Tucson Arizona Vacation - Where John Wayne Meets Jack Nicklaus
Yesteryear and tomorrow merge comfortably in Tucson
Tucson is not just one of the great undiscovered golf Meccas of Western America; it’s a journey into the old west. Yesteryear and tomorrow merge comfortably in Tucson, a city and region where make-believe and reality compete for the senses of anyone who goes there.
You can walk in the footsteps of John Wayne, or among the ghostly shapes of old military aircraft parked in the desert. Saunter among the giant saguaro cacti, or catch a performance of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. While Scottsdale gets the majority of golfers, in part because of easy airline connections, Tucson also offers an abundance of fine courses at relatively low prices.
The great courses at Tucson National, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, the Sheraton El Conquistador Resort & Country Club, Star Pass Golf Club, and La Paloma Country Club & Resort are augmented by the finest public courses you’ll find anywhere.
The Randolph Municipal and Dell Urich (home of the Ping LPGA event), El Rio (site of the original Tucson Open) and Fred Enke courses would fit nicely into any directory of distinctive courses. And, should you want to make a run for the border, many of Arizona’s best golf secrets lie along the 60 mile (96 km) route in Green Valley, Tubac, and at the Mexican border in Nogales.
Tucson itself is smaller and generally less expensive than the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and is easy to get around. Within a few minutes of downtown you can be in the desert and at some of the region’s fascinating sights and areas. Close-by are the Living Desert Museum with its exhibits of desert wildlife and plant life; the Saguaro National Park with acres of the giant cacti.
The Old Tucson Studios (the Hollywood set that gave rise to countless John Wayne films) has been rebuilt after a fire closed it a couple of years ago and you can walk the streets and even talk the talk of the old western movies.
Nearby is the Pima Air and Space Museum with virtually every kind of aircraft that ever flew; and Biosphere 2, the enclosed self-sustaining earth environment.
An hour south is Tombstone with its original turn-of-the-century western town. There’s magic there, in walking through the OK Corral where the Clanton Brothers and the Earps and Doc Holiday had their infamous shoot-out. The Clantons are buried nearby at Boot Hill - from where you get the best view in town of the San Pedro Valley - along with scores of others who were hanged or stopped a bullet.
And just 20 minutes south of Tombstone is the old 19th Century mining community of Bisbee. Now a restored historic town, it’s where you’ll find the Copper Queen Hotel - restored to the full grandeur of its original rustic grandeur - accepting guests for its 42 rooms.
It’s located next to Brewery Gulch, at the turn of the century considered the hottest spot between El Paso and San Francisco with 80-plus beer halls. Bisbee once was home to the largest copper mine in the world, The Copper Queen, through which you can still take a wonderful tour.
Nearby you’ll also find the oldest golf course in Arizona, the 6730 yard Turquoise Valley Golf Course & RV Park, along the Naco Highway minutes from the Mexican border. Each of Tucson’s resort courses are uniquely different. At La Paloma, for example, the Jack Nicklaus course - consisting of three nines - is a rolling test of accurate driving. A fore-caddie helps out (a fore-caddie is a runner who chases and finds your ball and advises your foursome on what clubs to use.)
Tucson National, the site of the Northern Telecom PGA Open, is now an Omni Hotel resort that four years ago was a private club and it’s now a public course with 27 holes. For an idea of what the pros face, nine-or-less handicappers are allowed to hit from the hit from the Championship tees. And with the wind blowing, it’s an awesome test. El Conquistador - part of the Sheraton property - has three courses spread over 500 acres (202 hectares) of Upper Sonoran Deserts, all of which make fine use of the canyons, gullies, and hills.
At Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club, are two Fazio designed courses naturally fitted into the desert canyon countryside. Though separate from the luxurious Loews hotel complex, guests have access to what has been described as the finest of Arizona’s layouts. It also just happens to have the No. 1 restaurant in the Southwest, the Ventana Room, awarded by Conde Nast Traveler magazine whose readers picked the top 250 in the United States.
Then, there’s Starr Pass - designed by Robert Cupp (Pumpkin Ridge near Portland, Big Sky, near Pemberton, BC) - one of the sites for the PGA Northern Telecom Open (along with Tucson National).
It’s a true desert course that meanders along the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The 15th hole plays through an historic stage coach pass operated by the Richard Starr family in the 1880s. Hit your drive straight on the 350 yard hole and your tee shot will play right into the saddle of the pass.
So, with 33 golf courses (including new courses at Raven at Sabino Springs, Rancho Vistuoso, and Torres Blancas), resort and municipal, Tucson will keep your attention for as long you’re there.
For more information call your local travel agent, or contact the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau,130 S. Scott Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701 Tel: (520) 624-1817Fax: (520) 884-7804Toll Free: 1-800-638-8350.
Author: Ray Chatelin and Toshi Chatelin
| Add your comments |
