El Rio golf course in Tucson, plus Silverbell and Fred Enke
El Rio golf course in Tucson, Silverbell and Fred Enke: tees, ratings, fees seen in 2026, overseed closures and nearby stays for the other three city courses.
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El Rio golf course in Tucson is a short, tree-lined par 70 on the west side, 7 minutes from downtown and one of the cheapest 18-hole rounds in the city. It is one of five Tucson City Golf courses. This guide also covers the other two outside Randolph: long, open Silverbell on the west side and desert-target Fred Enke on the east side.
All three are public, book through Tucson City Golf and take the City Card. They suit very different days, so it is worth knowing which is which before you book.
Quick facts
- El Rio: par 70, 6,436 yds (Blue), 69.4 / 124. 1400 W Speedway Blvd. (520) 791-4229. 7 min from downtown.
- Silverbell: par 70, 6,936 yds (back), 72.2 / 123. 3600 N Silverbell Rd. (520) 791-5235. 14 min.
- Fred Enke: par 72, 6,809 yds (back), 71.3 / 135. 8251 E Irvington Rd. City Golf main line (520) 791-4653. 23 min.
- Fees seen: El Rio about $28.64 to $32.66 and Silverbell about $29.63 in summer 2026 listings. Fred Enke not found.
- Operator: OB Sports for the City of Tucson.
- Overseed: mid-September into early October in 2025.
El Rio, Silverbell and Fred Enke compared
| El Rio | Silverbell | Fred Enke | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 70 | 70 | 72 |
| Back yardage | 6,436 (Blue) | 6,936 | 6,809 |
| Rating / slope | 69.4 / 124 | 72.2 / 123 | 71.3 / 135 |
| Style | Old, flat, tree-lined | Long, flat, open, water | Desert target |
| History | City bought it in 1968 | Rebuilt 2005 | Dedicated 1983 |
| Summer 2026 fees seen | About $28.64-$32.66 | About $29.63 | Not found |
| 2025 overseed | Closed Sep 15-Oct 3 | Closed Sep 15-Oct 3, cart-path to Oct 17 | Reopened Oct 4 |
| From downtown | 7 min, 2.6 mi | 14 min, 6.3 mi | 23 min, 12.4 mi |
Ratings come from single listings, and fees are summer 2026 tee-time listings seen as search snippets. The city rate page returned an error on October 26, 2026, so no winter rates were available. Rates change.
El Rio golf course in Tucson
El Rio was a private country club until the city bought it in 1968. It is an old, flat parkland course by the Santa Cruz River, with mature trees framing the holes. At 6,436 yards from the Blue tees it is the shortest city par 70, and its 124 slope reflects trees more than length.
What El Rio golf course in Tucson does well is convenience. It is the closest city course to downtown, about 7 minutes away, which makes it a natural choice for an early round before a flight or a short afternoon nine. Our take: a traditional city course with old trees, cheap and quick to get to, not a resort-level round.
Practical notes:
- Aeration closed it on June 9, 2026.
- In June 2026 El Rio ran Monday and Tuesday specials; ask whether they continue in winter.
- A 2024 Troon Card listing included El Rio; 2026-27 terms were not confirmed.
More detail is in the El Rio course guide.
Silverbell golf course
Silverbell was rebuilt for $2.6 million over seven months, to a Ken Kavanaugh design, and reopened on December 19, 2005. Par dropped from 72 to 70 and the course got longer. At 6,936 yards it is long for a par 70, and its 72.2 rating is the highest of the city courses we found.
It is flat and open along the Santa Cruz River, with water in play. There is a range, and August 2026 minutes say Silverbell will share identical range machines and universal range cards with Randolph and Fred Enke. The same minutes said conditions were good ahead of overseeding and that TVs were being installed.
Silverbell is the city course for a longer hitter who wants to use the driver. See the Silverbell course guide.
Fred Enke golf course
Fred Enke on the east side was dedicated on December 3, 1983, and is the city's only desert-target course. Turf is limited to tees, landing areas and greens, so missed fairways mean desert. One listing credits the design to Dick Phelps and Brad Benz.
The 135 slope from the 6,809-yard back tees makes it the hardest city course we found, and the cheapest way in Tucson to try target golf before paying resort rates. Our take: desert target golf at a muni price, the most interesting of the city courses. Fred Enke is in the September overseed group with Dell Urich and reopened on October 4, 2025. Aeration was June 16 in 2026. See the Fred Enke course guide.
