Tucson Golf Revisited

Golf Exclusives visited Tucson more than 10 years ago. Since that time, there has been tremendous growth in the golf community, particularly in the northwest part of the city, known as Oro Valley. Even though it is Arizona's second largest city, Tucson still retains its friendly, typically Arizonan, southwestern charm. With breathtaking natural landscapes, year-round sunshine, a myriad of attractions and activities and a mix of Spanish, Mexican and Native American influences, Tucson is a truly special destination.

We all know that this has been a very long Winter, and that we are all craving the sun, warmth and green that comes with Spring. We attempted to accelerate that in January, but were thwarted by Mother Nature. Our trip to Tucson was cold and wet, but I was able to visit a lot of resorts and courses, and gather updates to share with you.

Here is my report:

Courses to Play:
We planned to play the Conquistador course at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort, but were weathered out. The resort's premier course, the 18-hole Conquistador is a 6,801-yard par 71 with a rating of 72.7 and a slope of 126. Recently renovated, the course provides an exceptional golf experience for all skill levels. The Canada course at the resort is a 6,713-yard par 72 with a rating of 72.2 and a slope of 140. The natural terrain comes into play as fairways wind through ravines and arroyos. Right at the resort, the nine-hole Pusch Ridge course winds, dips, and climbs through a 175-foot vertical drop in the foothills with a challenging 2,788-yard layout. The Conquistador and Canada courses can be reached via a short shuttle service from the resort. .

Other courses we researched and like are: Golf Club at Vistoso, voted 6th best public course in AZ. Designed by Tom Weiskopf, this par-72 course offers yardage ranges from 6,932 for championships, to 5,165 for ladies and juniors. With every hole a "postcard," this true desert golf experience is challenging yet playable. Arizona National, (formerly The Raven Golf Club at Sabino Springs) is desert golf at its finest. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the golf course meanders among the foothills of Tucson's beautiful Santa Catalina Mountains as it follows the rugged natural flow of the land across shady mesquite-lined arroyos and skirts craggy rock outcroppings.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort offer two courses, A classic desert-style, target course, the Mountain that has many changes in elevation and several elevated tees. Putting is a challenge because the greens are undulating and typically fast. As the most photographed hole west of the Mississippi, the celebrated Mountain Number 3, plays across 107 yards of cactus and canyons...and the tee offers a breathtaking panorama that stretches for a hundred miles across the Sonoran Desert into Mexico.

The Canyon golf course winds through the inspiring beauty of Esperro Canyon and incorporates the massive rock formation known as Whaleback Rock.

Tucson also has a large array of fine municipal courses. Among them are Dell Urich which we played, and Fred Enke. The greens fees are reasonable, and provide a nice warm up round, or a way to balance out the cost of greens fees in a package.

Places to Stay:
The Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort, an Arizona AAA Four Diamond Resort in a beautiful Tucson, Arizona is where most Golf Exclusives customers stay. It is nestled on the foothills of the breathtaking Santa Catalina Mountains on 500 acres of high Sonoran Desert terrain.

Even though it is Arizona's second largest city, Tucson still retains its friendly, typically Arizonan, southwestern charm. With breathtaking natural landscapes, year-round sunshine, a myriad of attractions and activities and a mix of Spanish, Mexican and Native American influences, Tucson is a truly special destination.

Relax in one of the 428 spacious guest rooms and suites. Discover the impressive Desert Springs Oasis, featuring sparkling pools and a 143-foot waterslide and dine on exquisite cuisine in a choice of restaurants and bars. Play golf or tennis, go hiking, biking or horseback riding or escape to the resort's Elements Spa for some indulgent relaxation.

Sonoran Suites of Tucson is located in the beautiful Sabino Canyon resort area and provides vacation rentals and discount golf packages to this very popular vacation destination! We are the leader in the Southwest for condominium accommodations, custom golf vacations, golf tee times, and vacation rentals lodging. The luxury Tucson condos are available year round.

Things to Do and Nightlife:

Upon our arrival in Tucson, we had time available before we met our Tucson friends, so we stopped at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort for cocktails. What a wonderful start as it was a relaxing, classy atmosphere furnished with comfortable couches and tables overlooking a lovely pool area.

Much to our surprise, we found out that we would be eating at the Grill at Loews the next evening. The food was delicious and the atmosphere enjoyable at the restaurant. The travertine floors gave the room a flourish as did a fireplace surrounded by comfortable courches which we could see from our table. Outside, there was a beautiful patio overlooking a soothing waterfall. Needless to say, we enjoyed our evening.

The night before we left Tucson we ate at the marvelous resort, Hacienda Del Sol. The view from the multi-roomed restaurant was spectacular overlooking the mountains and the city at night. Our service here was extremely attentive and the dinner was excellent. It has captured Wine Spectator's "Best of" Award of Excellence for over a decade and was recently bestowed the Award of Ultimate Distinction from Wine Enthusiast-the only restaurant in Arizona to receive this award. It features an extensive and eclectic wine list of over 2,000 labels and 25,000 bottles.

If you want to see something unique on a day without golf, experience the beauty of one of the most unique Southwestern desert canyons on a Sabino Canyon tram ride. Sabino Canyon is a natural desert oasis located in Tucson's Coronado National Forest and is home to spectacular desert landscapes and abundant wildlife.