Home to the University of Arizona’s Men’s and Women’s golf teams, it no secret why Arizona National ranks as the best public golf course in Tucson year after year.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 1966, this classic desert layout sits at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains and offers breathtaking vistas. The abutting Coronado National Forest is home to some of the tallest Saguaro cacti in the world (I learned the hard way, don’t get too close or you’ll pay the price).
Even though the course is only 6,785 yards, it presents more than enough difficult shots and tough decisions to keep you on your toes. My favorite hole is the par five 18th. The tee shot plays dramatically downhill. On your second shot, you’re left with a decision of whether to go for the green in two over a substantial lake or, lay up, thus risking some crude comments from your buddies. In our group, there’s been more than a few bucks won and lost on this hole.