Play Off The Beaten Path in Tucson
Sponsored post; photography by Visit Tucson.
Arizona Offers Cacti, Canyons and Championship Golf
Teeing off at a golf course in Tucson, Arizona can make even the most seasoned player see the game from a new perspective. The city is surrounded by five mountain ranges, and nature permeates the award-winning golf scene here. The terrain combines cactus forests and canyon hillsides with traditional parkland-style fairways for the best of old-school golf plus a strong sense of place rolled up into one amazing morning. Or afternoon. Or both.
Sunshine and Golfing for all Skill Levels
There are nearly 40 public and resort courses in the southern Arizona region, of which Tucson is the largest city. If superior golf is what you yearn for, plan a holiday here. Avid and novice golfers alike will find an array of enjoyable options to fit any handicap and every style of play. Plus with an average 350 days of sunshine you can say goodbye to your rain gear and those pesky frost delays.
The Who’s Who
Some of the sport’s biggest stars – Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer – have either competed on or designed the courses in the Tucson area. Play where the pros play by teeing it up at Omni Tucson National Resort. The legacy of pro golf tournaments played here, beginning with the first Tucson Open in 1945, chronicles a longtime local love for the game. The Tucson Conquistadores Classic, a PGA Champions Tour event, returns to Tucson National’s Catalina Course, March 18-20, 2016.
Conquistador Course
Oro Valley’s El Conquistador Golf & Tennis offers a strenuous test on its Conquistador Course, while its 18-hole Canada course is perfect for families and the time-challenged by occasionally offering 3-hole rounds. It even offers a separate, executive 9 holes at Pusch Ridge.
Sewailo Golf Club
Arizona’s newest course, Sewailo Golf Club at Casino Del Sol Resort, is a must-play for avid golfers. This Ty Butler-Notah Begay design opened in late 2013. Its 40,000 native plants and 14 acres of lakes create a golfing oasis in the Sonoran Desert. The Gallery Golf Club and Golf Club at Vistoso also offer high-end golf experiences.
Top Tucson Resorts
Tucson offers some of the nation’s top resort courses, including JW Marriott Starr Pass Golf Club-former home to the PGA Tour’s Tucson Open, La Paloma Country Club and Ventana Canyon Golf Club’s Mountain and Canyon courses. Catalina and its companion, Sonoran Course, are open to resort and daily-fee play, as well.
Crooked Tree Gold Course
A perfect way for avid golfers to round out their Tucson golf trips is by adding in an affordable, but challenging, game at Crooked Tree Golf Course or one of the city of Tucson’s municipal courses—Dell Urich, El Rio, Fred Enke, Randolph North and Silverbell.
Where to Stay
The choices for lodging are just as enticing as the golf courses. Soothe your mind and body at a desert oasis like Miraval Resort & Spa or at Canyon Ranch, two of the world’s top destination spas. Saddle up for an authentic Western adventure at one of our cozy guest ranches. Or relax and flourish at a variety of luxurious resort hotels where pro-caliber golf and tennis, inspired cuisine, sparkling pools, and spectacular hiking trails can be found just steps away from your room.
Getting to Golf Country
The many ways to get here include daily direct flights into Tucson International Airport (TUS), from US cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas, just to name a few. For international visitors, multiple carriers feature flights to Phoenix, including British Airways which has a daily flight from London. Getting from Phoenix to Tucson takes less than two hours via the I-10 freeway. Both the I-10 and I-8 are also great for visitors looking to experience southern Arizona by way of California, providing drivers with a direct route to Tucson from both Los Angeles and San Diego.
January 21, 2016
