Getting To Know: Tubac Golf Resort By Brian Weis

Getting To Know: Tubac Golf Resort

An Insightful Interview With Mea Brown, Director of Sales & Marketing

By Brian Weis

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Mea Brown who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
The Tubac Golf Resort and Spa was made famous by Kevin Costner's 1996 movie "Tin Cup," where many of the scenes were filmed. Designed in 1959 by renowned golf course architect Robert 'Red' Lawrence, the original 18-hole course was widely considered to be the 'Jewel of Southern Arizona Golf Courses.' Red was a founding member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and designed a variety of excellent courses across the country.

In the fall of 2006 local golf course architect Ken Kavanaugh added nine new holes woven into the existing eighteen. Dramatically enhancing the course's layout by adding both distance and challenge, these new holes continue to maintain the playability so loved by all who come to stay and play. All three nines offer bentgrass greens and lush green fairways from tee to green which are lined with stately old growth cottonwoods and mesquites set against Arizona's clear blue skies. This is not desert target golf! Our magnificent golf facility combined with our superlative service and tranquil setting will provide you with a most unforgettable Tucson, Arizona, golf vacation.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
Tubac is a 27 hole facility offering 3 nines - the Otero, Rancho and Anza.

Otero
The original front nine of the Tubac Golf Resort designed by Red Lawrence, the Otero nine is named for the Otero Family who were the original settlers of the property dating back to 1789. A parkland layout highlights the experience as the fairways meander through some of the original homes and casitas of the resort, providing a lush, manicured experience. Water plays a big part along the way as ponds front the greens on holes 5 and 8 and, a lake runs the entire length of the fairway on number 9.

Rancho
The Rancho nine is, for the most part, the original back nine at the Tubac Golf Resort. Three holes, the Tubac Triangle, were added to in 2008 as part of the course remodel. Requiring that opening and closing drives carry the Santa Cruz River, Rancho is the most challenging and scenic of the three, nine hole courses on the property. Set along the banks of the Santa Cruz River, the Rancho nine is unlike any golf setting in Southern Arizona. The majestic cottonwoods and lush mesquite Bosque's create a serene layout that can be enjoyed by golfers of all levels for its sheer beauty. Two scenes from the movie Tin Cup were filmed along the way. Keep an eye out for signs and plaque on the blue tee boxes on holes 3 and 4.

Anza
The Anza Nine is named for Juan Batista DeAnza, who was the commandant of the Tubac Presidio and led an expedition west that ultimately founded the city of San Francisco. Stunningly beautiful views of the Santa Rita mountains highlight the first five holes and the nine finishes with the famous par 3 island green which, being in front of Stables Bar, will certainly lead to an entertaining finish.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Keep the ball in front of you and keep it in the grass. Avoid the sand bunkers and ponds to score well.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Conde Nast Traveler - Where to go in 2014 - The Destinations You Don't Want to Miss Out On

USA Today Travel - 10 Best Domestic Places to Escape the Cold

Tucson Lifestyle - Best Spa in southern Arizona" Tucson Lifestyle Magazine

Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Arizona (2017 #19) (2015 #25)

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Anza # 9 - This Par 3 should remind you of the 17th at TPC Sawgrass, except for the cows of course. Finding the island green is tough enough with all that water, but throw in the spectators at the Stables Patio Bar heckling anyone whose ball finds a watery grave, and it gets even tougher. The intimidation factor is high here. Par is always a good score.

Rancho # 4 - This long par 5, Tubac's Tin Cup hole, requires three well struck shots to reach the green. Keep tee and second shots on the fairway's right side, away from the trees and thick rough on the left. The pond fronting the green prevents all but the longest hitters from getting "home" in two. This hole was the setting for the scene in the movie "Tin Cup" where Kevin Costner was caddying for Don Johnson and Johnson wanted to lay up with a seven iron. Costner said he could do it and that is when Gary McCord, Peter Kostis, Craig Stadler and a young Phil Mickelson began to wager on whether or not he could pull it off.

Otero # 9 - Water guards the entire left side of this 'drivable' Par 4. We are talking risk and reward big time here! And even when your drive stays dry, your second shot will test your nerve again. Take your par and go!

