2019 Tucson Course Conditions

[puttnforthe8]

If scenery is key - then Ventana(mtn course) OR Dove Mountain are good (Dove is relatively tough) (great Plus is Ritz Carlton patio is outstanding for after the round - unlike anything else if you make it before dark).

[cheeser]

You won't be disappointed with Starr Pass. It is scenic and there's plenty of wildlife, i.e. deer, javelina, etc. The not so good thing is that it's not the easiest track but I think you'll enjoy it.

[InZeroGravity]

My wife and I just came back from a vacation and agree both Ventana Mountain course and Dove Mountain are spectacular. I personally thought the Canyon course was pretty nice too but more forgiving than Mountain. A late start, really bad pace, no course marshalls to address pace and lack of water on Dove really hurt my opinion of the experience and it was on the bottom of list of 5 courses we played. Sewailo was what I expected of a desert course and surprised with water in play, but tough track. My order of the five we played would be

 

Ventana - Canyon

Ventana - Mountain

Sewailo

Arizona National

Dove Mountain

 

[ROH1]

Thanks guys, much appreciated!

[Juckem]

I see Dove Mountain has three 9's. Can you suggest which two I should target?

[RainShadow]

AZ National in great shape, rough is juicy, greens quick, bunkers are improving, although there are still quite a few that need work.

Played in 3.5 hrs teeing off at 1:15.

[InZeroGravity]

 

We played Wild Burro/Saguaro but we weren't given a choice. That was the two nines we had to play. There may have been a tournament booking on Tortolita

[puttnforthe8]

Saguaro and Tortolita are the better 9s.

[Arizonalefty59]

Silverbell again today. Fairways and greens were magnificent. For $26 on TeeOff you cant beat it for December golf.

[Arizonalefty59]

Sewailo yesterday was fantastic. Good pace of play and the conditions were awesome.

[puttnforthe8]

Nice...playing tomorrow. Was there a frost delay?

[Arizonalefty59]

None at all. May be a little different overnight tonight as it's supposed to be pretty cold. Greens are a little firmer than what I was used to out there but they are fast and flawless.

[Arizonalefty59]

What'd you think?

[puttnforthe8]

It was great....I forgot how much fun this course is!! 5 birdies today!! Greens were outstanding!

 

[Bonneville85308]

Silverbell early on Sunday morning, first time I've ever played the course. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the conditions were for a cheap muni. Fairways were great, greens were great (and fast), sand was great. Had a decent breakfast in the snack shop while waiting to tee off. OB Sports seems to do a nice job of running this course just like they do on the Phoenix munis they manage. The layout had enough variety to keep me interested and was an enjoyable walk. I'd probably play here often in the winter if I lived nearby. There was a 45 minute frost delay, but due to some cancellations/no-shows I was able to get out with the second group and we finished in 3:10 as a walking threesome. If I had to complain about anything, the fairways near the ponds were completely covered in goose excrement.

Tubac Golf Resort today, Anza/Rancho nines. Conditions were great here as well. Really nothing to complain about there. Greens were deceptively quick. The resort grounds and buildings were very well maintained and attractive.

I felt like the Rancho nine had a great character to it because of the heavily treed playing corridors that gave it a unique look (especially since the leaves are off) and some additional challenge. My drive on #4 literally ended up on top of the concrete "Tin Cup 3-wood" marker which was pretty wild. #3 and #8 were my favorite holes of the nine. Anza nine was pretty forgettable, halfway decent golf holes but nothing that stood out to me. There was a hole somewhere in the middle where you had to lay up your tee shot to an overgrown wash-type area, and if you did that perfectly, your reward was a blind short iron shot over trees and brush where you had to stand on the back of the cart to figure out where to aim to. Didn't care for that one.

Paired with a nice couple, we had the front to ourselves and flew through in 1:30, but probably due to some fivesomes of (I'm guessing) "members" ahead of us, second nine was 2:20.

I don't think I'd make a return trip to play it, especially with the cost pushing $90 including range balls you pay extra for. Mrs. Bonneville85308 didn't really care for the town of Tubac which she explored while I played, she characterized it as overpriced art and trinket shops targeting boomers with money.

 

 

[ChaosTheory]

I played SaddleBrooke Preserve yesterday. Great conditions on a perfect weather day. But nobody playing. There are a lot of blind shots and forced layups off the tees, which we didn’t like.

Is that why the course was relatively empty on a beautiful Saturday? Too far from the city?

[Shipwreck]

Lol that’s extremely rare for this time of the year. Then again with the Gem Show going on, the Tatum Tournament this weekend, it could just be a fluke. But I’d take that 8 days a week. How much were the greens fees?

[ChaosTheory]

I played in an event organized by someone else. My fee included prizes, so I don't know how much the course got.

[RainShadow]

Fred Enke is in great shape, but slow play killed my back nine.

seems like the last few times I’ve played there it’s been overbooked....

[Shipwreck]

Frank and I had to walk off after 14 because it was so slow a few weeks ago. Took us over 2.5 to do the front and we were over an hour just to get to 14. I hate wintertime golf in Tucson.

[RainShadow]

We did the front in 1:50, 2:40 on the back, I lost interest by about 15 and my score reflected that. 33/44 LOL

[Shipwreck]

33 on the front??? Nice!!!!

[RainShadow]

Eagled #2 and birdied #9.

Hit every green and lipped out 3 other birdie putts.....

[Arizonalefty59]

Played Del today. Left after 13 holes because of the pace of play and I had to leave. Conditions are soooo good!!

[puttnforthe8]

you guys are so 2019 down there in Tuckson!

[Argonne69]

Does La Paloma allow public play? It's ranked #20 on Golfweeks' 2019 Best Courses You Can Play list, but the course's home page looks like it's members only.

 

[RainShadow]

No public play at La Paloma. But you can get a golf package at the Westin Resort and play it that way.

 

[cheeser]

My buddy had to stay at the resort and played it that way.

[puttnforthe8]

Best In AZ? Because it barely makes Top 20 in Tucson imo!

[Shipwreck]

Which is funny because there’s only 18 courses in town! ???