ARIZONA GOLF COURSE REVIEW

Heritage Highlands Golf and Country Club (520) 579-7000

Arizona Golf Course Review

Heritage Highlands Golf and Country Club is spectacular semi-private facility featuring an Arthur Hills designed, 18-hole championship golf course that meanders through mature natural desert vegetation and up and down the landscape at the base of the Tortolita Mountains in Tucson, Arizona.

Since its opening in 1997, the club has become very popular with local golfers who attest to the fact that no matter how many times you play this course, you will find a challenge. While the front nine holes flow through some of the area's flatter terrain, the natural arroyos and desert washes will test and tempt even the most seasoned duffer. The back nine takes advantage of elevation changes with some holes providing spectacular views of the Tucson Valley and the five mountain ranges that surround it.  Six sets of tees, offering distances between 6904 yards and 4901 yards, ensure that every player is offered a fair chance at scoring well. 

Although Heritage Highlands takes advantage of the mature desert flora, rock outcroppings and abundant desert wildlife in the area, it is not a true desert course. The immaculately conditioned, lush green fairways offer a spectacular contrast to the surrounding area and the private homes that line some areas of the course are well protected by mature stands of majestic saguaros and other desert plants. Yardage markers can be found on the cart paths as well as the sprinkler heads and a 150 yard stake is provided in the middle of the fairway. Pin placement is designated by red, white and black flags for front, middle and back. The greens are fast and hard and slope away from the mountain.

The opening hole is a short par 4 dogleg to the left, which plays slightly up hill. With a generous landing area, the fairway bunker on the left side can be easily avoided. The approach should be no problem with most of the green unprotected. The green slopes from the back right to the front left. The second hole is much like the first except it is straight. Try to avoid a hidden fairway bunker on the right side. This green slopes from front to back and is protected by sand on the left and two pot bunkers on the right. Number 3 plays a bit longer and is called "Sunken Treasure" because of the sunken green (which makes it difficult to determine the pin position). This is one of the more interesting holes on the course but should be easy if the deep bunker guarding the front of the green and small deep bunkers on the left are avoided.  Four is a long par 3 which plays very tough. The green must be hit if you want to par this one and there is a large deep bunker on the left and a deep gully in the front. The green slopes back to front and right to left. Five is a fairly long par 5 with a downhill tee shot and plenty of landing area. The second shot will be difficult because of the long deep bunker on the left which starts125 yards before the green. You may be tempted to go for it in two, but the wise shot is to lay up, avoiding the long bunker on the left and the two deep bunkers on the right side of the green. This undulating green makes this hole hard to par. The sixth plays shorter then the yardage shows because this hole plays downhill from tee to green. There is a slight dogleg to the right side. With a shot to the left side, the angle to the green will be in your favor. The very undulating green is guarded by bunkers on left and right side. Number seven is a beautiful par three with a wash just short of the green. There is a bunker on the left side and the green has a severe slope on the right side. Eight is a short par 5. This hole should be an easy par because of its length - big hitters can reach it in two. The longer your tee shot, however, the narrower your landing area and bunkers are located on left and right side just short of the green. Number nine plays slightly up hill which makes this par 4 play a bit longer than it looks. Your tee shot is very important. The fairway slopes severely from right to left and the approach shot is difficult because of the undulating green on the left side and two deep bunkers on the right. This hole would make a great closing hole. There are mountains and a perfect view of the club house in the back. It is very picturesque.

Ten is the number one handicap hole on the course. It is a long par 5 with a fairway bunker to the left. The trouble starts at the 100 yard marker where the fairway is very narrow. It may be best to lay it up to the 125 yard marker. Bunkers are spread all over the place in front and the side of the green. A three tiered green adds to the difficulty of paring this hole. Eleven, a par 4 with a long uphill dogleg left has the fairway sloping severely from right to left. Your approach will play long to avoid a large deep bunker on the left side of a green that is slightly elevated. Number twelve, a par 3, is very picturesque with water on the left side and an errant shot will find the deep bunker on the right. Go for the pin and you should be fine.  Thirteen, named after the course architect (Arthur's Hill), is both stimulating and intimidating. You'll need an accurate tee shot to make the uphill grade to the 130 yard marker where you will see a partially hidden green. The downhill approach is very tight. On the left side of the green there is a steep desert sloping toward the green and along the right there is a long deep bunker. This is the number five handicap hole, but it plays like number one. The tee shot on 14 is over a saguaro-filled wash onto a severely mounded fairway lined with pot bunkers. The green is large but guarded by a deep bunker along right. Fifteen is a short par 5, but very difficult. The tee shot is to a very narrow fairway which slopes to the left. This hole normally plays into a prevailing wind, making it play longer than the yardage. The big hitter can go for the green, but the water and the severe mounding around the green make this a classic risk/reward hole. The sixteenth, a short par 4 can get you back in the game. To avoid the fairway bunker, a fairway wood or long iron should put you in good position. The green is guarded by sand on front left and right. Seventeen, a long par 3 is named "Picture Perfect". What a view! The Tucson valley and five mountain ranges can be seen from the tee, which carries two washes to a shallow green protected by dessert to the left and severe bunkering to the right. The green is wide but beware the deep bunker guarding the right side. The closing hole, a short par 4, is a dogleg to the left with a landing area on the right. An iron off the tee to about 130 yards is the safe shot.  There is a large deep fairway bunker guarding the approach and you'll need enough club for the uphill approach to avoid the sand and grass bunkers short and right of the green.

The clubhouse at Heritage Highlands is expansive and features a fully stocked pro shop, an excellent restaurant and facilities for gatherings of up to 220. The patio offers a spectacular view of the course with mountain vistas in the background and members of the club have access to the property's swimming pool, workout center and recreation area. Green fees range from $99 to $45 for public play in 2003 depending on the season and discounted replay rates area available. Members of the Southwest Professional Golf Association are offered a 25% discount. We found both the staff and members of the club to be very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. For more information visit their website at www.heritagehighlandgolf.com or contact the pro shop. Heritage Highlands Golf & Country Club is definitely on our must-play list for the Tucson Area!