The rugged terrain of the Tucson Mountains provides spectacular golf and breathtaking views of the Catalina Mountains. Originally designed by the renowned Bob Cupp and PGA Tour professional Craig Stadler, Starr Pass Golf Club features 27 holes, which wisp their way through the desert landscape of saguaros and chollas. The course began with just 18 holes, until the addition of the Rattler nine, designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer. Starr Pass gets its name from history commemorated by the beautiful 6th hole of the Coyote nine, completed by Rattler and Roadrunner. In 1880, Richard Starr blazed a trail by stage coach, thus giving community members the opportunity to venture into the natural landscape of the western mountains. The trail served as a passage between Tucson and a mining boomtown by the name of Quijotoa, 70 miles to the southwest. 120 years later we find ourselves with a beautiful golf course, coupled with an all-inclusive desert resort.
The guys and I decided to take a weekend golf trip down to Tucson, Arizona. I had never stayed in a hotel down there before, so I began to look at our options. After a few minutes of browsing, I came across the “JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa.” I checked out the website and liked what I saw, so I booked it.
Then it was time to figure out the courses to play. As I was booking the hotel, I checked out the Starr Pass Golf Club. After seeing the breathtaking views and amazing golf course on the home page, it was an easy decision for a stay and play.
We took off from Scottsdale around 7:00am and began the nearly 2-hour drive to Starr Pass Golf Suites. The drive is quick and easy, only requiring one freeway with 2 lanes each way. We arrived at around 10:30am and decided to go straight to the course since check-in wasn’t until 3pm. We parked in the parking garage so we could keep our bags cool inside the car. The shaded parking area prevented our luggage from baking in the car—a useful feature that is appreciated even more when golfing during an Arizona summer.
We loaded up our carts and headed into the golf shop to check in. The shop was moderate in size and featured a TV fitted to the wall fixture. Naturally, the golf channel was on so golfers can stay updated on the current tournament and leaderboard. The pro at the desk mentioned that the greens all break towards the valley, which made sense because we were on a mountain. He also told us to not play the tips no matter what our handicap is or else we will be “eaten alive.” Once we checked in, we went to the bar to grab some drinks for the round. The bartender made us a killer Bloody Mary, one that was sure to loosen us up before the round! Water was also in order, as the temperature was still a modest 80 degrees.
As we made our way back to the carts, we asked the starter where the practice facilities were located. He pointed us in the direction of the tunnel leading underneath the road, and we were on our way. The driving range was large and had plenty of stations to get warm, complete with complementary range balls. It boasted a beautiful view of the resort and the mountains in the distance. The practice green was located next to the range and was large and undulated, with the chipping portion sharing the same surface as the putting. The chipping area featured a decent size practice bunker with a large greenside lip to get up and over. I figured, well, if I can get out of this bunker I can get out of any course bunker.
We started off on the Rattler nine, located conveniently next to the practice green. I noticed early on that, similar to Grayhawk Golf Club’s Talon course in Scottsdale, Starr Pass opted to keep the rough dead and yellow. The first hole faced east, providing us with a fantastic view of the Tucson valley and putting our elevation into perspective. While not long at 383 yards, the green is where the challenge lies on the first hole. It slopes aggressively back towards the fairway, so make sure to miss below the hole to avoid having your chip roll down off the front side as mine did.
The second hole proved to be one of the most difficult tee shots on the course, mainly because we were first timers. From the tee box, only a small portion of the fairway was visible, making it tough to pick out the correct line. We had been advised to play to the 150-yard stick, but we also would have liked a hole layout card or GPS device to map the hole. As the round went on, I had more and more blind shots to conquer, created by both the fairway undulation and desert trees. Not having played many courses with frequent blind shots, this was not only a challenge but also a great learning opportunity. As the round went on, each hole was very unique and memorable. Each hole posed a challenge of its own. Everything from slanted greens to mid-fairway desert hazards was on display throughout the Rattler nine.
