Tucson golf trip itinerary: four days and four courses that fit together
A Tucson golf trip itinerary for four days: Starr Pass, Tucson National, Arizona National and Sewailo, with drive times, a value version and when to go.
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A good Tucson golf trip itinerary for four days pairs one round a day with short drives: Starr Pass, the Catalina course at Omni Tucson National, Arizona National and Sewailo. All four took public tee times in October 2026, they cover the west, northwest, northeast and south sides, and none needs a resort booking to play.
Below is the day-by-day Tucson golf trip itinerary, a value version built on city courses, where to base, and the dates to avoid. Rates were seen in October 2026 and change through the season.
Quick facts
- The four courses: The Club at Starr Pass, Omni Tucson National Catalina, Arizona National and Sewailo.
- Drives from downtown: 11, 23, 35 and 22 minutes (free-flow estimates).
- Best month: March, normal high 75.8F and 0.56 in of rain.
- Avoid: mid-September to late October for overseed closures.
- Airport: Tucson International (TUS), about 17 minutes from downtown.
- Clock: Arizona time all year, no daylight saving.
The four-day Tucson golf trip itinerary at a glance
| Day | Course | Area | Drive from downtown | Tees most visitors play | Rating / slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sewailo | South side | 22 min | Ruby, 6,741 yds | 71.2 / 131 |
| 2 | Starr Pass | Tucson Mountains, west | 11 min | Silver, 6,176 yds | 69.7 / 130 |
| 3 | Tucson National Catalina | Northwest | 23 min | White, 6,610 yds | 72.2 / 131 |
| 4 | Arizona National | Northeast foothills | 35 min | Back tees 6,785 yds | Not published |
Drive times are OSRM free-flow estimates, which tend to run long on interstate legs. Rating and slope come from the published tee rows; Arizona National's rating was not found.
Day 1: arrive and play Sewailo
Sewailo is the easiest first round to reach. It sits next to Casino Del Sol on the south side, and the Casino Del Sol Resort is about 15 minutes from the airport. That makes it the natural arrival-day course.
It is a modern Notah Begay III design with lakes, water features and five tee sets. The tips, named Bear Down, run 7,283 yards at a 138 slope, which is more than most visitors need. Ruby at 6,741 yards or the Ruby/Jade combo at 6,512 suits most handicaps.
Pricing is dynamic, so check the tee sheet rather than a rack rate. An undated review site gave a range of $69 to $161 with a cart. Note the 2026 overseed: Sewailo closed September 14 to October 1 and stayed cart-path-only until October 23. The Sewailo course guide has the full tee list.
Day 2: Starr Pass in the Tucson Mountains
The Club at Starr Pass is the best resort golf in central Tucson: 27 holes of desert canyon golf west of downtown, with big elevation change and forced carries. It is the club of the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass, but GolfNow and Troon pages list public tee times, so you do not need to stay there.
The three nines were renamed in 2025, so older scorecards that say Rattler, Coyote and Palmer refer to the same holes. Combos run from 5,215 to 6,951 yards. The Gold tees on the par-73 combo play to a 141 slope, so most groups should pick Silver (6,176) or Black (6,760). Carts are included, and there is a range, chipping area and putting green.
No rates were readable online in October 2026. Expect resort prices and confirm when booking. See the Starr Pass course guide.
Day 3: Tucson National, the old tour course
Omni Tucson National has two 18s in the northwest suburbs. The Catalina course is the longer and more traditional one: tree-lined with lakes, par 73 and 7,262 yards from the Blue tees. Its 18th was the PGA Tour and Champions Tour finishing hole, and tour events were played there through 2023.
The resort's second course, the Sonoran course, is a shorter par-70 desert layout with 69 bunkers. If your group wants a 36-hole day, this is the place to do it, since both courses start from the same resort. Carts are included on both.
One caution for a fall trip: the Catalina course did not appear in nearby tee-time listings for October 27, 2026, and Omni's overseed dates were not confirmed. Check before you build a late-October trip around it. The Tucson National Catalina course guide covers the tees.
Day 4: Arizona National before you fly
Arizona National is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. desert course at the base of the Santa Catalinas near Sabino Canyon. It is a membership club that sells public tee times online, and booking direct gets the best online rate. Carts are mandatory.
It is the longest drive in this plan, about 35 minutes from downtown and 40 from the airport-area Hampton Inn on our estimates, so book a morning time on departure day and leave at least two hours between your finish and your flight.
A value version of the itinerary
If the four courses in the main Tucson golf trip itinerary stretch the budget, a city-course rotation keeps the same shape with shorter drives. The five City of Tucson courses are run by OB Sports under the Tucson City Golf name.
| Day | Course | Drive from downtown | Fee seen | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Rio | 7 min | About $29-$33 (summer 2026 listings) | Short, flat par 70 near downtown |
| 2 | Randolph North | 10 min | Winter from $50 (undated) | Historic midtown muni, water on five holes |
| 3 | Fred Enke | 23 min | No 2026 card found | The city's only desert target course, slope 135 |
| 4 | Crooked Tree | 22 min | $42.95-$63.17 (Oct 27, 2026) | Solid public 18 in the northwest |
The city sold its 2026 City Card for $50 plus tax for the rest of 2026 on the page read in October 2026, with city-card rates every round and 7-day advance booking. It expires December 31, 2026, so it only helps a November or December trip.