Which one to book
- Short on time, staying central: El Rio golf course in Tucson, 7 minutes from downtown.
- Want length and a driver-friendly layout: Silverbell.
- Want desert golf on a budget: Fred Enke.
- Mixed-ability group: El Rio, or Dell Urich at the Randolph complex, covered in our Randolph golf course guide.
For the full five-course comparison with passes, see Tucson city golf courses.
City Card and passes
The 2026 Tucson City Card covers all three, plus Randolph North and Dell Urich. When read on October 26, 2026 it was on sale for $50 plus tax for the rest of 2026 (earlier $119 plus tax). It gives city-card rates on every round, one complimentary round, guest rates for up to three guests, 7-day advance booking, 50% off a first range package, 10% off food and 15% off in the shop. Earlier 2026 terms said cards expire December 31, 2026.
The 2026 Mega Pass gave unlimited individual play at all five from May 1 to December 31, 2026, at $2,200 plus tax or $1,750 plus tax for weekdays only. A winter 2027 version had not been found. More in Tucson golf passes.
When to play
El Rio golf course in Tucson and its two sister courses are all bermudagrass overseeded with rye. The fall closures fall between mid-September and early October, so a late-September trip should check each course first. By November the rye is in and conditions are green. Tucson's peak season is January to April, when the city courses are busiest and the City Card's 7-day booking helps. Summer brings the lowest fees but highs over 100F in June and July, so book first tee times. See best time to golf in Tucson and Tucson golf overseed.
Where to stay
| Stay | El Rio | Silverbell | Fred Enke |
|---|---|---|---|
| JW Marriott Starr Pass | 13 min | 18 min | 33 min |
| Rincon Country West RV Resort | 13 min | 21 min | 28 min |
| Holiday Inn Express Tucson North - Marana | 17 min | 17 min | 39 min |
| Omni Tucson National | 21 min | 21 min | 42 min |
| Rincon Country East RV Resort | 27 min | 35 min | 8 min |
| Voyager RV Resort & Hotel | 23 min | 30 min | 14 min |
| Hampton Inn Tucson-Airport | 19 min | 26 min | 19 min |
Times are routed estimates. The Hampton Inn by the airport is the one base under 20 minutes from El Rio and Fred Enke. The west-side pair suit a Starr Pass or Rincon West base; Fred Enke suits the east side. Our where to stay in Tucson for golf guide compares the areas, and cheap golf in Tucson lists other low-cost rounds.
If you want desert-style golf on a budget elsewhere in the Southwest, our cheap golf in Mesquite guide is a good comparison.
Plan it on the map
Open the Tucson golf map to see El Rio, Silverbell, Fred Enke and every other course with drive times from each stay. The $30 plan can build a day-by-day trip or a whole winter stay with a weekly rotation across the city courses.
Courses in this guide
Questions golfers ask
Is El Rio golf course in Tucson public?
Yes. El Rio is a City of Tucson municipal course run by OB Sports as Tucson City Golf, and it is open to everyone. City Card holders get preferred rates.
How long is El Rio golf course?
El Rio is a par 70 of 6,436 yards from the Blue tees, with a 69.4 rating and 124 slope. It is the only tee set we could verify.
What does El Rio cost to play?
Summer 2026 tee-time listings showed about $28.64 to $32.66 per player. No 2026 rate card was published when we checked, so winter rates were not available. In June 2026 El Rio ran Monday and Tuesday specials.
Is Silverbell harder than El Rio?
Silverbell is longer: 6,936 yards and a 72.2 rating from the back, against El Rio's 6,436 and 69.4. The slopes are close (123 and 124). Silverbell is open with water in play, while El Rio is shorter and tree-lined.
What makes Fred Enke different from the other city courses?
It is the city's only desert-target course, with grass only on the tees, landing areas and greens. From the 6,809-yard back tees it carries a 135 slope, the highest of the city courses we found.
When are El Rio and Silverbell closed for overseed?
Both closed from September 15 to October 3, 2025, and Silverbell then ran cart-path only through October 17. Fred Enke is in the September overseed group and reopened October 4, 2025. 2026 dates had not been published.
Where should I stay to play El Rio and Silverbell?
On our routed times, JW Marriott Starr Pass is 13 minutes from El Rio and 18 from Silverbell, and Rincon Country West RV Resort is 13 minutes from El Rio. For Fred Enke, Rincon Country East RV Resort is 8 minutes away.
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