Moving in april! How is the golf scene near Tucson?

[AirmanSmith]

Moving this season. Hopeful for some recommendations for some great tracks, men's clubs, may be a few reasonable private clubs around the tucson az area. Help!

[fore_life]

Tucson is what you mean

[wrmiller]

Lived in Tucson for the better part of 10 years, and loved the golf down there. Played every week, year round.

If I had to choose one course to play week in and week out, it would be Tucson National (now Omni) where Phil Mickelsonwon as a youngster. Conventional track, not a target-style desert course (I prefer traditional tracks).

I also liked Oro Valley CC just NW of Tucson. My favorite public track was Crooked Tree in Marana (also just NW of Tucson) small, fast greens and over 7100 from the tips (the 240+ par three was getting a bit much for a guy almost 60 though). And the near 600 yd par 5 into the prevailing wind could be a handfull as well. We had the state championship there last year.

There are also a ton of 'tourist trap' courses, my fav being a Jack built track on the north side of town. Kinda pricy for my tastes, but always in great shape and a good challenge.

Have fun!

[YMark]

Tucson has some great tracks like wrmiller stated. It is the rest of the city that leaves a LOT to be desired, IMO. Any particular reason you're moving there?

[AirmanSmith]

[quote name='YMark' timestamp='1357965898' post='6213683']
Tucson has some great tracks like wrmiller stated. It is the rest of the city that leaves a LOT to be desired, IMO. Any particular reason you're moving there?
[/quote]im getting out of active duty military and have a job opportunity I can't pass up

[AirmanSmith]

[quote name='wrmiller' timestamp='1357926690' post='6210441']
Lived in Tucson for the better part of 10 years, and loved the golf down there. Played every week, year round.

If I had to choose one course to play week in and week out, it would be Tucson National (now Omni) where Phil Mickelsonwon as a youngster. Conventional track, not a target-style desert course (I prefer traditional tracks).

I also liked Oro Valley CC just NW of Tucson. My favorite public track was Crooked Tree in Marana (also just NW of Tucson) small, fast greens and over 7100 from the tips (the 240+ par three was getting a bit much for a guy almost 60 though). And the near 600 yd par 5 into the prevailing wind could be a handfull as well. We had the state championship there last year.

There are also a ton of 'tourist trap' courses, my fav being a Jack built track on the north side of town. Kinda pricy for my tastes, but always in great shape and a good challenge.

Have fun!
[/quote]thanks for your help! You would happen to know(or estimate) any of the going rates for junior memberships (I'm 28) at any of the local private clubs?

[YMark]

[quote name='AirmanSmith' timestamp='1357967678' post='6213789']
[quote name='YMark' timestamp='1357965898' post='6213683']
Tucson has some great tracks like wrmiller stated. It is the rest of the city that leaves a LOT to be desired, IMO. Any particular reason you're moving there?
[/quote]im getting out of active duty military and have a job opportunity I can't pass up[/quote]

Thanks for your service, and good luck to you in your new job. Tucson has some fine courses, have fun.

[cdnrockies]

Dove Mountain is North of Tucson in Marana. They play a WGC event there and the track is very, very good.

[Yohanan]

Thank you for your service!
I agree Tucson National is the track.
My parents retired in Green Valley and there are several decent courses down there.
Tubac is a little further south and where they filmed Tin Cup. Worth the drive.

[scratchswinger]

I stayed at some resort there called Lowes or something like that. Fun golf course, treated us really well and got a great tan at the pool.

[thedurtydurden]

If you can stand the summer heat (which isn't that bad), you can play for dirt cheap on lots of pretty decent courses. Many courses that are $150+ in the winter drop to around $20-30 come June.

[AirmanSmith]

It's funny you mention that I was just talking with someone today that I was never one to play golf in 100* weather until I went to Afghanistan! Pretty sure I could play upto 120 with to much complaining from me lol!

[wrmiller]

Can't advise on costs, sorry. Tucson summers are not that bad. I walked year round, and just played earlier in the summer. As long as you're done by 9:30 or 10:00 it hasn't even gotten above 90. June is the worst, as the monsoons haven't started yet. Highs can get into low 100s in June. Summer is when you can play the high-end tracks for around $50 or so. Best time of year IMO.

Now the Phoenix area is a different story. Much hotter up there.

[lsj021]

Ventana Canyon, Starr Pass, Vistoso, Dove Mountain.....top 4 public tracks in Tucson.

[Arizonalefty59]

Starr Pass and Dove Mountain are my favorite courses in AZ.

[jptruck]

Agree on Dove Mountain. Played it many times and it's really a great course. It's one of the best in the Southwest, and I've played a bunch of the good ones..

I hate Starr Pass. Really low on my list of places to play there. Maybe I caught it on a bad day, but it was not a fun round.

Gallery (old WGC site) is a great course, too. Stone Canyon is super nice (private), but earns it's name if you're not hitting it straight. Oro Valley is probably a good bet if you are looking for a membership. It's an old school golf course set-up.

From what I understand, Vistoso has gone to hell. That was a really nice public course. Last time we played there, it was in miserable condition and run by surly people. Really a shame.

I've only played Tucson National once (the Omni), but I really enjoyed it. It winds around some canyons, but is a "fun" course.

[Arizonalefty59]

I played Starr Pass about 3 weeks ago and it was in immaculate shape, I have never ever played a course in my entire life that was in that good of shape, even better than Torrey when I played there a few months ago.

[thedurtydurden]

[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1362544899' post='6555965']
I played Starr Pass about 3 weeks ago and it was in immaculate shape, I have never ever played a course in my entire life that was in that good of shape, even better than Torrey when I played there a few months ago.
[/quote]
I played Vistoso back in August, and I actually didn't think it was that bad. The pro shop was basically empty, but the course seemed pretty acceptable. It was my first time there, and the regulars said it had really gone downhill but I found it to be in much better shape than Arizona National (its sister/cousin course or whatever).

Del Lago is one of my favorites, I go there as much as I can. I've heard nothing but good things about Starr Pass and I'm going to hit it soon.

[littlechucky]

Haven't been there in several years, but really liked Tucson National. Arizona National was decent as well (home course of the Wildcats).

[jptruck]

[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1362544899' post='6555965']
I played Starr Pass about 3 weeks ago and it was in immaculate shape, I have never ever played a course in my entire life that was in that good of shape, even better than Torrey when I played there a few months ago.
[/quote]

My problem with Starr Pass has more to do with design than condition. The two nines (I think they have 27) we played were brutally tight. We played it on a windy day and couldn't wait to get off the course. To each his own.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='jptruck' timestamp='1362685234' post='6565519']
[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1362544899' post='6555965']
I played Starr Pass about 3 weeks ago and it was in immaculate shape, I have never ever played a course in my entire life that was in that good of shape, even better than Torrey when I played there a few months ago.
[/quote]

My problem with Starr Pass has more to do with design than condition. The two nines (I think they have 27) we played were brutally tight. We played it on a windy day and couldn't wait to get off the course. To each his own.
[/quote]

Not played it myself but have heard similar feed back. How long ago did you play it? I think the original Bob Cupp 18 got a lot of criticism. Sometime in the last decade, Arnold Palmer was hired to add nine holes and I heard he softened the original course as well.