Green Valley/South Tucson/Vail

[Juckem]

Our golf foursome is traveling to Tucson in February and would like to play some courses south of town since we've played the usual suspects already.  Could I get some feedback on Tubac, Haven, San Ignacio, Del Lago and any others south of Tucson that you deem worthy? Thanks in advance.

[puttnforthe8]

6 hours ago, Juckem said:

Our golf foursome is traveling to Tucson in February and would like to play some courses south of town since we've played the usual suspects already.  Could I get some feedback on Tubac, Haven, San Ignacio, Del Lago and any others south of Tucson that you deem worthy? Thanks in advance.

 

Well - Haven is a mess - confirmed as of yesterday;   Del Lago...I haven't played it in years, but last report (Jan) I saw it was in good shape.  Tubac is not the most interesting, but generaly in good conditions with good greens...no reports recently.

 

Not sure I would make a trip to play them though.

[MRL1984]

Best advice...Pack a lunch. February is the time of 6 hour rounds. Conditions at the end of summer don't really translate to February, so no worries if they aren't good now. The courses here are usually dressed up for the winter. 

 

Tubac of what you listed is usually the best shape. I can't think of time its been in bad shape in the last few years. Cool to get your Tin Cup stuff in. 

 

Del Lago is packed now, so I don't go. Too many homes built out that way with one golf course. Its usually in good shape though. 

 

Haven hit or miss on conditions, but not the best. Better than Torres Blancas though which is also down that way. 

 

San Ignacio was good earlier this summer, never hear it being in awful shape. 

 

Canoa Ranch is down that way, usually decent. Never been upset by the conditions. 

 

Sewailo is a bit west from the rest but its usually in good shape and nothing to complain about. 

 

[jlbos83]

Tubac is probably at the top of that list, then Del Lago.

 

I think San Ignacio is an interesting course, not too long, quite a bit of elevation change, some pretty holes, and for the past couple of years, usually in good shape.  They also regularly have a marshall, which seems to help with pace. 

 

Haven was in pretty good shape before the storms last month, I have not played since, I heard they had quite a few trees down, and some excess water issues.  They also get mosquitoes this time of year, so I was staying away, anyway.  It is the least interesting of the lot, but also the cheapeast, and easiest to walk, if that's a thing for you. 

 

Torres Blancas has been all over the place the past couple of years.  It was good last spring (2020), but they put in an extra fee to not share a cart so I stopped playing there.  I "heard" it fell apart over the summer.  I have also "heard" that it is mostly coming back, now.  It is a more interesting course that Haven, if it is in decent shape. 

 

Canoa Ranch has also been up and down.  They have the same management as Torres, so I haven't played there in a while, but this reminds me that I need to!

 

I second Sewailo, it's always been in the best shape of the lot, when I have played it.  

 

For fun, not too far, in better shape that most seem to expect, and cheap, I really enjoy El Rio!

  

[jlbos83]

An update.

Haven is in pretty good shape.  The damage from last summer is pretty much taken care of.  The ponds are low, I think they are doing some maintenance in at least one of them.  The bunkers are not very good, so stay out!  Some it is better to putt out, when there is no lip.  But it is still a good deal.

I have played Torres Blancas a couple of times lately, it is also in good condition, and San Ignacio is as well (I think the best of the group).

I have not been down to Canoa Ranch, I need to do that!

El Rio is still pretty good.  The fairways are good, the greens are good, and there is generally at least some sand in the bunkers.  Downside, the clubhouse is closed to to a fire during the renovation, so there's no food.  I would not be surprised to see them grilling hotdogs at some point, probably depending on demand and weather.

 

[RainShadow]

Fred Enke is in good shape. Best of our muni's by far

I'd also look at AZ National.

San Ignacio in Green Valley is my fave out of the tracks down there.