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Review and Rating of Tucson National Sonoran Course in Tucson Arizona

Tucson National is home to two 18 hole championship courses (Catalina and Sonoran) and one of Arizona's top rated resorts – the Omini Tucson National Resort and Spa. The courses and resort are nestled in the foothills with sweeping views of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

The Omni Tucson National Resort has been the home to countless PGA Tour and NCAA events including the prestigious Chrysler Classic of Tucson and both the courses and the Resort have won a number of awards and accolades, a couple of which include: AAA Four Diamond Award and GolfWeeks list of the "Best Courses in Arizona."

Each of the courses at Tucson National has it's own unique personality and characteristics. For example, the Catalina 18 is a very traditional tree lined layout and the Sonoran Course is a beautiful high desert design with dramatic elevation changes.

Some of the reasons we loved playing the Sonoran Course include:

the course is meticulously maintained and manicured – you won't find a blade of grass, a rock, or cacti out of place
the course is challenging with dog legs, strategically placed bunkers, elevation changes, and forced carries over the desert and washes but with 4 sets of tee boxes and no forced carries for the forward, it's fair for all skill levels
big challenging green complexes that put a premium on the approach shots
wide forgiving undulating fairways that are in near perfect condition
stunning colorful desert scenery and panoramic mountain vistas
some really fun and unique holes
excellent service, great practice facilities, and a very good clubhouse

The fairways are wide and forgiving off the tee box but the undulating and sloping terrain and significant elevation changes can create some challenges. The rough is wide and playable but miss it and you're in the desert. The Sonoran Course plays up and down the hillside lined with some resort and residential properties. When we played the fairways and rough were in near perfect condition.

The greens on Tucson National's Sonoran Course were also in excellent condition. The green complexes are well guarded with bunkers which puts a premium on your approach shots. When we played they were running at a great speed and were soft, true, and held the ball well.

The bunkers seem to be everywhere and they range from small pot type bunkers to some huge monsters. The sand was good and the faces were manageable.

Designed by 2006 Ryder Cup Captain Tom Lehman, the Sonoran course opened in December 2005 to enthusiastic reviews. This desert-style layout features steep elevation changes and some unusual uphill/downhill shot opportunities not typically found in Tucson. The Sonoran offers spectacular vistas of natural beauty of the surrounding terrain.

COURSE FACTS

Desert-style course with two lakes and 69 bunkers
Strategically placed bunkers
Fairways feature Tifway 419 pollen-free Bermuda
Greens feature Mini Verde Bermuda