
Hill/Ridge Course
La Paloma Country Club

About this course
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.
Quick facts
- Location
- Tucson, AZ, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1984
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 7,017 yards
- Difficulty
- 74.4/144
Getting there
La Paloma Country Club is most readily accessed via Tucson International Airport (TUS), situated roughly twenty miles south of the club and connected by a straightforward thirty-minute drive north through the Sonoran Desert landscape. Private aviators will find Ryan Airfield (RYN) a convenient alternative, positioned just minutes from the property and offering the discretion befitting an arrival at one of the Southwest's most prestigious addresses. The final approach winds through the foothills north of Tucson, where saguaro-studded terrain gradually gives way to the manicured grounds and Spanish Colonial architecture of La Paloma, nestled against the Santa Catalina Mountains with views that stretch across the desert floor to the distant horizon.

FAQ
Common questions about Hill/Ridge at La Paloma Country Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Hill/Ridge was designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Hill/Ridge at La Paloma Country Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Hill/Ridge is 72.
Hill/Ridge plays 7,017 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Hill/Ridge is 144.
Hill/Ridge is a 18-hole course.




