AZ Golf Guides

SOUTHERN AZ

Tubac Golf Resort

TUBAC

For those who have not visited Tubac Golf Resort lately, this tranquil retreat nestled between the Santa Rita and Tumacacori Mountains has never looked better. The sunsets still fall like balls of fire from the sky, creating orange and purple majesty not seen anywhere else on Earth.

But changes have taken place at Tubac Golf Resort and Spa. Among the innovation and vision crafted by Ken Kavanaugh are nine holes seamlessly connected to the original 18 designed in 1960 by Arizona's legendary architect, Red Lawrence.

To complement the already exquisite lodgings, the resort boasts hacienda-style guest rooms for the pleasure of those who choose to stay and play. Other amenities include boutiques and a 4,500-square-foot hacienda-style spa. Guests will also find the restaurants better than ever, as Stables has added a patio under the stars, and the new Dos Silos features savory Mexican fare.

It's all about blending the past with the future, says Mike Allred, president and CFO of Tubac Management, the developer that purchased the historic property in late 2002. "Tucson has some phenomenal resorts, but they don't have the exact feel, the setting, or the culture that makes Tubac Golf Resort & Spa so special."

Tubac Golf Resort and Spa dates back to 1789, when it was a cattle ranch on the first Spanish land grant in the Southwest. The property spans the ages in every way, from its 200-year-old Otero House and ranch buildings (of which many still exist), to its modern- day revisions.

Even before the expansion, the golf course stood as one of Arizona's classics, with beautiful bentgrass greens hopscotched among stately cottonwoods and mesquite groves. Lawrence, known as "the Desert Fox," carved 12 holes on the west side of the river and six on the east bank. Among the more memorable encounters are the par-3 Number 8, which requires a long iron over a lily-filled pond and through trees that look like goal posts; the testy, par-5 Number 4 (Rancho), known as the Tin Cup hole; and the 140-yard Number 9 (Anza), where an island green is a "dead-solid perfect" ringer for the famous 17th hole at the TPC of Sawgrass.

Of that terrific trio, the Tin Cup hole probably gets the most acclaim, as it served as one of the movie sets for the golf flick starring Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, and Cheech Marin.

Dennis Palmer, Director of Golf, points out that the current 18 holes only play to 6,700 yards when stretched from the tips. But the newer nine are much more demanding.

"For Instance, we have a three-hole stretch on the Rancho Nine- #6, #7, and #8 that measures 465 yards, 254 yards, and 651 yards. We call this three-hole stretch the Tubac Triangle."

"The comment I hear most from our guests is that the course is very fair and user friendly. You can hit your ball almost anywhere, and still find it on the grass."

Tubac has become the Sedona or Santa Fe of Southern Arizona without having a lot of the entrapments of those large size destinations. The current development projects are sensitive in keeping mindful of embracing the past while building the future of this historic area.

BILL HUFFMAN