Roadrunner Course: Hole 3, Par 3
The Roadrunner nine starts you out with a 195-yard par 3, which runs along the base of the resort. This is the longest par 3 out of all three nines at Starr Pass. It features a large bunker along the left side, which will help an errant shot stay in bounds and avoid trickling down into the large desert wash. Hole 3 features another par 3 with a tough elevation change, making club selection very important. Luckily it wasn’t windy when we played or it could have been an ugly hole!
As pictured, hole 6 features a long par 5, which snakes its way down the mountain starting with a dog leg left and snaking back to the right side. I would have had a nice birdie putt, but golf
Roadrunner Course: Hole 6, Par 5
being golf, I pushed the approach shot into the desert. Regardless, it was one of my favorite holes on the Roadrunner nine. This nine was very similar to the Rattler nine being that there are many desert hazards to clear, both off the tee box as well as approach shots.
Overall the golf experience at Starr Pass was spectacular. The course was well equipped with practice facilities and the playing surface was in phenomenal shape. It really makes you use all the clubs in your bag and all the shots in your arsenal (even making up a few if you have to!). Many tee shots require precision accuracy with spotty fairway visibility and blind approach shots into the green. With such tough competition in both the Tucson area and the state of Arizona, Starr Pass definitely stacks up as one of the best for a relaxing stay and play experience.
Once we finished up the round, we hopped in the car and drove a few minutes up the mountain to check into the resort. As we pulled up, the valet crew made sure to get our last name in order to store our clubs. It was definitely appreciated to not have to carry the clubs to the room, especially after a long round. We decided to pay $20 for the day to valet and not have to worry about parking.
As we entered the doors, the massive lobby windows revealed a spectacular view of the Tucson valley. The lobby was elevated above the patio and bar area, requiring a descent down the stairs to get there. Starr Pass also features a full Starbucks in the lobby for those early mornings, which I definitely took advantage of the next day. If you are in need of rest and relaxation, Hashani Spa is located on the North wing of the hotel and offers everything from facials to couples massages.
(Suite View) Roadrunner Course: Hole 1, Par 3
At check-in, I asked the concierge if we could upgrade to a suite. She was able to switch us over to an open suite and got us set up with key cards. After settling in, we made our way down to the patio for a late lunch. The patio area features a full bar along with a sizeable patio overlooking the valley. There are also a few fire pits with access to the full service kitchen.
After we finished lunch, we headed down to the pool area to check out the lazy river. Unfortunately, it was closed due to maintenance, so we went to the pool instead. There were a few lawn games provided such as “corn hole” (or “bags”) and bocce ball. The staff had informed us that the pool was recently redone, and the renovations were impressive and inviting. Once we finished at the pool, it was time to check out the Tucson nightlife and what the U of A scene had to offer.
The next day began with room service breakfast before heading north to our second tee time at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain. The food arrived in a very timely manner and was well-prepared and hot. The breakfast burrito was large and enough for two people to split, especially if you don’t want to eat a lot in the morning. Once we checked out, we gave the valet our last name and the car was brought around. You can also call the front desk from your room and the staff will have the car ready for you at the front. The clubs were also delivered quickly from the storage facility and we were on our way.
Starr Pass Golf Club & Resort Course Rating (Overall Rating 4 ¼ stars out of 5)
Starr Pass came out to 4 ¼ stars out of 5. The course condition coupled with the practice facilities really made our golf experience enjoyable. The fairways were well groomed and undulated while the greens were speedy but true. The main criteria affecting the rating was the check-in process. It fostered more of a self-park feel as we brought our bags up to the starter/cart area. The negatives were minor and if you’re looking for a great view on a well-conditioned, challenging course, Starr Pass is a solid bet. From the amazing suite view and spectacular golf, to the service and friendliness of the staff, the resort provided everything we could ask for and more. The attention to detail throughout the hotel and golf club at Starr Pass is definitely noticed by the guests, and sets the resort apart from the competition. If you are looking for a great place to stay and play in Tucson, look no further than Starr Pass Golf Club & Resort. I will definitely be back to Starr Pass for more stay and play adventure.