125. Short Trip to Tucson, AZ to Play Bucket List To-Do’s
A few weeks ago it looked like I would have a few days open this week for a mini trip. I looked at my then 64 outstanding courses to play and it quickly became apparent that three alternatives might work:
o Austin & San Antonio, TX—I had 9 courses to play in TX but not enough time to do them all---but with Austin and San Antonio about 100 miles apart and having 5 of the 9, those five seemed to make sense…if I could get on them the days I was hoping for (I had little flexibility in terms of days for the trip);
o West Coast of Florida—in total I had 9 courses to play in FL and Southeastern GA…and four of those were on Florida’s Gulf Coast; and
o Tucson, AZ—10 courses to play in AZ, split 5 in Tucson and 5 in Phoenix…but with only two days to play, Tucson made more sense given that three of the courses are within 5 minutes of each other…important with short days this time of year in the northern hemisphere.
Had feelers out to all three locations and about 4 days before leaving it was clear that Tucson was the most doable and all five were available on a schedule that would work. Flew from Raleigh-Durham NC to Tucson on December 4…and booked red-eye back Thursday night 12/6 arriving NC 12/7 in the morning. One really good thing about this trip was that total driving in AZ would be about 120 miles in 2 days…easy peasy!!
This day called for 54 holes in about 9 ½ hours…and if there was a frost delay, the 9 ½ hours would get reduced accordingly (I have never understood the unfairness of the fact that frost delays are not accompanied by concomitant delays in sunsets). My actual order of play was GC at Dove Mountain, then Gallery-North, and finally Gallery-South. Gallery’s two courses play out of the same clubhouse, while Dove Mountain lies less than 2 miles to the northwest. Since 2016 both clubs and therefore all three courses have a common owner.
In any case, while it was cool at 8am (50° F) there was no frost delay.
Normally, I review/describe courses in the order that I played them…this post will describe the three courses played on December 5 in the order in which they were developed and opened.
The Gallery Golf Club-North Course, December 5, 2018: The Gallery Golf Club opened in 1998 with the North Course and was financed and owned by descendants of the Cargill family of Minnesota. In 2016, it was purchased by Escalante Golf, Inc. Escalante owns 15 different golf clubs (totaling over 21 golf courses) located in nine states, including:
Galley Golf Club, AZ
GC at Dove Mountain, AZ
Black Diamond Ranch, FL
Pumpkin Ridge GC, OR
GC of Houston (formerly Redstone GC), TX
Black Hawk CC (formerly Houstonian G&CC), TX
Shadow Hawk GC, TX
Kingsmill Resort, VA
The North was designed by John Fought and Tom Lehman. Fought played on the PGA Tour from 1978-1985 winning twice in 1979. Lehman played on the Tour 1992-2009 winning five times including the 1996 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
In 2002-2004 the North was included on Golf Week’s USA Top 100 Modern list but never high enough to make my “GW Merged Top 100”. Its most unusual hole is the ninth, which stretches 725 yards. However, the course sits at about 3000’ above sea level and Titleist advises that a ball will travel 3.5% further at that altitude…making the hole more like 700 yards long. Plus the hole runs downhill all the way. My guess is that the longer hitters on the PGA Tour would reach it in two with some regularity. My tees on this hole made it about 575 yards…and my drive and 3-wood left me about 140 yards for my third (don’t ask what I did with that shot). If I can hit it 435 in two, trust me there are a bunch of Tour players who can hit it 725!!
Built into the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains and looking down at Tucson toward the south, the North course offers stunning views of southern Arizona…including Kitt Peak Observatory sitting at 6900’ some 45 miles to the southwest (as the crow flies…although there ain’t many crows in the desert!). Additionally, the down slope off the land makes it tough to read greens especially when playing a course for the first time (and needing to finish quickly in order to get in the full 54 holes scheduled this day). Course conditions were good…somewhat firm and fast. Overall, while the course is tough and challenging at 7384 yards, I was a bit disappointed by the design.
I played North with a fellow Panelist, Cyrus W. and his friend Al. Cyrus has his own set of bucket lists…first, playing a golf tournament in all 50 states (stands at 43 right now) and visiting all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums (stands at 29…missing just the new stadium in Atlanta). Cyrus is a great guy and excellent player…but of course he needs to be careful not to get all consumed by bucket lists…I have heard of people who have experienced that phenomenon.
We teed off at 11:40 and zipped through holes 1-4 and 10-18…with paced slowed from 5-9 as a women’s shotgun event concluded. Finished at 2:40 or so. I had started with double bogeys on #1 and 2…I think Cyrus and Al were wondering who this guy was…but ended up with 41 – 38 = 79.
The Gallery Golf Club-South Course, December 5, 2018: After meeting Gallery GC’s head pro between rounds, by 3:00pm was on the South course, which sits southwest of North.
South opened in 2003 and was designed by John Fought alone. It is at a slightly lower altitude and less subject to the “off-mountain” slope so prevalent on the North. However, the shaping and contouring, especially around the greens, is far superior IMHO than North. It hosted the 2007 and 2008 Accenture Match Play World Golf Championships (won by Henrik Stenson and Tiger Woods respectively). Plays to 7468 yards from tips.
