Tucson golf events: the Cologuard Classic and the dates that move prices
Tucson golf events for 2026-27: the Cologuard Classic at La Paloma, a local amateur date, and the gem shows, rodeo and festivals that push up room prices.
Open the 3D map of every course →
The biggest of the Tucson golf events is the Cologuard Classic on PGA Tour Champions, played at La Paloma Country Club since 2024. Resale listings put the 2027 event at March 18-21, but those dates are not confirmed. For most golfers, though, the events that matter more are the ones that fill hotels: the February gem shows, the rodeo, the Festival of Books and Thanksgiving.
This guide covers the tournament, the golf history you can still play, local amateur events, and the non-golf calendar that moves room rates and tee-time demand.
Quick facts
- Tour event: Cologuard Classic (PGA Tour Champions), at La Paloma Country Club since 2024.
- 2027 dates: March 18-21, 2027 on resale listings only; unconfirmed as of October 26, 2026.
- Recent winner: Steven Alker, 2025 and 2026.
- Former host you can play: Omni Tucson National, Catalina Course, 2015-2023.
- Biggest hotel crunch: gem shows, about January 27 to February 14, 2027.
- Local amateur date: Sewailo Amateur Championship, November 2, 2026.
The Cologuard Classic
The Cologuard Classic is Tucson's tour event, on the PGA Tour Champions schedule. Its venue history matters for planning:
- 2015-2023: Catalina Course at Omni Tucson National.
- 2024 onward: La Paloma Country Club, 3660 E Sunrise Dr in the Catalina Foothills.
So it is not at Omni Tucson National in 2027, as far as we found. The 2027 dates on ticket-resale listings are Thursday March 18 to Sunday March 21, 2027. Neither the tournament nor PGA Tour Champions had confirmed them when we checked on October 26, 2026.
What it means for your trip. La Paloma is a private, Troon-managed club with 27 Jack Nicklaus holes, so tournament week is for spectators only. The Westin La Paloma and other Foothills hotels are busier that week. Older sources say Westin guests can book tee times at the club the rest of the year, but the current guest policy was not confirmed. Our La Paloma golf guide covers access.
Meanwhile Omni Tucson National operates normally. Its Catalina Course 18th is the old PGA Tour and Champions Tour finishing hole, and it is open to the public as well as resort guests. See the Omni Tucson National Catalina course guide and our Omni Tucson National golf guide.
Tucson tour history you can still see
| Venue | Event history | Can visitors play? |
|---|---|---|
| Omni Tucson National, Catalina | Tucson Open (PGA Tour) finishing hole; Cologuard Classic 2015-2023 | Yes, public and resort guests |
| The Golf Club at Dove Mountain | WGC-Accenture Match Play 2009-2014 on Tortolita/Saguaro; LIV Golf Tucson 2023 | Only as a Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain guest or with a member |
| The Gallery Golf Club, South | WGC-Accenture Match Play 2007-2008 | No, private |
| Forty Niner Country Club | Former Tucson Open host, per directory listings | Yes, public tee times on GolfNow |
| La Paloma Country Club | Cologuard Classic from 2024 | Private; resort-guest access unconfirmed |
The Dove Mountain Tortolita/Saguaro routing, the old Match Play course, runs 7,849 yards from the tips; most visitors play the Yellow tees at 6,334. Peak rates were listed at $250-$360 (2024 rates). Our Dove Mountain golf guide explains how to get on.
Local Tucson golf events you can enter
- Sewailo Amateur Championship, November 2, 2026. Entry $140 including green fee, cart, range and lunch, per the club's September 2026 newsletter. Sewailo is a Notah Begay III design next to Casino Del Sol and home of the University of Arizona golf teams. See the Sewailo course guide.
- Golden Nugget Invitational, Forty Niner Country Club. Listed on the club site; dates and entry terms not found.
- Weekly RV-park tournaments. The par-3 nine at Voyager RV Resort is open daily except during its weekly men's, women's and couples' tournaments, and residents also play a weekly match at Dorado Golf Course. Many snowbird parks and communities run leagues; ask your park's activity office.
Tucson golf events calendar: the dates that move prices
These are not all golf events, but they decide what your room costs and how hard it is to get a tee time.
| When | Event | Impact on a golf trip |
|---|---|---|
| About Jan 27-Feb 14, 2027 | Gem, mineral and fossil shows (dozens of separate shows) | The biggest demand event of the year: hotels citywide sell out or charge top rates; heavy traffic near venues |
| Feb 11-14, 2027 | Tucson Gem and Mineral Show (main show), Tucson Convention Center | Downtown hotels and parking busiest |
| Feb 20-28, 2027 | La Fiesta de los Vaqueros (rodeo) | South-side roads around the parade route and rodeo grounds busy; hotels busier; little effect on golf |
| Mar 13-14, 2027 | Tucson Festival of Books, University of Arizona Mall | Campus-area hotels and parking busy |
| Mar 18-21, 2027 (unconfirmed) | Cologuard Classic, La Paloma CC | Foothills hotels busier |
| Mar 28, 2027 | Easter; snowbird departures | Tee times open and rates step down through April |
| Nov 21, 2026 | El Tour de Tucson (cycling) | Rolling road closures across Tucson, Marana and Oro Valley most of the Saturday |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Thanksgiving | Family visitors on top of arriving snowbirds; holiday-week tee demand |
The rodeo parade is traditionally on the Thursday of rodeo week, which would point to February 25, 2027, but that date was not published. Gem show dates other than the main show come from third-party listings and vary by show.
