I’ve lived in Phoenix for eight years, but up until recently, I’d never spent any significant time in Arizona’s other major city, Tucson, just two short hours by car from my home.
But that finally changed when I had the chance to play my first Tucson golf at the Omni Tucson National Resort & Spa, a sprawling property nestled in the scenic 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.
The Catalina is a parkland-style course that made its debut in 1961, and served as both the host of the PGA Tour’s Tucson Open as well as the PGA Tour Champions’ Cologuard Classic from 2015 to 2023.
The Catalina has an old-school feel and was in gorgeous shape, thanks to overseeded rye grass fairways. I was particularly impressed by the 374-yard par-4 3rd hole, a dogleg-left that demands a precise tee shot, with water trouble on the left and trees on the right; and the 170-yard par-3 4th, a beautifully-framed hole that requires a significant carry over water. The Catalina’s challenging finishing hole, a 443-yard par 4 framed by two lakes, was once ranked among the toughest on Tour. I could 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 reprieve, with a front and back bunker and deep rough to snag errant shots.
For a true desert-style golf experience, there’s Catalina’s sibling, the Sonoran Course, which was designed by Tom Lehman in 2005. I loved the multitude of holes featuring sweeping high-desert vistas and dramatic elevation changes, particularly the picturesque 183-yard par-3 3rd, which is an extremely fun tee shot to hit; and the 453-yard par-4 9th. The beautiful layout features a total of 69 bunkers, so sharpening your sand game before your tee time is a wise strategy.
After golf, resort guests can indulge in a variety of activities, like a dip in the resort’s zero-edge infinity pool, a visit to the full-service spa or a meal in one of the upscale dining options. Off-property adventures include horseback riding, desert jeep tours, group cattle drives, hot-air ballooning, and even gold-panning excursions.
My preferred post-golf activity is a cold beverage and a bite on the patio, and the onsite Legends Sports Bar boasts a killer view of the Catalina’s 18th green, and some of the best ‘Crisp Cauliflower’ I’ve ever had, served with apricot sesame glaze and scallion.
It’s tough 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 and Spa golf experience delivers in spades. For more information, click here.