Randolph shares its complex with the shorter Dell Urich course, which is handy when a group has mixed abilities. Our Tucson city golf courses guide compares all five.
Where to base for four days
No single base is close to all four courses in this Tucson golf trip itinerary. Pick by the round you most want to walk out to.
- Omni Tucson National Resort: 36 holes on site. From there, Starr Pass is about 27 minutes, Sewailo 38 and Arizona National 49.
- JW Marriott Starr Pass: walk to Starr Pass. Sewailo is about 24 minutes, Tucson National 32 and Arizona National 47.
- Hampton Inn Tucson-Airport: free breakfast and parking, Sewailo about 20 minutes, Starr Pass 21, Arizona National 40.
Resort fees and parking add to the room bill: the JW Marriott listed a $49 nightly resort fee and paid parking, while Omni showed free or low-cost self-parking. Live room rates could not be read for any resort in October 2026. Our where to stay in Tucson for golf guide compares the areas.
When to go
| Month | Tucson high / low | What it means for this itinerary |
|---|---|---|
| October | 86.3F / 59.0F | Overseed closures in the first part of the month; check each course |
| November | 75.1F / 47.9F | Fresh rye; El Tour de Tucson closes roads on Nov 21, 2026 |
| January | 66.5F / 40.8F | Peak season; frost delays on early tee times |
| February | 69.2F / 43.2F | Busiest month in town during the gem shows; book rooms early |
| March | 75.8F / 48.0F | Best golf weather and peak rates |
| April | 82.9F / 53.3F | Snowbirds leave after Easter (Mar 28, 2027); rates step down |
NOAA 1991-2020 normals at Tucson International. The best time to golf in Tucson guide covers every month, and our Tucson golf overseed guide explains the fall closures.
Booking tips for a four-day trip
A Tucson golf trip itinerary only works if the tee times line up, so book in this order.
- Book the hardest course first. Starr Pass and Tucson National set the shape of the trip; fill the other days around them.
- Start a little later in January and February. Normal lows near 41F at the airport mean frost delays on first times.
- Avoid the overseed weeks. Sewailo, El Rio and Silverbell all closed for part of September and early October in recent years.
- Watch the event calendar. The gem and mineral shows (about January 27 to February 14, 2027) fill hotels citywide.
The Tucson tee times guide covers booking windows, and if you have less time, the Tucson golf weekend plan fits three rounds into a long weekend.
Plan it on the map
Open the Tucson golf map to see all four courses, the resorts and the hotels in 3D, with drive times from each stay. The $30 plan turns this Tucson golf trip itinerary into a day-by-day trip matched to your dates, handicaps and budget.
Courses in this guide
Questions golfers ask
What are the best four courses for a Tucson golf trip?
For visitors without a resort booking, a strong set is The Club at Starr Pass, the Catalina course at Omni Tucson National, Arizona National and Sewailo. All four sold public tee times in October 2026. Ventana Canyon and Dove Mountain need a stay at their resorts, so they only fit if you book those rooms.
How far apart are the courses in this Tucson itinerary?
From downtown Tucson, Starr Pass is about 11 minutes, Sewailo 22, Omni Tucson National 23 and Arizona National 35, on free-flow estimates. The longest hop is Arizona National in the northeast foothills, which is about 47 to 49 minutes from the Starr Pass and Tucson National resorts.
What does a four-day Tucson golf trip cost in green fees?
It depends heavily on the course and the date, and several resort courses had no readable rates in October 2026. City and daily-fee courses ran about $35 to $86 for 18 in late October 2026. Prices change and climb toward peak season.
When is the best time for a four-day Tucson golf trip?
March is the best weather month, with normal highs near 76F and little rain, but it is also peak price. November is a strong alternative once the fall overseed is done. Avoid mid-September to late October, when many courses close or play cart-path-only.
Can I fly into Tucson and play golf on arrival day?
Usually yes. Tucson International is about 17 minutes from downtown, and Sewailo and the Randolph complex are among the closer courses to the airport. Leave margin for a delayed flight before booking an early afternoon time.
Is there a cheaper version of this itinerary?
Yes. A value rotation of Randolph North, Fred Enke, El Rio and Crooked Tree keeps drives short and fees low. Fred Enke is the city's only desert target course, so you still get one round of desert golf at a municipal price.
Do I need a car for a Tucson golf trip?
Yes. The courses are spread across the metro, from the Tucson Mountains in the west to the northeast foothills and the south side. No course in this plan is within walking distance of another.
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