El Conquistador - Canada Course

Review & Rating of El Conquistador's Canada Course in Oro Valley, AZ

El Conquistador is owned by the City of Oro Valley and managed by Troon Golf.  They are home to three championship golf courses, the Conquistador Course, the Canada Course, and the Pusch Ridge Course.  All of the courses play in the shadow of the dramatic Santa Catalina Mountains. 

The Canada Course has stunning views of three mountain ranges as it's well-manicured fairways play through saguaro cactus capped hillsides and natural desert terrain.  On the way to the cup on the 18th hole, you'll encounter elevated tee boxes, uphill as well as downhill shots, mounds, undulations, understated bunkering, interesting doglegs, challenging green complexes, and some fun holes. Shot shaping and course management are critical to a good score.

Some of the holes that we really liked included:

• #8 was voted the toughest par 3 in Tucson thanks to a 183-yard downhill shot to a green with the desert on the right and left and a big front and back bunker
• #9 is a fun 547-yard par 5 with an elevated tee box, a downhill fairway, a tree in the middle of the fairway at 240 yards out, a dogleg right to the green, and lots of fairway slope that will take your ball into some trouble
• #16 is a 533-yard par 5 with a landing zone that ends in a wash and then heads slightly uphill to a green with 3 big bunkers on the right and water on the left

The Canada Course greens are about average size, run true, are soft, have plenty of undulation, and in very good condition.  The greens are hard to read and require some careful study.  Some of the greens are raised and all are well guarded. 

The fairways at El Conquistador's Canada Course are fairly generous to a tad tight off the tee box.  There are lots of elevation changes and plenty of undulation, which can take you ball into some trouble.

The bunkers range in size and shape, with most being large.  Some of the faces are steep and challenging. The sand is thin and gritty.