Canyon/Hill at La Paloma Country Club

La Paloma Country Club sits in the Catalina foothills on Tucson's north side, where the Sonoran Desert meets the Santa Catalina Mountains. Jack Nicklaus designed the 27-hole facility in the early 1980s, creating three distinct nines—Canyon, Ridge, and Hill—that can be combined into three different 18-hole configurations. The Canyon/Hill pairing is one of the most frequently played combinations and showcases Nicklaus's approach to desert golf during a period when he was establishing his design reputation in the Southwest.

The Canyon nine occupies terrain with more pronounced elevation changes and natural washes, while the Hill nine features rolling desert landscape with strategic bunkering and elevated greens. Both nines incorporate the native saguaro cacti, palo verde, and rocky outcroppings that define the Sonoran environment. The routing takes advantage of mountain views throughout, particularly toward the Catalinas to the north.

La Paloma operates as a private club and resort, with the golf course serving both members and resort guests. The facility has hosted various regional amateur competitions and qualifiers over the decades. Nicklaus's design emphasizes target golf with generous landing areas off the tee but demands precision on approach shots to well-defended greens. Water comes into play on several holes, a notable feature given the desert setting. The course reflects the design philosophy of the early 1980s, when desert golf was transitioning from traditional overseeded layouts to designs that incorporated more natural desert areas into play.