Closed golf courses in Tucson: what shut, when, and where to play instead

Closed golf courses in Tucson include Del Lago in Vail (August 2026), the Golf Club at Vistoso (2018), the Davis-Monthan base course (2018), Canoa Hills in Green Valley (about 2013) and Santa Rita in Corona de Tucson (2011). Kino Springs near Nogales also closed. Old tee-time pages for several still show up online, so check before you drive.

This guide lists each closure with the date and what happened to the land, the courses whose status is unclear, and the nearest open courses to play instead.

Quick facts

• Most recent closure: Del Lago Golf Club, Vail, last day of golf August 9, 2026.
• Closed in 2018: The Golf Club at Vistoso (June 1) and Blanchard at Davis-Monthan (May 1).
• Closed earlier: Canoa Hills (about 2013), Santa Rita (2011).
• South of Tucson: Kino Springs, closed June 2019 and permanently by about 2021.
• Status unclear, call first: Rio Rico, Rolling Hills, Tucson Estates, El Conquistador's Pusch Ridge nine.
• Watch for: stale listings on GolfNow, 1golf and similar sites.

Closed golf courses in Tucson, by date

Closed courses are not on our map.

Del Lago Golf Club, Vail (closed 2026)

Del Lago was a public daily-fee course at the centre of the Rancho del Lago community in Vail, southeast of Tucson. "Rancho del Lago" is the community, not a second course. Local TV stations reported on August 7, 2026 that the owners had set Sunday, August 9 as the last day of golf after 26 years. The general manager cited rising costs and decreasing demand. The Hacienda Del Lago restaurant was to stay open through August 31.

The Vail Chamber of Commerce said it hopes a new operator takes over, so check for a reopening before you rule it out for later seasons. A web page promoting a golf academy near the site is marketing, not evidence that the course is playable.

Play instead: Fred Enke, the city's desert-target course on the east side, 23 minutes from downtown. Our research calls it desert target golf at a muni price. See the Fred Enke course guide.

The Golf Club at Vistoso, Oro Valley (closed 2018)

The Weiskopf course at Vistoso suspended operations on June 1, 2018, citing falling play and water costs. A neighbourhood nonprofit raised $1.8 million, and a conservation fund closed escrow on 202 acres to turn the course into a nature preserve. Old GolfNow and TeeOff pages still exist but are stale.

Play instead: The Views Golf Club at Oro Valley, the Sun City Oro Valley course that takes daily-fee play through GolfNow, or the town-owned El Conquistador 18s. Both are covered in Oro Valley golf.

Blanchard Golf Course, Davis-Monthan AFB (closed 2018)

The base course was open to ID-card holders and sponsored guests. Davis-Monthan public affairs announced in April 2018 that the course and the Eagles Nest Cafe would cease all operations on May 1, 2018, except the driving range and putting green. The reasons given were losses over eight years, falling rounds and higher utility costs. Outdoor Recreation moved into the golf buildings.

Play instead: active-duty members were pointed to the Camo Card discount at the City of Tucson courses, and Fred Enke is the nearest. Our Tucson city golf courses guide compares the five city courses.

Canoa Hills Golf Course, Green Valley (closed about 2013)

Canoa Hills, once called San Ignacio North, sat next to San Ignacio. It closed in about 2013. The owner donated the 130 acres to Pima County, approved 4-1 in 2018, and the Regional Flood Control District took over in late 2019. It is now Canoa Hills Trails, with 5.5 miles of paved walking loops.

Play instead: San Ignacio Golf Club next door, an Arthur Hills desert course open to the public. GolfLink showed most late-October 2026 rounds at $51 to $72, with prepaid deals from $41.88. Or Haven, the flat, walkable 1965 course in the middle of Green Valley. See Green Valley golf.

Santa Rita Golf Club, Corona de Tucson (closed 2011)

Santa Rita was a Red Lawrence neighbourhood course on Houghton Road in Corona de Tucson, opened in 1976. The Arizona Daily Star reported its final weekend in 2011, and a 2018 report said the last rounds were played that year. Some aggregators still show it as open; they are stale.

Play instead: Fred Enke, or Voyager RV Resort's par-3 nine if you are staying in that park.

Kino Springs, near Nogales (closed)

Kino Springs was a Red Lawrence course east of Nogales, opened in 1970, south of our map area. It closed in June 2019 for well work, and the local paper later reported it closed for good; Foretee and GolfPass list it as closed in 2021.

Play instead: Tubac Golf Resort, the 27-hole resort on the old Otero Ranch about an hour south of Tucson. Its Anza nine was closed in fall 2026 until about January 2027, so only 18 holes are open until then. See the Tubac Golf Resort course guide.

Courses with unclear status: call first

These courses have no confirmed closure, but we could not confirm they are operating either. None are on our map.

• Rio Rico Golf Club (Rio Rico, Robert Trent Jones Sr., 1971): one review site says it closed in 2018, an undated column said the front nine had closed, and no 2026 tee times were found.
• Rolling Hills Golf Course (east Tucson, executive course): a junior program was listed for August to October 2026 and a review was dated May 2026, but no online tee times were found.
• Tucson Estates Golf Course (west side): a community course listed as private to members and guests, with no 2026 activity found.
• Pusch Ridge nine at El Conquistador (Oro Valley): closed in 2020, reopened in November 2021 and kept by a 2024 council vote for three more years, but no 2026-27 season opening was confirmed.

Why Tucson courses close

The reasons in the closure reports repeat: falling rounds, water costs and utility costs. Vistoso cited water costs, Blanchard utility costs, and Del Lago rising costs with decreasing demand. The city's Greens Committee minutes from August 2026 also mention a discussion of reducing turf at Randolph North because of reclaimed-water costs. Randolph is open; that is a discussion, not a closure.

For the full list of what is open, see Tucson golf courses, and for private clubs, private golf clubs in Tucson.

How to avoid a closed course

• Do not trust old listings. GolfNow and 1golf still list Blanchard as open, and 1golf and Wander.golf still show Santa Rita.
• Call before driving to any course in the unclear list.
• Check fall closures too. Most open courses overseed in September and October; see Tucson golf overseed.

Plan it on the map

Open the Tucson golf map to see every open course with access notes and drive times. Closed courses are left off, so the $30 plan only routes you to courses that are open.