Tortolita at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain

The Tortolita Course at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain is a Jack Nicklaus design that opened in 2009 in the high Sonoran Desert northwest of Tucson. The course sits at elevations between 2,400 and 2,800 feet on terrain characterized by dramatic elevation changes, natural desert washes, and saguaro-studded hillsides. Nicklaus routed the layout to follow the natural contours of the land, incorporating significant vertical movement that creates both downhill and uphill approaches across the round.

The course plays through classic Sonoran Desert landscape, with native vegetation including saguaro, ocotillo, and palo verde framing the holes. The routing takes advantage of the property's topography to create variety in shot values and visual perspective, with several holes offering expansive views across the surrounding desert and distant mountain ranges. The design emphasizes strategic positioning off the tee, as the combination of elevation change and desert carries requires thoughtful club selection and course management.

The Golf Club at Dove Mountain is a private facility that also includes the Saguaro and Wild Burro nines. The property gained broader recognition when it hosted the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship from 2009 to 2014, though that event was played on a composite routing that drew holes from multiple nines. The Tortolita Course represents Nicklaus's approach to desert design during a period when he was creating layouts that work with rather than against the natural desert environment.