How to book around them. For the first half of February, book rooms very early or base in Oro Valley, Marana or Green Valley rather than along I-10 or downtown. For El Tour, book a course near your base that Saturday. For March, book rooms months ahead.
How to plan a trip around Tucson golf events
Most visitors want to avoid the crowds rather than join them. A few rules of thumb from the calendar:
- Watching the Cologuard Classic? Wait for the official 2027 dates before booking flights, since the March 18-21 dates come only from resale listings. Book a Foothills room early once they are confirmed, and plan to play somewhere other than La Paloma that week, such as Omni Tucson National or Starr Pass.
- Coming in early February? The gem shows are the biggest crunch of the year. Base in Oro Valley, Marana or Green Valley instead of along I-10 or downtown.
- Coming in late February? Rodeo week has little direct effect on golf, but south-side roads are busier and schools traditionally close for the parade Thursday and Friday.
- Coming in November? Avoid driving across the metro on El Tour Saturday, November 21, and book Thanksgiving-week tee times as soon as windows open.
- Want quiet tee sheets? The weeks after Easter (March 28, 2027) bring snowbird departures, rates that step down through April and weather that is still excellent.
Every one of these Tucson golf events and dates is subject to change, so check the organizer's page before you commit.
No spring training in Tucson
One event Tucson does not have any more is spring training. The Diamondbacks and Rockies left for the Phoenix area after the 2010 season, and the Cactus League now plays entirely in metro Phoenix, about two hours north, from late February through March. A game means a long day trip or a split stay. Our Phoenix to Tucson drive guide covers the I-10 run.
Monsoon season
The National Weather Service monsoon season runs June 15 to September 30, with most storms in July and August. It brings afternoon lightning suspensions, flash flooding in washes and dust storms on I-10. Book first tee times. See Tucson summer golf.
For the busiest months in detail, see Tucson golf in March and Tucson golf in November. Our guide to where to stay in Tucson for golf helps you pick a base away from event crowds.
Plan it on the map
Open the Tucson golf map to see where each event sits relative to the courses and your base. The plan can build your dates around the calendar, steering rounds and rooms away from the gem-show and tournament crunch.
Courses in this guide
Questions golfers ask
What PGA Tour Champions event is played in Tucson?
The Cologuard Classic. It was played on the Catalina Course at Omni Tucson National from 2015 to 2023 and moved to La Paloma Country Club in 2024. Steven Alker won it in 2025 and 2026.
When is the 2027 Cologuard Classic?
The only 2027 dates we found were on ticket-resale listings: March 18-21, 2027 at La Paloma Country Club. The tournament and PGA Tour Champions had not confirmed them as of October 26, 2026, so treat them as unconfirmed.
Can I play La Paloma during the Cologuard Classic?
No. La Paloma Country Club is private, and tournament week is spectators only. Westin La Paloma and Foothills hotels are busier that week, while Omni Tucson National operates normally.
Which event pushes Tucson hotel prices highest?
The gem, mineral and fossil shows, about January 27 to February 14, 2027. Dozens of separate shows fill hotels citywide, especially along I-10 and downtown. Golf trips in early February should book rooms very early or base in Oro Valley, Marana or Green Valley.
Is there a PGA Tour event in Tucson?
Our 2026-27 research found no regular PGA Tour event in Tucson; the tour event listed is the Cologuard Classic on PGA Tour Champions. The old Tucson Open finishing hole is the 18th on Omni Tucson National's Catalina Course, and Dove Mountain hosted the WGC-Accenture Match Play from 2009 to 2014 and LIV Golf Tucson in 2023.
Are there amateur golf events visitors can enter?
Sewailo listed its Amateur Championship for November 2, 2026, with a $140 entry including green fee, cart, range and lunch. Forty Niner Country Club lists the Golden Nugget Invitational, but we did not find its dates or terms.
Does the Tucson rodeo affect golf?
Only a little. La Fiesta de los Vaqueros runs February 20-28, 2027. Roads around the parade route and rodeo grounds on the south side are closed or busy, and hotels are busier, but there is little direct effect on tee sheets.
Keep reading
SeasonsTucson golf in March: peak spring weather, events and when to bookTucson golf in March: mid-70s highs, drier than February, the Cologuard Classic and Festival of Books, Easter departures and how early to book rooms.7 min read
CoursesTucson golf courses: every course you can actually bookTucson golf courses side by side: which take public tee times, which are resort-guest or private only, yardage, slope, drive times and fees seen in 2026.7 min read
HotelsTucson golf resorts compared: Ventana Canyon, Starr Pass, La Paloma, Omni, Dove Mountain and TubacTucson golf resorts side by side: which courses each unlocks, who can play, resort fees and parking seen in 2026, drive times and the catch at each one.7 min read