La Paloma Country Club

La Paloma Country Club's Hill and Ridge nines form part of a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus design that opened in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson in 1984. The property sits at roughly 2,700 feet elevation in the Sonoran Desert, where saguaro cacti, palo verde, and ocotillo frame the golf corridors against a dramatic mountain backdrop. Nicklaus routed the holes through rolling desert terrain with significant elevation changes, utilizing the natural washes and rock outcroppings that characterize this part of southern Arizona. The Hill nine plays through the more elevated portions of the property, with several holes offering expansive views across the Tucson basin. The Ridge nine continues the desert-target style that defines much of Nicklaus's Southwest work from this era, asking players to carry forced carries over native desert areas to generous landing zones and greens. Water features appear on select holes, a notable design element given the arid setting. The course requires both distance management in the thin air and careful navigation around the desert hazards that border many fairways. La Paloma operates as a private club and resort, with the Nicklaus course serving members and resort guests. The facility has hosted various regional amateur events over the decades. The combination of mountain scenery, desert flora, and Nicklaus's strategic bunkering creates a distinctly Southwestern golf experience that reflects the design trends of upscale Arizona courses from the 1980s.