Multiple tee boxes offer golfers of all skill levels an enjoyable golfing experience in Arizona. Emerald fairways from tee to green lined by stately old growth cottonwoods and mesquites give you room to maneuver and, with three very playable nines, provide new and interesting shots that will keep you coming back for more. The course rotation is changed on a daily basis so resort guests will usually have a chance to play all three nines during a 2-day stay.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
On the Rancho nine, a difficult three hole stretch (holes #3-5) is known as the Tubac Triangle, featuring the longest par 4, par 3 and par 5 at Tubac Golf Resort. They are long and challenging.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
La Cantina Grill, located next to the Golf Shop, is the perfect stop for a quick breakfast burrito or a burger or wrap at lunch. Shaded tables in a beautiful outdoor environment make for a delightful break.

For the traveling golfer, do you have lodging onsite or partner with any area hotels?
Tubac Golf Resort offers three accommodations:

Hacienda King Suites
Our 52 Hacienda King suites measure a full 650 sq. ft. of absolute luxury. Highlighted by rich leather furniture, gas fireplace, jetted tub with separate walk in shower and beautiful patios these rooms feature either mountain or golf course views.

Casita Suites
The 16 Casita Suites, surrounding the resort pool, measure a full 800 sq. ft and feature a beautiful decorated living room with fireplace, separate bedroom with either one king or two queen beds and a private patio.

Posada Guest Rooms
The 29 Posada traditional rooms measure 350 sq. ft with spacious bedroom and choice of one king or two queen beds. The Posada Kings, with cozy patios, around a sparkling fountain are ideal for social groups.

Back Tee Stats
Par: Otero/Anza 71 | Anaza/Rancho 71 | Rancho/Otero 72
Yardage: Otero/Anza 6435 | Anaza/Rancho 6823 | Rancho/Otero 6870
Slope: Otero/Anza 124 | Anaza/Rancho 127 | Rancho/Otero 131
Rating: Otero/Anza 69.9 | Anaza/Rancho 71.5 | Rancho/Otero 71.7

More Information
Tubac Golf Resort
1 Ave De Otero Road
Tubac, AZ, 85646
(520) 398-2211

https://tubacgolfresort.com/

Revised: 10/02/2019 - Article Viewed 17,213 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the mastermind behind GolfTrips.com, a vast network of golf travel and directory sites covering everything from the rolling fairways of Wisconsin to the sunbaked desert layouts of Arizona. If there’s a golf destination worth visiting, chances are, Brian has written about it, played it, or at the very least, found a way to justify a "business trip" there.

As a card-carrying member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA), and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG), Brian has the credentials to prove that talking about golf is his full-time job. In 2016, his peers even handed him The Shaheen Cup, a prestigious award in golf travel writing—essentially the Masters green jacket for guys who don’t hit the range but still know where the best 19th holes are.

Brian’s love for golf goes way back. As a kid, he competed in junior and high school golf, only to realize that his dreams of a college golf scholarship had about the same odds as a 30-handicap making a hole-in-one. Instead, he took the more practical route—working on the West Bend Country Club grounds crew to fund his University of Wisconsin education. Little did he know that mowing greens and fixing divots would one day lead to a career writing about the best courses on the planet.

In 2004, Brian turned his golf passion into a business, launching GolfWisconsin.com. Three years later, he expanded his vision, and GolfTrips.com was born—a one-stop shop for golf travel junkies looking for their next tee time. Today, his empire spans all 50 states, and 20+ international destinations.

On the course, Brian is a weekend warrior who oscillates between a 5 and 9 handicap, depending on how much he's been traveling (or how generous he’s feeling with his scorecard). His signature move" A high, soft fade that his playing partners affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) call "The Weis Slice." But when he catches one clean, his 300+ yard drives remind everyone that while he may write about golf for a living, he can still send a ball into the next zip code with the best of them.

Whether he’s hunting down the best public courses, digging up hidden gems, or simply outdriving his buddies, Brian Weis is living proof that golf is more than a game—it’s a way of life.