Tucson Private Clubs

[ORGolfer]

We are considering a move to Tucson within the year and I am seeking information on Tucson private country/golf clubs. Specifically interested in any information/thoughts people may have on the following courses: Ventana Canyon, La Paloma, Tucson County Club, Skyline Country Club and Oro Valley County Club. We are a family of three, with a son who is currently 11. We all golf. I play to a 5 handicap currently and my wife is around a 20 currently. Son has been playing off and on but seems to be getting more interested. We are definitely looking for a full-service club with fitness, aquatics, etc. with golf being the most important to me. I like weekly games and a nice course that is not too slow and doesn't close that much of the year. 

 

Thanks in advance for any input. 

[teejaywhy]

I have played only Ventana, which may offer memberships, but is open to the public.  I very much disliked the Canyon Course.   A nice cart ride interrupted on occasion by golf holes.

 

La Paloma is 27 holes of Jack Nicklaus.

 

Tucson Country Club is an old-school Billy Bell layout from the 40's.  A core routing with no housing intrusion.  I find that to be the more interesting, for me anyway but some may not like it because it's flat or not terribly long by today's standards.   

 

Skyline Country Club; Oro Valley Country Club  - Don't know anything about either of these courses/clubs. 

 

[Bonneville85308]

Tucson CC is currently closed until this winter for a major renovation which involves completely rebuilding the green complexes including bunkers, some new lengthened tees, etc. It is the UofA's new home course, UofA is building a new facility of their own next to the driving range. Good old school walking course, currently about 7,000 yards from the tips and will be getting longer. Membership has been getting younger in recent years as well. I play it a few times per year as a guest of a member. I've never played a round over 4 hours there. Has good amenities like a lap pool plus a family-friendly pool, tennis, pickleball, etc.

 

Ventana Canyon is just a goofy extreme cartball course I'd never want to join.

 

Oro Valley is a ClubCorp/Invited club so that in itself comes with its own set of pros and cons.

 

I don't know anything about Skyline or La Paloma.

 

Also keep in mind where you are going to live when looking at clubs, because Tucson has no east-west highways, and no north-south highways besides I-10 on the west side, so it takes forever to get from one side of town to the other.

Edited July 12 by Bonneville85308

[puttnforthe8]

I'll add La Paloma is a pretty boring, unispired 27 holes tied to the Westin.  Skyline is a short course with a decent layout, but it is a mess as a "country club" - it is run down, poor conditions most of the year, managed poorly and a very unfriendly atmosphere.

 

Personally, the only private course I would join in the Tucson area would be The Gallery or Tucson CC.

 

I have not got to play Highlands, but it seems to get good reviews.

 

 

[AzRoger]

I would look into the Dove Mountain area, some nice golf courses with a combination of public/private, and also nice area to live, just north of Tucson. The Gallery mentioned above is located there.

[Shipwreck]

You can also add in Tucson Omni to the list. Two 18 hole courses with vastly different layouts (Catalina is where they hold the Champions Tour Cologuard event). Great facilities and some serious sticks play there too.