2019 Tucson Course Conditions

[Shipwreck]

New year. New thread. So let’s see it!

 

Played Arizona National today. Absolutely beautiful shape. Yeah the bunkers were a little bit rough but rumor has it that they are going to pump 80k or so into the course for new bunkers. Either way, an amazing day for golf even with the sprinkling we had early morning. Shot a 75 with 3 birdies.

[RainShadow]

Haven't been playing much yet this year, but I can say that the range ball at all city courses suck.....

LOL

[Arizonalefty59]

Played Silverbell this morning and it was absolutely phenomenal. The greens were super super fast and rolled true, I was very surprised. For $38 you can't beat it for this time of year.

[Shipwreck]

Played Silverbell this morning and it was absolutely phenomenal. The greens were super super fast and rolled true, I was very surprised. For $38 you can't beat it for this time of year.

 

Ugh got a serious love/hate relationship with that course, but glad to see that the conditions are excellent!

[Arizonalefty59]

Played Silverbell this morning and it was absolutely phenomenal. The greens were super super fast and rolled true, I was very surprised. For $38 you can't beat it for this time of year.

 

Ugh got a serious love/hate relationship with that course, but glad to see that the conditions are excellent!

Played Silverbell this morning and it was absolutely phenomenal. The greens were super super fast and rolled true, I was very surprised. For $38 you can't beat it for this time of year.

 

Ugh got a serious love/hate relationship with that course, but glad to see that the conditions are excellent!

The temporary green is no more either.

[azgolfer44]

Sewailo was in nice shape yesterday. Greens were a little bumpy and slower than they looked. Fairways and tees were perfect and sand was pretty consistent. Played first round behind U of A Golfers- they were so slow! Took over 5 hours and they were not even in foursomes. Pretty disappointing that they showed such little respect for the playing public.

 

Overall, I really liked the course and was great deal for $60 for 36 holes. I think the operations side of the golf course has some work, but the course itself has a fun and interesting layout.

[Arizonalefty59]

Played Silverbell again yesterday, probably my favorite city course. Just hate 3/4 par 3's out there lol. Was actually $5 cheaper than last time for some reason.

[RainShadow]

Fred Enke yesterday.

Fairways rolling like St. Andrews in a drought. Dormant burmuda and hard as a rock.

Greens rolling fast, holding, but lots of fertilizer pebbles on them. Bunkers seem to have had work done as they actually have sand in most.

Eagled #3, 37 front, 43 Back. Hit my 2nd on 18 OB left and finished with a triple.

Pace of play was really good through about 12 holes.....then we had to wait alot between shots.

$31 was a decent price with a cart.

[Arizonalefty59]

Played El Rio today and it was awful unfortunately. They don't overseed so the fairways are dormant grass with green spray paint. Greens were hard and slow. Way overpriced for $39.

[Shipwreck]

Played El Rio today and it was awful unfortunately. They don't overseed so the fairways are dormant grass with green spray paint. Greens were hard and slow. Way overpriced for $39.

 

I don’t have any sympathy for you for wasting a thin dime at El Rio. I refuse to play that pasture.

[ChaosTheory]

Played Starr Pass today. The beatings will continue until morale improves. We are not going there again. The green speeds are too high and the greens are beat up. Grow some grass, slow them to 9, get them in better shape, make it playable. Having them lightning fast and crappy is poor management.

[RainShadow]

Played Starr Pass today. The beatings will continue until morale improves. We are not going there again. The green speeds are too high and the greens are beat up. Grow some grass, slow them to 9, get them in better shape, make it playable. Having them lightning fast and crappy is poor management.

Shoot across town and play AZ National. Worth the drive, for sure. In great shape right now and probably about the same price as Starr.

Or just keep going to south to Sewailo.....

[ChaosTheory]

Yes, we decided yesterday we'd much rather play Sewailo.

[RainShadow]

Yes, we decided yesterday we'd much rather play Sewailo.

Have you played AZ National? Great Track!

[ChaosTheory]

Yes, we decided yesterday we'd much rather play Sewailo.

Have you played AZ National? Great Track!

 

No, we have not. How friendly is it to the 90+ shooter? That's my playing partner, and tough courses send his score above 100, which makes him grumpy. He shoots 80s-90s at Sewailo, because it's roomy. He shot 104 yesterday at Starr Pass. Then again, more normal greens would have gotten him down to the upper 90s anyway.

