I’ve lived in Phoenix for eight years, but until recently, I’d never spent any significant time in Tucson, Arizona’s other major city, just a short two-hour drive from my home.
But that finally changed when I had the opportunity to play Tucson golf for the first time at the Omni Tucson National Resort & Spa. Omni Tucson National Resort & Spa is a sprawling hotel nestled in the scenic foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, with a stunning backdrop. The resort features two championship golf courses: Catalina Course and Sonoran Course.
Catalina is a parkland-style course that debuted in 1961 and hosted the PGA Tour Tucson Open and the PGA Tour Championship Cologuard Classic from 2015 to 2023.
Catalina has an old-school feel and the fairways are in gorgeous shape thanks to the ryegrass fairways. I was particularly impressed by the 374-yard par-4 third, a dogleg left that requires a precise tee shot with water trouble on the left and trees on the right; and the 170-yard par-3 fourth, a beautifully constructed hole that requires a lot of water. Catalina Island’s challenging finishing hole is a 443-yard par-4 surrounded by two lakes that once ranked as one of the toughest holes on tour. I understand why! Landing area between two bodies of water requires a good tee shot and A good way. The elevated green offers no respite either, with bunkers front and rear and deep rough to ward off errant shots.
For a true desert-style golf experience, Catalina’s sibling, the Sonoran Course, was designed in 2005 by Tom Lehman. I love the many holes here, with their sweeping high desert vistas and dramatic elevation changes, especially the picturesque 183-yard par-3 third hole, which is a really fun tee shot; and the 453-yard par-4 9th hole. The beautiful layout features 69 bunkers, so it’s smart strategy to hone your maracas skills before teeing off.
Courtesy of Omni Tucson National Resort and Spa
After golfing, resort guests can indulge in a variety of activities, such as taking a dip in the resort’s zero-edge infinity pool, pampering at the full-service spa or dining at one of the upscale dining options. Off-property adventure activities include horseback riding, desert jeep safaris, group cattle drives, hot air ballooning, and even gold panning tours.
My favorite post-golf activity is grabbing a cold drink and a bite to eat on the patio, the on-site Legends Sports Bar has stunning views of the Catalina 18th green and the best “crispy cauliflower” I’ve ever had, served with apricot tahini and scallions.
It’s hard to find a better winter golf destination than Arizona, and for anyone looking for a vacation spot that ticks all the boxes, the golf experience at Omni Tucson National Resort & Spa is easily the best choice.
