foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, and
feature incredible views and a good sampling of desert target golf.
The Westin La Paloma (520.299.1500) is home to three nine-hole
Jack Nicklaus designed courses, and yes, they were all designed
during the Golden Bear’s “hit a high fade to this undulating
green or die,” phase. Difficulty aside, the Hill, Ridge,
and Canyon layouts are widely recognized as some of the best desert
golf courses in the region. In typical Nicklaus fashion, greens
are behemoth and replete with fire trucks underneath them. Fairway
landing areas are generous and visible from the tees, always the
Golden Bear’s caveat.
The Golf Club at Vistoso (520.797.7900) has never seemed
willing to cower in the presence of its resort course cousins.
Paloma and Ventana are golf resorts, but the Golf Club at Vistoso
is just a golf course, and a fine one at that. This Tom Weiskopf
designed layout was a “readers write-in” Golf Magazine’s
Top 100 you can play six years ago, and is a “sneaky”
favorite among locals and visitors alike. The layout is nowhere
near as penal as Ventana or La Paloma, and if you can find better
greens in the greater Tucson area, let us know. Take note of the
166-yard par 3 third hole – on a clear day (there are only
323 of them) you will have an amazing view of the north side of
the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Arizona National (520.749.3636) is one of the newer high
end daily fee desert courses in Tucson, and one of the best.Designed
by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the course is routed through arroyos,
rock outcroppings and more saguaros that you can shake a putter
at. Test your desert golf mettle by playing the course from the
back tees where it weighs in at nearly 7,000 yards. The par 3 fourth
hole overlooks the entire city of Tucson and on a clear day, golfers
can see all the way to Mexico looking south. The Raven is a favorite
among Arizona Diamondback players when the team is in town for spring
training.
Also Playing
Tucson Omni National is the longstanding site of the Tucson
Open, featuring two traditional nine hole layouts, and one other
newer nine hole course with a little more of a modern flavor and
plenty of elevation changes. Excellent facilities, a beautiful
place to hang your hat.
The Hilton Tucson El Conquistador claims to be the largest golf
facility in Southern Arizona, and with 45 holes worth of newly remodeled
golf courses, arguments are few and far between. On the grounds
of the resort itself is the nine-hole Pusch Ridge course. Five miles
away at the El Conquistador Country Club are two more courses: the
18-hole Conquistador and Cañada.
Starr Pass is a former TPC course that served as the sister
site of the Tucson Open in the early 90’s. The course has fostered
a love/hate relationship with many players because of its diminutive
greens and blind shots. Craig Stadler designed the course, and a
number of the holes had PGA players and duffers scratching their
heads.
Heritage Highlands Golf and Country Club is an Arthur Hills designed
course in Marana that is the centerpiece of a cookie cutter U.S. Homes
development. The front nine plays through a good chunk of the housing,
but the back nine climbs into the foothills and features a smattering
of memorable holes.
You Wish
Two new private courses have served to bolster Tucson Golf’s
reputation as a retirement haven for the financially gifted. The Gallery
in Marana is easily one of the best courses in southern Arizona. John
Fought and Tom Lehman designed the course, which is filled with bunkers
and jaw-dropping scenery. The newest private offering is Jay Morrish’s
Stone Canyon Club in Oro Valley, and it may be one of the best in the
entire state.
Where to Eat
Daisy Mae’s Steakhouse – located out Anklam Road just
west of the Starr Pass entrance. Best ribs in the state fall off
the bone upon arrival. Old west atmosphere of wooden floors and
walls, complete with a gas fire out on the porch.
Rosa’s – Some of the best Sonoran Mexican food in
Tucson, and it is located right in the heart of a shopping center
on the way to the foothills (on the southwest corner of Campbell
and Ft. Lowell). Best Margaritas and chile colorado in town.
El Minuto – Favorite among downtown locals. Located at
the northern edge of Barrio Historico, El Minuto is known for
its hearty soups and carne seca (dried beef flavored with onions
and garlic.)
Little Abners Steakhouse – located out in the sticks, LAS
is a must if you have the time. Head out on Silverbell Road towards
Marana, and you will ultimately run into the best steaks in town.
El Terrero – head down to South Tucson for a taste of Mexico
and Mexican food. Located on a small side street, El Terrero is
known mainly to locals. Check out their famous cheese crisp, and
savory chimichangas.
Getting There
Tucson is served by a midsize airport, Tucson International Airport,
and one major Interstate, I-10.
Tucson
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