Omni Tucson National golf: the Catalina and Sonoran courses and the tour history

Omni Tucson National golf means two 18-hole courses at one northwest Tucson resort: Catalina, the 1962 tree-lined course that hosted the Champions tour event until 2023, and Sonoran, a shorter 2005 desert-style par 70. Both are open to the public and to resort guests, with carts included.

It is the most complete golf resort in Tucson if you simply want to play a lot without driving. This guide covers both courses tee by tee, the tour history, when to go and where else to play nearby.

Quick facts

• Courses: Catalina (par 73) and Sonoran (par 70), 36 holes.
• Access: public and resort guests; carts included.
• Location: 2727 W Club Dr, about 23 minutes from downtown Tucson.
• Turf: Champion bermuda greens, Tifway 419 bermuda fairways.
• Tour history: Cologuard Classic on Catalina 2015-2023; it moved to La Paloma in 2024.
• Rates: no 2026-27 rate card readable in October 2026.
• Resort: Omni Tucson National Resort & Spa, with free self-parking listed.

The two courses by the numbers

Ratings are men's unless marked. The Catalina Red tee also carries a men's rating of 67.9 and slope of 125.

Catalina: the old tour course

The Catalina course is the older of the two, opened in 1962 and credited to Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin on GolfNow. It is a classic tree-lined, parkland-style layout with lakes, which makes it feel different from the desert target golf at Starr Pass or Ventana Canyon.

At 7,262 yards from the Blue tees it is long, and par 73 gives you an extra par 5 to use. The 18th is the old PGA Tour and Champions Tour finishing hole; the course was a former PGA Tour Tucson Open host and tour events were played here through 2023. Most visitors will be better served by the White tees at 6,610 yards. The Catalina course guide has the full card.

Sonoran: shorter, sharper

The Sonoran course is a 2005 Tom Lehman design: desert-style, with 69 bunkers, undulating ground and two lakes. It is a par 70 at 6,529 yards from the Blue tees, so it plays easier on the card than Catalina, but the bunkering asks for accuracy.

It is also the more forgiving choice for a mixed group. The Yellow tees at 4,579 yards and the Red at 5,182 give higher handicappers a real chance. On a stay-and-play, pair the two: Catalina one day, Sonoran the next. See the Sonoran course guide.

The Champions event: where it went

For years, Omni Tucson National golf was tied to the PGA Tour Champions. The Cologuard Classic was played on Catalina from 2015 to 2023. In 2024 it moved to La Paloma Country Club in the Catalina Foothills, a private club, where Steven Alker won in 2025 and 2026.

For 2027, dates of March 18-21 at La Paloma appear only on ticket-resale listings and were not confirmed by the tour as of October 26, 2026. Omni Tucson National operates normally that week, which can make it a good time to book here while Foothills hotels fill. Our Tucson golf events guide covers the week, and the La Paloma golf guide explains who can play there.

When to play

Both courses are bermuda (Champion greens, Tifway 419 fairways). Omni publishes a 2026 aerification schedule, but the page could not be read, so overseed dates are not confirmed. Catalina did not show in nearby tee-time listings for October 27, 2026, which may point to a fall overseed.

From November to April the courses should be green and busy; March is the best weather month (about 76F highs at Tucson airport) and also peak pricing. Summer is cheap and very hot, over 100F in June and July. See our Tucson golf overseed guide and best time to golf in Tucson.

Rates and booking

No 2026-27 rate card was readable when we checked. An Omni 2017-18 group sheet showed $60 to $200 by season; that is outdated and only shows the seasonal swing. An Omni offer page says kids aged 5 to 15 play free with a full-paying adult, with dates not confirmed.

Resort guests get resort tee times and rates. Non-guests can book public times through the course or GolfNow. Check the Tucson golf rates guide for how prices move through the season.

Staying at the resort

Omni Tucson National has 36 holes on site, an on-site spa and free self-parking on a 2026 Omni group page (an agent listed $5 a day). One travel agent showed a resort fee of $32.49 a night, not confirmed by Omni, and valet ran $15 to $17. Dated room rates could not be read for 2026-27.

For a cheaper bed nearby, the Holiday Inn Express Tucson North - Marana is 13 minutes from the courses. Compare the options in Tucson golf resorts compared.

Other courses near Omni Tucson National

Crooked Tree, a 7,065-yard public course, was one of the few nearby courses taking times through overseed in late October 2026. Quarry Pines is cheap and short, though reviews complain of slow rounds.

Playing Omni Tucson National golf well

Pick the right Catalina tee. Catalina is a long par 73. From the Blue tees at 7,262 yards it rates 75.4, well above par, so most visitors should play White (6,610 yards, 72.2/131). Women playing Red face a 73.1 rating and 131 slope at 5,717 yards; Yellow (5,414, 71.5/127) is the gentler choice.

Respect Sonoran's sand. With 69 bunkers on a 6,529-yard par 70, Sonoran rewards position over power. The White tees (6,021, 68.1/125) suit most mid handicappers and the Yellow tees at 4,579 yards (61.6/105) give beginners a fair round.

Ride, do not walk. Carts are included in green fees on both courses.

Plan around the light. Winter days are short and dawns chilly, with January lows around 41F at Tucson airport, so a mid-morning start is often the most pleasant in December and January.

A two-day stay-and-play at Omni Tucson National

A simple plan for a golf-first pair or foursome:

1. Day one: Catalina in the morning, the longer and more traditional test. Spa or pool in the afternoon.
2. Day two: Sonoran in the morning, then a short drive to Crooked Tree (8 minutes) or Quarry Pines (11 minutes) for a cheaper extra round if you still have legs.
3. Day three (optional): Starr Pass, across town in the Tucson Mountains, for the desert canyon round the Omni does not have.

That gives you three different styles of Tucson golf with one hotel. For four days and four courses, see our Tucson golf trip itinerary.

Plan it on the map

Open the Tucson golf map to see both Omni Tucson National golf courses, the resort and the courses around them, with drive times. The $30 plan can build a stay-and-play around Catalina and Sonoran with a value round or two nearby.