Tucson, AZ
Fazio golf in a saguaro forest under the Catalinas — Arizona's quieter classic.
Tucson's golf hides in the Catalina Foothills, where Ventana Canyon's Mountain and Canyon courses — both Tom Fazio designs — thread through arms of untouched saguaro forest beneath the Santa Catalina peaks. The Mountain course's canyon-carry par-3 is one of the most photographed holes in the Southwest. Across the foothills, La Paloma stacks 27 Nicklaus holes with city-light views, and the historic Tucson National — a longtime Tour host — rounds out the rotation. Add Sonoran-style dinners, a genuinely great taco scene, and desert hikes straight from the resort.
| Course | Designer | Notes | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventana Canyon — Mountain | Tom Fazio | The signature canyon-carry par-3 and saguaros by the thousand. The marquee. | resort |
| Ventana Canyon — Canyon | Tom Fazio | The lower, sneakier sibling winding through the rock formations. | resort |
| La Paloma Country Club | Jack Nicklaus | 27 foothills holes with city-light views — access via the La Paloma resort. | resort |
| Omni Tucson National — Catalina | — | The old Tour-host parkland course — a classic change of pace from target golf. | resort |
The resort
The foothills flagship wrapped by both Fazio courses — falls, pools and patios staring straight up at the Catalinas.
◆ The private house
A Catalina Foothills home with a view deck over the city lights — pool, chiminea, and both resort gates inside fifteen minutes. Tucson rentals run notably cheaper than Scottsdale equivalents.
4-6 BR · sleeps 8-12 · ~$700–$2,200/nt
AM Fly into Tucson — the foothills are twenty minutes out.
PM Check in, sunset saguaro walk from the resort, Sonoran-style dinner and the week's bets.
AM Open on the Canyon's rock-walled corridors.
PM Pool or a desert hike; best-tacos-in-town crawl for dinner.
AM 27 Nicklaus holes — pick your two nines.
PM Diehards add Tucson National; others take the spa. Steak night at the resort.
AM The team match, settled in part by the canyon-carry par-3.
PM Trophy dinner on the terrace under the Catalinas; cigars by the chiminea.
AM A last foothills walk or early nine, then the short run to the airport.
Scottsdale scenery at Tucson prices. Two Fazio courses winding through the densest saguaro country in golf, a Nicklaus resort track nearby, and a foothills resort base with the Santa Catalinas straight overhead — all a notch calmer and cheaper than the valley.
Ventana Canyon tee times come easiest with a stay at the adjacent Loews resort; La Paloma access pairs with its own resort. Winter is peak — book marquee rounds with flights. Fly into Tucson, or Phoenix plus a ninety-minute drive.