Every traveling golfer knows about Scottsdale, but Tucson is the Arizona destination where the real savvy golfers plan their vacations. The crowds are reduced by 50% and so are the prices. Most importantly, the golf is still plentiful and the quality of courses is excellent. You can listen to the herds of golfers pouring into the usual destinations, or you can listen to me and find something exciting off of the beaten path. Please enjoy these three 27 hole Troon locations as you plan your trip to Tucson.
I first visited Star Pass in 2023 on The RGV Tour 2.0. It was course #43 out of the record setting 580 courses that I played that year. While I enjoyed the course three years ago, I barely recognized Star Pass in 2026. All of the native areas have received the attention that they needed. Sight lines have been enhanced and the beauty of the Tucson desert is on full display. The greens have been renovated and the conditions have also improved.
The original 18 holes at Star Pass were designed by the team of Bob Cupp and Craig Stadler. A 3rd nine was added in 1995 by Arnold Palmer. The course has hosted a variety of professional tournaments over the years. Most notably, a young amateur named Phil Mickelson won the 1991 Tucson Open here.
The JW Marriott has also received some recent renovations and the hotel resides just off of the Palmer nine. The food is spectacular and the resort offers just about every amenity that you could imagine. We decided to enjoy a stargazing event and we stared deep into the Andromeda galaxy from the resort grounds. It is the perfect place to stay when enjoying all 27 holes at the resort.
Members and guests of the Westin La Paloma will have the option to play one of Tucson’s premier golf destinations at La Paloma Country Club. The golf course is nestled up against the Santa Catalina mountains and plays host to the Cologuard Classic every year. Like every course on our list, La Paloma also offers 27 holes of championship golf. The Cologuard uses a combination of golf holes from the Canyon, Hill and Ridge course.
In addition to the golf, La Paloma also offers tennis, pickleball, spa, pool and even a freaking waterslide. SInce a stay at the resort is required in order to secure a tee time, all of the amenities are certain to provide something for every member of the family. I always score 3-4 shots better knowing that every member of my family is well entertained and taken care of.
The finishing hole at La Paloma provides one of the best stadium settings in Arizona. Even if the stands aren’t up and no one is watching, it is easy to imagine a gang of fans cheering you on as you roll one in for birdie.
Having experienced hundreds of golf resorts all over the world, it is rare that I find a resort that feels truly special. Tubac manages to achieve that “special” status with a mixture of premium hospitality, great golf and a rich history. Tubac feels much more like a village than a golf resort. With hacienda style casitas covering the property, Tubac offers 27 holes of golf, a full service spa and a ton of Southwestern adventures.
Tubac began as a Spanish presidio in 1752 and in 1789 Don Toribio de Otero received a Spanish land grant that he used to establish Tubac as a prominent ranch and cattle operation. It wasn’t until 1959 that Tubac transformed into a golf resort. Red Lawrence was hired to build the golf course and investors like Bing Crosby ensured that the resort was a popular spot for film stars. Today the resort flourishes as one of Arizona’s most unique and historic golf resorts.
Tubac would become part of cinematic history in 1995 when Kevin Costner, Don Johnson, Cheech Marin and Rene Russo came to the resort to flim one of the world’s greatest golf movies, Tin Cup. Filming took place on the 3rd and 4th holes on the Ranch course. The 3rd hole was the filming location where Roy McAvoy (Kevin Costner) breaks all of the clubs in his golf bag except his 7 iron and proceeds to qualify for the US Open with just one club. Warning: the photos below look better than the movie.
The 4th hole provides the backdrop for the scene where Roy helps Craig Stadler win a bet with Phil Mickelson and Gary McCord. After Stadler rinses one in the pond from 240 yards out, he challenges McAvoy to hit the shot. Roy pulls the 3 wood and pops one on the green thrilling the crowd. There is a plaque commemorating the site of the bet on the 4th fairway and visiting golfers can attempt to hit the same shot. Naturally, I hit a nice little fade from the plaque and nestled one onto the back of the green. There was something magical about my golf ball sharing the same air as Roy McAvoy.
While the Ranch 9 gets all of the attention for it’s star studded history, the Otero and Anza 9’s are also a lot of fun to play. The lush green fairways are lined with centuries old cottonwoods that ooze heavy doses of charm. The course is relatively short and very playable for all skill levels.
Tubac Golf Resort is just as much of a ranch as it is a golf course. In accordance with ranch rules, Tubac has a stable of horses and cattle. The horses are available for rides around the property and they love to watch the golf. Havalinas, turkeys and even the occasional mountain lion have been know to visit Tubac.
For the golfers that have the desire to experience something memorable, Tubac might just be what you are looking for. The resort is far different from the fancy private clubs of Scottsdale and offers a spicy Southwestern flavor of approachable luxury.
