
Arizona National Course
Arizona National Golf Club


About this course
Arizona National, carved into the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, bears the indelible stamp of Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s strategic brilliance. Opened in the late 1980s, the course embraces its desert landscape, demanding thoughtful approaches and rewarding calculated risk. This is not a course of manicured perfection, but rather a canvas where native washes, cacti, and undulating terrain dictate the flow of play. A place where wayward drives find unforgiving lies and shrewd course management separates contenders from pretenders. While not steeped in championship history, Arizona National quietly fosters a passionate community. The club's lore centers less on televised glory and more on the camaraderie found within its membership. Tales abound of twilight rounds punctuated by fiery sunsets and post-round gatherings fueled by local craft beers and Southwestern fare. It's the kind of place where the cart paths are named after long tenured employees who are cherished for the life and culture of Arizona National. Arizona National is a demanding test of golf skill. Designed with forced carries over arroyos, elevation changes, and subtle doglegs. Jones Jr. designed the course to reward shot-shaping prowess, favoring those who can work the ball both ways. The course is long, testing a player’s ability to hit towering approach shots into the greens. A challenge to golfers of all handicaps. Arizona National may not be a household name, but it offers an authentic Tucson golf experience. It’s a place where the desert landscape becomes both adversary and ally, and where the spirit of the game is celebrated with genuine Southwestern hospitality.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in AZ
Quick facts
- Location
- Tucson, AZ, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1996
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,785 yards
- Difficulty
- 72.5/143
- Course Vaults score
- 7.7
Getting there
Tucson International Airport lies just twenty minutes southwest of Arizona National Golf Club, making this Sonoran Desert sanctuary one of the most accessible championship layouts in the American Southwest. The drive northeast traces the gentle rise from the valley floor into the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, where saguaro-studded bajadas give way to higher-elevation terrain and sweeping views across the Tucson basin. Private arrivals can utilize Ryan Airfield, a reliever airport favored by general aviation, positioned even closer to the club's elevated perch at nearly 3,000 feet, where the air is noticeably cooler and the desert reveals its most dramatic contours.

FAQ
Common questions about Arizona National
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Arizona National has a Course Vaults score of 7.7 out of 10 based on 38 logged golfers.
Arizona National was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr..
Yes. Arizona National is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Arizona National is 71.
Arizona National plays 6,785 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Arizona National is 143.



