Starr Pass golf: the three nines, the new greens and the JW Marriott
Starr Pass golf guide: the Gambler, Pioneer and Palmer nines, tees and slopes, 2024-25 renovations, who can book, the JW Marriott's fees and nearby courses.
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Starr Pass golf is 27 desert holes in the Tucson Mountains, 11 minutes west of downtown, at the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass. The three nines (Gambler, Pioneer and Palmer) got new TifEagle greens, bunkers rebuilt in 2024 and a renovated clubhouse that reopened in November 2025. It sells public tee times, so you do not need to stay.
That combination, fresh conditioning, real difficulty and open access, makes it the strongest resort golf in central Tucson on our research. Here are the nines, the tees, the costs we could find and how the resort fits in.
Quick facts
- Holes: 27, in three nines played as 18-hole combinations.
- Designers: Bob Cupp and Craig Stadler (Gambler, Pioneer); Arnold Palmer (Palmer nine, 2005).
- Opened: 1986.
- Access: public tee times through GolfNow and Troon; Troon-managed club with members.
- Greens: TifEagle bermuda, new on all three nines.
- Toughest tees: 6,951 yards, 73.7 rating, 141 slope (par 73).
- Drive: 11 minutes, 5.3 miles from downtown.
- Cart: included in green fees.
Starr Pass golf tees by the numbers
| Tee | Combination | Yards | Par | Rating / slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Par-73 18 | 6,951 | 73 | 73.7 / 141 |
| Black | Par-73 18 | 6,760 | 73 | 72.3 / 137 |
| Gold | Par-71 18 | 6,627 | 71 | 72.0 / 140 |
| Gold | Par-70 18 | 6,538 | 70 | 71.5 / 139 |
| Silver | Par-73 18 | 6,176 | 73 | 69.7 / 130 |
| Blue (women) | Par-73 18 | 5,690 | 73 | 75.2 / 142 |
| Red (women) | Par-73 18 | 5,215 | 73 | 70.9 / 130 |
Three different 18s come out of the 27 holes, so par changes with the pairing. The par-73 combination is probably Gambler and Pioneer, but that was not confirmed. Ask the shop which two nines are in play on your day.
The three nines
The Club at Starr Pass is desert canyon golf: big elevation change, forced carries and the Tucson Mountains around you. Gambler and Pioneer are the Cupp and Stadler nines; the Palmer nine dates from 2005.
The names are new. In 2025 Rattler, Coyote and Palmer became Gambler, Pioneer and Palmer, so older guides, reviews and even some booking pages still use the old names. If something says Rattler or Coyote, it is the same ground.
Starr Pass hosted PGA TOUR Q-School Stage 2 in December 2025. The Starr Pass course guide has the details.
What changed in 2024 and 2025
- Bunkers: every bunker was rebuilt in 2024.
- Greens: new TifEagle bermuda greens on all three nines.
- Clubhouse: the renovated clubhouse reopened on November 1, 2025, with a 2,700 square foot golf shop and Creosote Sonoran Kitchen & Cocktails.
There are rental clubs and caddies are available. Practice facilities include a range, a chipping area and a putting green, with a teaching pro. Metal spikes are not allowed. No 2026 overseed dates were published, so check before an October round.
Who can play Starr Pass golf
Starr Pass is the golf club of the resort, managed by Troon, with a membership. GolfNow and Troon booking pages list public tee times, so outside play is accepted. Whether resort guests get priority was not published.
That means you can stay anywhere and still play here, which is unusual among Tucson's best resort courses. Ventana Canyon needs a Loews or Lodge stay and Dove Mountain a Ritz-Carlton stay. See Tucson golf resorts compared for how they differ.
What it costs
No Starr Pass rates were readable online on October 26, 2026; GolfNow and TeeOff showed no times that day. Carts are included. Expect resort pricing, and look at the tee sheet for your date rather than relying on an old rack rate. The Tucson golf rates guide shows how prices move through the season.
The JW Marriott Starr Pass
The JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa sits on the course, 3 minutes from the clubhouse by road, next to Tucson Mountain Park trails, with a full spa. Stay here to walk to the first tee.
The add-ons, as seen in 2026:
- Resort fee: $49 a night on Marriott.com; travel agents showed $54.90 to $56.37 including tax.
- Parking: self-parking about $14 a day (one listing said $20), valet about $36. Reviews mention a long walk from self-parking to the lobby.
- Renovation: work was listed through April-July 2026; confirm it is done.