I started really hitting the ball well on the back nine and had a 41 – 37 = 78 (par is 36 – 36 = 72). Came as close as I know how to a hole in one on #16. My tees were 140 yards and I pured a 7-iron that landed 4’ short, dead on line with the cup…then bounced off the flagstick and ended up about 9”-10” right. As I finished late (around 5:05pm and sunset was at 5:20) it would have been pretty cheap…but am still stuck at one one!
Golf Club at Dove Mountain—Saguaro & Tortolita, December 5, 2018: Dove Mountain opened in 2009 as part of the Ritz Carlton Resort with 27 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus…including 18 of the holes specifically designed to host the Accenture Match Play Championship, which it hosted from 2009-2014. I was playing the Match Play course (I played Tortolita as the front & Saguaro as my back nine) and did not have time to play the third nine, Wild Burro (which Nicklaus is quoted as saying was his favorite).
I was the first one out on Tortolita (remember this was my first round of the day starting at 8am) and then had Saguaro to myself as it had just been top-dressed and was officially closed for the day. The pro’s who played this course from 2009-2014 were correct…the greens are truly wild and the course overall (primarily because of the greens) is very very tough. The fairways are very wide at most points, but can narrow down in a few driving areas, so club choice is important off the tee (not with my lack of length though). Also, out of 14 driving holes (par 4’s and 5’s), fully ten have desert wash areas crossing the fairways that need to be considered off many tees. I played OK on the front but then got real hot on the back (Saguaro), shooting a 41 – 37 = 78. Considering that the pins were out of the cups on Saguaro (because of ongoing maintenance work) that got me wondering. I spent the back nine merely aiming for the center of each green, and shot a 37. Maybe I might learn something from the experience, but then again, something about old dogs and new tricks?
Overall some pretty good golf for the day…in order of play I had 78, 79, and 78 (and the 79 started with two double bogeys on the first two holes). Best course of the three certainly South IMO. Finished up with about 20 minutes of daylight and during my third nine when Cyrus, Al and I were stuck behind the women’s group, I was sure I never get in 54…have to remember to always keep plugging!
Tucson National Golf Club (Omni Resort)-Catalina Course, December 6, 2018: I remember watching the Joe Garagiola Tuscon Open being played each winter (usually in mid February as I recall) at Tucson National…and this was now my chance to play it! I was here because it hosted the 1966 US Senior Amateur but the memories of watching it on TV were fresh in my mind and were exclusively of the 18thhole…more in a minute.
Tucson National was designed by Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin and opened in 1963. It first hosted the Tucson Open in 1965 and since has hosted over thirty PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour events. Today it stretches to 7262 yards (par 72). It is an extremely flat course with only one real hill…upon which the clubhouse sits and the 9thand 18thgreens sit (above the fairway but below the clubhouse). Almost all the greens are raised about 3’-5’ above fairway level. Most holes are tree lined as this part of Tuscon no longer resembles the desert. Frankly, this course would rate fairly low on “design variety”.
But the drive on 18 is very interesting. The hole doglegs right and plays 443 yards (a tough long hole in 1965 but a medium length par 4 today for the big boys). From the tee, one drives over a pond to a fairway angled 45° to the right. On the far (left) side of the fairway there is water extending out to 350 yards from the tee…and the pond one drives over extends about 275 yards down the right side of the fairway. The key to the hole seems to be the 45° angle of the fairway versus the direction of the drive (note that if you can carry it 280 yards, the fairway angle is not as intimidating).
Anyhow, I had a 40 – 40 = 80…with a bogey on 18 after a perfect drive!
Was off the course by 10:05 and headed east to Tucson CC. Rain was forecast for the mid to late afternoon and I wanted to get my last round in before it started.
Tucson CC, May 6, 2018: Opened in 1947 and designed by William Bell, Tucson CC is a very upscale club in an older part of Tucson. It plays 7022 yards (par 72) and makes Tucson National feel like a hilly track! There are 18 flat holes with 14 raised greens. I walked the front nine and took a cart on the back. Easy walking course but pushing a push-cart was difficult as the rye grass had not been fully cut. After the round I had a brief lunch and showered/changed. I finished playing around 1:45pm but my flight would not leave until 12:45am.
I was here because Tucson hosted the 1982 US Senior Amateur; it also hosted the 1992 US Senior Women’s Amateur.
That cleans up Tucson…but AZ…I shall return…have five to play in Phoenix and Sedona.
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As 2018 is coming to a close, this looks to be my last post this year. We are heading to Boston December 14-27 for the Holidays, and golf is obviously not on the itinerary. So it looks like I shall end 2018 as follows:
Total courses played—1,110.
Bucket List Status (incomplete only):
World 100 Ever—2 left (Huntercombe in UK, and Austin GC in TX)
USA 100 Ever—3 left (Bonita Bay in FL, Treetops-Smith in MI, Austin GC)
Golf Week 100+100 Ever—25 left
Cups—1 left (Denver CC)
Women’s Majors Ever—7 left
Senior Majors Ever—10 left
US Senior Am Ever (to complete important Am’s Ever)—6 left
Tour “Semi-Majors” (Players/WGC/etc.)—6 left
Total courses left (eliminating double counts)—59 courses.
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Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year…and Happy Holidays!! Most of all…good health for 2019!!
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