The Preserve Golf Club
The Preserve Golf Club in Tucson offers an 18-hole private course that combines desert mountain terrain with elevated tees and strategic design. Accessible yet challenging, it suits players seeking a thoughtful round framed by stunning southwestern vistas.
Course Overview
Set against the rugged contours of the Catalina Mountains just northeast of Tucson, The Preserve Golf Club offers an 18-hole private course that blends natural desert terrain with thoughtful design. The layout commands attention with its elevated tee boxes, providing sweeping views over the surrounding Sonoran landscape and snow-capped peaks in the distance. This isn’t golf on flat ground but a test shaped by elevation changes and strategic positioning, encouraging players to think carefully about club selection and shot placement.
The course is defined by its desert mountain style, where natural washes and native vegetation shape each hole’s personality. Fairways wind through stands of ocotillo and mesquite, bordered by rocky outcrops that guard the landing zones. Greens are typically well-guarded by bunkers, offering a consistent challenge without feeling punishing. The turf conditions generally maintain firm, fast surfaces, although green speeds can vary based on maintenance factors and seasonal timing.
Designed to be approachable for a range of abilities, The Preserve rewards precision rather than brute force. Low handicappers will find enough subtle nuances to keep their scorecards interesting, while more casual players can enjoy the experience without feeling overwhelmed. The absence of water hazards on most holes shifts the focus to accuracy and trajectory control.
Walking is encouraged and often necessary given the natural terrain and private membership policies, so sturdy footwear is recommended. The clubhouse offers a warm, welcoming environment with amenities for members, though players should plan accordingly for hydration and nourishment since on-course services are limited — there is no beverage cart or halfway house.
Visitors appreciate the serene atmosphere and the peaceful interplay between nature and golf. While the course is a quiet refuge from urban bustle, it demands a thoughtful approach, rewarding concentration with memorable vistas and a genuine desert mountain golfing experience. The Preserve Golf Club stands as a refined option for those seeking a private challenge framed by the stark beauty of southern Arizona's high desert.
Course Highlights
Elevated tees provide commanding views of the Catalina Mountains, while natural desert features like ocotillo and rugged washes influence the routing. The layout balances challenging elevation changes with fair but strategic fairway and green complexes, making it a true desert mountain golf experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Guest Reviews
Rebecca Griswold
The course is beautiful, the scenery even better! The guy in the pro shop should mention there’s a 3.5% charge for using a credit card. He should also mention there is no beverage cart on the course, so folks could get something right there in the clubhouse. Also surprised to find no GPS on the carts and often the phone signal was weak to non existent to get the information of each hole on our phones. No where on the course is there any water in buckets for wetting a towel. Courses seem to be constantly chasing faster and faster rounds. Four hours, 15 minutes now. Sometimes takes the fun out of it.
Leo Guay
A gem in the Tucson area! Played 6 courses in Tucson and Phoenix on a guys trip in November 2024, and this was our favorite! Amazing views and elevated teeboxes on a majority of holes, great condition, fun, peaceful, good pace, friendly staff, everything a golf course should be! Only minor downsides: range is present but not included, they charge hidden extra fees on anything paid with a credit card, no service cart or halfway house, so bring your own lunch or snacks.
Paul Schroeder
Beautiful layout and nice elevation changes. Well worth the travel to get there. Plenty of challenge but mostly fair. The one knock on the course is that sometimes the greens are too shaggy and need to be cut lower to get to normal. Played twice, first time the stimp meter had to be no greater than 6. Next time time was about 8.
T. Selmer
This was a hidden gem. Unfortunately, it was a cart path only when we played. It's a beautiful area and the course was a 10
Rebecca Griswold
The course is beautiful, the scenery even better! The guy in the pro shop should mention there’s a 3.5% charge for using a credit card. He should also mention there is no beverage cart on the course, so folks could get something right there in the clubhouse. Also surprised to find no GPS on the carts and often the phone signal was weak to non existent to get the information of each hole on our phones. No where on the course is there any water in buckets for wetting a towel. Courses seem to be constantly chasing faster and faster rounds. Four hours, 15 minutes now. Sometimes takes the fun out of it.
Henry Tiner
Must know it to score well. Very good
Fred Pretorius
A great course but tricky to get to because your GPS may take you to a road that is blocked by gates so plan for extra time to get there...
Joe Rottman
In a word, stunning. We played here today and enjoyed a round with the snow-capped mountains in the background. It took a while to get to, but 100% worth it. IMHO, the most beautiful course in Tucson!
T. Selmer
This was a hidden gem. Unfortunately, it was a cart path only when we played. It's a beautiful area and the course was a 10
Robert Power
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Course Details
Access & Location
66567 E Catalina Hills Dr, Tucson, AZ 85739, USA
The Preserve Golf Clubhouse features dining and locker room amenities for members.
Walking is recommended due to the course's natural terrain; comfortable, supportive shoes are advised.
Access by member invitation only; reservations mandatory for tee times.
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