 

I shot 90, and it felt like 100. :/

[Shipwreck]

Yes, we decided yesterday we'd much rather play Sewailo.

Have you played AZ National? Great Track!

 

No, we have not. How friendly is it to the 90+ shooter? That's my playing partner, and tough courses send his score above 100, which makes him grumpy. He shoots 80s-90s at Sewailo, because it's roomy. He shot 104 yesterday at Starr Pass. Then again, more normal greens would have gotten him down to the upper 90s anyway.

 

I shot 90, and it felt like 100. :/

 

AZ National is fairly friendly I’d say. Not city course friendly but not Starr Pass tough. It’s definitely a desert course but has some nice open fairways and good size greens, not Sewailo size though.

[ChaosTheory]

It sounds like we need to try Silverbell, too.

[Shipwreck]

It sounds like we need to try Silverbell, too.

 

Playing there Sunday. Should be in solid shape. It’s definitely one of the harder city courses

[RainShadow]

Yes, we decided yesterday we'd much rather play Sewailo.

Have you played AZ National? Great Track!

 

No, we have not. How friendly is it to the 90+ shooter? That's my playing partner, and tough courses send his score above 100, which makes him grumpy. He shoots 80s-90s at Sewailo, because it's roomy. He shot 104 yesterday at Starr Pass. Then again, more normal greens would have gotten him down to the upper 90s anyway.

 

I shot 90, and it felt like 100. :/

A lot of the challenge at AZ national is visual intimidation. The forced carries aren't really that long, they just look that way. If you know how far you hit your clubs and play from the correct tees, and it's not a problem.

I'm not a big hitter and I can play it from either the blue or white tees w/o tee ball trouble. 3 or 4 holes require strategy decisions off the tee.

I don't find it that narrow, but if you really spray it, ya might have problems. The scenery is worth it, though!

[ChaosTheory]

How tight is Quarry Pines? It looks very tight from the highway but that's only one hole.

[RainShadow]

How tight is Quarry Pines? It looks very tight from the highway but that's only one hole.

I've only played it once, but I didn't find it claustrophobic tight.

I'd like to play it with someone who knows the course well next time, as I lost a couple of shots to poor positioning off the tee.

Lots of elevation changes on the back 9.

[Salazar]

Quarry Pines has some tight holes, the one visible from the highway being one of them. But it's only 6300 yds from the tips so as long as you play the right tees, driver won't be necessary on the tighter holes.

[Shipwreck]

How tight is Quarry Pines? It looks very tight from the highway but that's only one hole.

 

Front side is fairly easy and open. Backside is where you give the strokes back. I really like the course and it’s a hellofa deal in the summer time.

[Shipwreck]

So we played Silverbell today.....or at least we played 9 holes. Constant drizzle to downpour the entire time. Actually played some of the best golf out there then I have in a long time. It was a 2 man Best Ball event with the club and me and my partner were -4 net after 9. Those bastards didn’t stand a chance but most of the club members packed up after a few holes.

 

Despite the rain, course was in phenomenal shape. Highly highly recommend.

[Juckem]

I'm part of a foursome that has travelled to Phoenix every February for about 20 years for 4 days of golf. We are considering changing it up and trying Tucson. Could anyone suggest courses or point me to a forum where I might find a Tucson top ten? Thanks!

[Shipwreck]

These aren’t in order but here are my go to courses:

 

Ventana Canyon

Sewailo

AZ National

Randolph Complex is in really good shape right now too

[divebreck]

Some of my favorites for Tucson

 

Ventana Canyon

Dove Mountain

La Paloma

Gallery (harder to get on)

[Juckem]

Thanks for the recommendations. We've decided to go for it. Is there any part of town you'd recommend for renting a home or any we should avoid? Looks like our best flight option is to fly into PHX and drive down. Thanks.

[Shipwreck]

Thanks for the recommendations. We've decided to go for it. Is there any part of town you'd recommend for renting a home or any we should avoid? Looks like our best flight option is to fly into PHX and drive down. Thanks.

 

Stay away from the south side of Tucson (although that’s where the best Mexican food is)If you can Airbnb something centralized you’re good to go.

[divebreck]

Agreed 100% with Shipwreck!