Dated room rates could not be read for 2026-27. If you are choosing between resorts, our best golf resort in Tucson guide matches each to a type of golfer.
Other courses near Starr Pass
| Course | From the JW Marriott | Back tees | Fee seen (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Rio | 13 min | 6,436 (69.4/124) | about $29-$33 (summer) |
| Silverbell | 18 min | 6,936 (72.2/123) | about $30 (summer) |
| Randolph North | 23 min | about 6,900 | about $41-$62 (summer) |
| Sewailo | 24 min | 7,283 (73.5/138) | $100 for two (summer promo) |
El Rio and Silverbell are flat city courses on the west side, a cheap second round. Sewailo is the other big modern course on this side of town; see the Sewailo course guide. See Tucson city golf courses for the munis.
Choosing your Starr Pass tees
The ratings say Starr Pass plays hard from every tee, and the desert carries make it harder for a player who misses.
- Gold (6,951, 73.7/141): low handicaps only. A 141 slope is the highest men's slope we found at any Tucson course that sells public tee times.
- Black (6,760, 72.3/137): still a stern test for single-digit players.
- Silver (6,176, 69.7/130): the sensible choice for most visiting men.
- Red for women (5,215, 70.9/130): the better forward option. The women's Blue tee rates 75.2 with a 142 slope at 5,690 yards, which is a lot of golf.
If your group mixes abilities, split across two tee sets rather than everyone playing back. And because carts are included, there is no saving to be had by walking, which the elevation change would make hard work anyway.
Starr Pass in a longer trip
Starr Pass is 11 minutes from downtown, which makes it easy to fit into any Tucson itinerary. Play it early in the trip, while you are fresh, and pair it with the flat city courses on the west side for contrast. Sewailo, on the southwest side at Casino Del Sol, is the other long modern course nearby. A four-day plan might be Starr Pass, Omni Tucson National, Sewailo and a city course; see our Tucson golf trip itinerary.
If you stay at the JW Marriott and want golf that needs a resort stay, Ventana Canyon (Loews) and Dove Mountain (Ritz-Carlton) are not open to you as JW guests. Starr Pass is the resort round here, and it is a strong one.
When to go
November to April is the season. March averages about 76F highs and falls in peak pricing. Summer highs run over 100F in June and July, and the monsoon runs from mid-June to September, with most storms in July and August. Our best time to golf in Tucson guide has the month-by-month view.
Plan it on the map
Open the Tucson golf map to see Starr Pass golf, the JW Marriott and the west-side courses around it, with drive times. The $30 plan can build a trip with Starr Pass at its centre and the right value rounds around it.
Courses in this guide
Questions golfers ask
Can the public play Starr Pass golf?
Yes. The Club at Starr Pass is the golf club of the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass, managed by Troon, with a membership. GolfNow and Troon booking pages list public tee times, so outside play is accepted. Whether resort guests get priority is not published.
What are the names of the Starr Pass nines?
Gambler, Pioneer and Palmer. The nines were renamed in 2025; older guides and scorecards call them Rattler, Coyote and Palmer. Bob Cupp and Craig Stadler designed the Gambler and Pioneer nines and Arnold Palmer the Palmer nine, which opened in 2005.
How hard is Starr Pass?
On published ratings it is the toughest Tucson course that sells public tee times. The par-73 combination plays 6,951 yards from the Gold tees with a 73.7 rating and 141 slope. The Silver tees, at 6,176 yards and 130 slope, suit most visitors.
What changed at Starr Pass recently?
All bunkers were rebuilt in 2024, all three nines got new TifEagle bermuda greens, and the clubhouse and Creosote restaurant reopened on November 1, 2025 with a 2,700 square foot golf shop. Starr Pass also hosted PGA TOUR Q-School Stage 2 in December 2025.
How much does Starr Pass cost?
No rates were readable online on October 26, 2026; GolfNow and TeeOff showed no times. Carts are included in green fees. Expect resort prices and check the tee sheet for your date.
What are the JW Marriott Starr Pass fees?
Marriott.com showed a $49 a night resort fee, with travel agents listing $54.90 to $56.37 including tax. Self-parking was about $14 a day and valet about $36 on one agent's listing. Renovation work was listed through April-July 2026, so check that it is finished.
How far is Starr Pass from downtown Tucson?
About 11 minutes and 5.3 miles, the closest resort course to downtown. El Rio is 13 minutes from the JW Marriott, Silverbell 18 and Sewailo 24.
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