Arizona National Golf Club (520-749-3636)
Arizona Golf Course Review
The Arizona National property is renowned for service and high quality golf facilities - with good reason. First of
all, the surrounding vistas at the Sabino Springs Course are unmatched by any golf club in the Tucson area.
From atop the tee boxes on many holes, you can see panoramic views that stretch across Tucson and all the
way to Mexico. This Robert Trent Jones Jr. design meanders its way through the foothills of the Santa Catalina
Mountains, with elevation changes and a sloping terrain across mesquite-lined arroyos and rugged rock
outcroppings. Forests of giant saguaros can be seen at every turn, and natural springs provide water hazards
not often seen on desert layouts. There is a nice restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, both inside and on an
outdoor terrace, and a full service lounge. A natural grass driving range with pyramids of balls and a large
putting/chipping green are also available. Ball and club washers, along with a cooler of drinking water, are
provided for on each cart. The service is terrific. We were met by Rob Davis - a very courteous and
knowledgeable guest services professional. He was there to answer any questions and to make sure we had
everything we needed to enjoy our round. Within 25 minutes of our arrival, we were warmed up (range & putting green are located close by) and were ready to play.
We were hoping for a easy opening hole and got it. A mid range par four with little danger and a fairly flat putting
surface greeted us on number one. The greens at the Arizona National are of beautifully conditioned bent grass
- and are mostly flat with subtle undulations. A first time player will have difficulty reading them however, as most
putts break away from the mountain, regardless of how contrary it may seem. Lay-up before the water on the
difficult par 5 second. Check out the yardage booklet for a hole diagram. You will not gain much by trying to drive
the hazard, as your next shot will also be a lay-up before a desert ravine. The fairway narrows and the approach
is uphill. Stay below the hole on the short par four 3rd, and you may have a good shot at birdie. This number 18
handicap plays uphill to a green sloped back to front. You can see the entire valley from the tee box of the
spectacular par three fourth. Bunkers right and left create a demand for accuracy here. The fifth features an
elevated tee shot to a rolling, downhill fairway with the green protected by a lake on the right side.
There is a good photo opportunity of the lake and green complex in front of the beautifully designed clubhouse.
The next hole is a short carry over desert, making the par three sixth one of the easiest holes on the front. With
two short par fours following, this is your best chance to put up some good numbers before you make the turn.
You can cut some distance off number seven by playing to the left of center on your drive. On eight the best play
is to lay-up to about 100 yards from the green, as huge bunker complexes are waiting to make par/birdie difficult
for those tempted to drive it off the tee. The ninth is the first of a stretch of three tough holes. It is a par three that
plays uphill into the prevailing wind.
The back opens with an uphill tee shot and a carry over a desert wash stationed about 80 yards out. A long drive
is needed, or you may have to waste a shot with a wedge lay-up. Eleven is the longest hole on the course - a par
5 that plays at 625 from the tips and 550 from the mid tees. Aim just over the edge of the rock outcropping and
bend it right onto an incredibly downhill fairway and you may hit the longest drive of your life. Tigger's drive
measured almost 350 yards! A ravine about 60 yards out makes the approach difficult. An easy par three over
desert precedes a risk/reward par four that can be cut to the right. Stay just to the left of the last fairway bunker
however, or the slope on that side will push the ball into the desert. You can also cut the next hole, which is a
dogleg right par four over desert and waste area. Fifteen plays spectacularly into the mountain. The green
appears to slope from front to back. This is illusionary though, as it actually breaks away from the mountain. We
lost a couple of strokes here...The beautiful par four 16th plays uphill all the way, to a green that is sloped front to
back. Deep bunkers left will persuade you to stay on the right side of this double tiered green. Seventeen is
another carry over desert. This mid range (except from the tips (227 yards) par three has about 20 yards of
fairway in front of the green. The 18th features an elevated tee shot to a fairway guarded by an ominous water
hazard on the left. A long narrow fairway bunker is there to stop balls from bouncing into the water. This is your
last chance to view some of the most spectacular desert scenery in the Southwest. Take a last look before
descending to your ball, which hopefully is in a good location on the fairway. The approach is intimidating. You
can play it safe by laying up to the right side, thus taking the lake (at least somewhat) out of play.
The Arizona National is tough (slope of 131-Whites to 146-tips) but playable, especially for juniors and women.
The gold tees play at 4700 yards with a slope rating of 113. We did not feel "beat up" by the course. There is
ample landing areas on most holes and with course knowledge the greens should be very putt-able. This is the
type of course you would not grow tired of. Choose the correct tees for your game and enjoy the gorgeous
desert scenery on a course that has been named "Top 100 Courses You Can Play" by Golf Magazine. Make use
of the complimentary practice facilities and be thankful for the pin placement system (different colored flags) and
GPS on the carts. If you need anything at the Arizona National, ask and you will probably receive!
Click here to visit the Two Guys Who Golf detailed listing page with a link (if available) to this course's website.
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