Although there aren't quite as many golf courses in Tucson as in Phoenix, this is still a golfer's town. For last-minute tee-time reservations, contact Standby Golf (tel. 800/655-5345; www.discountteetimes.com). No fee is charged for this service.
In addition to public and municipal links, numerous resort courses allow nonguests to play. Perhaps the most famous of these are the two 18-hole courses at Ventana Canyon Golf and Racquet Club, 6200 N. Clubhouse Lane (tel. 520/577-4015). These Tom Fazio-designed courses offer challenging desert target-style play that is nearly legendary. The 3rd hole on the Mountain Course is one of the most photographed holes in the West. In winter, greens fees are $115 to $195 (slightly less if you are staying at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort or The Lodge at Ventana Canyon).
As famous as the Ventana Canyon courses is the 27-hole Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa, 2727 W. Club Dr. (tel. 520/575-7540 or 520/297-2271; www.tucsonnational.com), a traditional course that is perhaps more familiar to golfers due to the fact that it was for many years the site of the annual Tucson Open. One of the 9-hole courses here was rebuilt as a desert-style target course in 2005, which makes this a good place for an introduction to desert golfing. If you are not staying at the resort, greens fees are $185 in winter, $70 in summer.
El Conquistador Country Club, 10555 N. La Cañada Dr., Oro Valley (tel. 520/544-1800; www.elconquistadorcc.com), with two 18-hole courses and a 9-hole course, offers stunning (and very distracting) views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Greens fees are $55 to $125 in winter.
At Starr Pass Country Club & Spa, 3645 W. Starr Pass Blvd. (tel. 800/503-2898 or 520/670-0400; www.starrpasstucson.com), the fairways play up to the narrow Starr Pass, which was once a stagecoach route. Greens fees are $199 in winter.
There are many public courses around town. The Arizona National, 9777 E. Sabino Greens Dr. (tel. 520/749-3636; www.arizonanationalgolfclub.com), incorporates stands of cacti and rocky outcroppings into the course layout. Greens fees are $135 to $165 in winter. The Golf Club at Vistoso, 955 W. Vistoso Highlands Dr. (tel. 877/548-1110 or 520/797-9900; www.vistosogolf.com), has a championship desert course, with fees of $129 to $175 in winter. Heritage Highlands Golf & Country Club, 4949 W. Heritage Club Blvd., Marana (tel. 520/579-7000; www.heritagehighlands.com), is a championship desert course at the foot of the Tortolita Mountains; greens fees are $115 in winter.
Tucson Parks and Recreation operates five municipal golf courses, of which the Randolph and Dell Urich, 600 S. Alvernon Way (tel. 520/791-4161), are the premier courses. The former has been the site of Tucson's LPGA tournament. Greens fees for 18 holes at these two courses are $42 to $56 in winter. Other municipal courses include El Rio, 1400 W. Speedway Blvd. (tel. 520/791-4229); Silverbell, 3600 N. Silverbell Rd. (tel. 520/791-5235); and Fred Enke, 8251 E. Irvington Rd. (tel. 520/791-2539). This latter course is the city's only desert-style golf course. Greens fees for 18 holes at these three courses are $36 to $50 in winter. For general information and tee-time reservations for any of the municipal courses, visit www.tucsoncitygolf.com.
