I’ve lived in Phoenix for eight years, but until recently, I’d never spent any significant time in Arizona’s other big city, Tucson, just a short two-hour drive from my home.
But that finally changed when I had the opportunity to play my first round of golf in Tucson Omni Tucson National Resort & Spaa sprawling property nestled in the picturesque foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, which make for a truly stellar backdrop. The resort offers two championship golf courses: the Catalina Course and the Sonoran Course.
Catalina is a parkland-style course that debuted in 1961 and served as host to the PGA Tour’s Tucson Open as well as the PGA Tour Champions’ Cologuard Classic from 2015 to 2023.
Catalina has an old school feel and was in great shape, thanks to the rye grass planted fairways. I was particularly impressed by the 374-yard par-4 third hole, a left tee that requires an accurate shot, with water problems on the left and trees on the right; and the 170-yard par-3 4, a beautifully framed hole that requires a significant water carry. Catalina’s challenging finishing hole, a 443-yard par 4 framed by two lakes, was once ranked among the toughest on Tour. I can see why! The landing area between the two bodies of water requires a good tee shot AND a good approach. And the elevated green offers no respite, with a back and forth bunker and deep rough shots to the hazard.
For a true desert-style golf experience, it’s Catalina’s sibling, the Sonoran course, which was designed by Tom Lehman in 2005. I loved the holes with sweeping views of the high desert and dramatic elevation changes, especially the scenic 183-yard par which is extremely fun from 3 to 3; and the 453-yard par-4 9th. The beautiful layout features a total of 69 bunkers, so sharpening your sand game before tee time is a wise strategy.
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Courtesy of Omni Tucson National Resort & Spa
After golf, resort guests can indulge in a variety of activities, such as a dip in the resort’s infinity pool, a visit to the full-service spa, or a meal at one of the luxurious dining options. Off-property adventures include horseback riding, desert jeep tours, cattle drives, hot air balloon flights, and even gold panning.
My favorite post-golf activity is a cold drink and a bite to eat on the patio, and the on-site Legends Sports Bar boasts a killer view of Catalina’s 18th green and some of the best “Fresh Cabbage” I’ve ever had, served with an apricot-sesame-onion glaze.
It’s hard to find a better winter golf destination than Arizona, and for anyone looking for a getaway that ticks all the boxes, the Omni Tucson National Resort & Spa golf experience offers endlessly.
