Looking for Comments on Several Tucson area courses

Gary8180 · February 9, 2017

I'd appreciate any comments on the following courses such as which one might have a little bit more "elbow room". I would like to play at least two of them. I'm a senior golfer with a 22 to 25 hcp and don't want to get beaten up too badly. I usually choose tees that result in a 6000 to 6300 yard course and my driver carry is about 185 to 190 yards. As an example, I have played Arizona National and the Preserve and liked both (especially the Preserve). I played the The Quarry last year and the back nine ate me up. It felt like way too much work and I was not enjoying myself. The courses I'm thinking about are: Mountain View at Saddlebrooke, The Views GC at Oro Valley, Del Lago, Vistoso, and El Conquistador. Thanks

Arizonalefty59 · February 9, 2017

Damn I literally have not played any of these courses haha.

IMO you can't go wrong with either Del Urich or Randolph. Both in amazing shape right now and a super great deal $ wise. Extremely wide open as both are a parkland style.

Gary8180 · February 10, 2017

Thanks for the reply. I got to play Randolph North last year and it was in great shape. I really enjoy old park style courses! I have not played Del Urich (south) since it's remodel. Did all the land form changes (mounding and berms) narrow it much? I try to visit courses I have not played before when in Tucson. The courses I listed look interesting but there's not a lot of info available on them like some of the better know courses in the area. Is Silverbell in good shape? I played it years ago and it was rough and barren in areas at the time. My son, however, has not played there and I was thinking this might be a good "warm-up" course before we bite off some links style courses. Thanks again.

Arizonalefty59 · February 10, 2017

Thanks for the reply. I got to play Randolph North last year and it was in great shape. I really enjoy old park style courses! I have not played Del Urich (south) since it's remodel. Did all the land form changes (mounding and berms) narrow it much? I try to visit courses I have not played before when in Tucson. The courses I listed look interesting but there's not a lot of info available on them like some of the better know courses in the area. Is Silverbell in good shape? I played it years ago and it was rough and barren in areas at the time. My son, however, has not played there and I was thinking this might be a good "warm-up" course before we bite off some links style courses. Thanks again.

Del Urich is a little tighter than Randolph and a little hillier IMO. Del Urich is a lot more fun than Randolph and would be the perfect place for a warm up round.

I've not played Silverbell in probably 10 years, sorry. Haha

Salazar · February 10, 2017

Thanks for the reply. I got to play Randolph North last year and it was in great shape. I really enjoy old park style courses! I have not played Del Urich (south) since it's remodel. Did all the land form changes (mounding and berms) narrow it much? I try to visit courses I have not played before when in Tucson. The courses I listed look interesting but there's not a lot of info available on them like some of the better know courses in the area. Is Silverbell in good shape? I played it years ago and it was rough and barren in areas at the time. My son, however, has not played there and I was thinking this might be a good "warm-up" course before we bite off some links style courses. Thanks again.

Silverbell just recently redid a lot of their bunkers so most of them are in great shape now. Just played it this week and it was in good condition. Fairways were as good as any of the city courses and greens were good as well, just a tad slow. It's a pretty wide open course for the most part. Most of the par 3's are longer but not ridiculous. It should make for a good warm up round for sure and rates are usually better than the Randolph courses.

As for the other courses, only played Del Lago and the Conquistador course at El Conquistador. I really like Del Lago, but it's not very forgiving off the tee. Haven't played it in a while but it's usually in really good condition and has a great variety of holes.

El Conquistador isn't necessarily a "spray it and play it" course, the fairways are pretty wide so you can afford to be a little wayward off the tee. I guess they changed the greens to bent grass on the Conquistador course recently, and it was pretty rough in some areas. But they made sure to avoid the poor patches with the pin locations. Overall there just wasn't anything about the course that made me WANT to go back, but there was nothing bad about it either.

Bassi · February 10, 2017

Played all of these except the one in Saddlebrooke so here goes. The Views is an ok course. Probably the least enticing on your list but it's not a bad track.Haven't played Del Lago for a few years but it's kind of just a standard desert course. Nothing wrong with it but nothing special if you've played in AZ before. El Conquistador is fun. Has a few holes that are challenging and a few that take it easy on you. Conditions have gotten much better since the city took over in 2015. Vistoso is the course on your list I recommend the most. It's not an easy course but it's always in great condition and the staff are really friendly.