Tucson
golfers greatly appreciate the natural beauty of a high course that
rests at an elevation of 3,400 feet - five degrees cooler than Tucson
during the summer. The Del Lago Golf Club serves as the centerpiece
of Rancho del Lago, a master-planned community located about 20
minutes from downtown Tucson off Interstate 10. Del Lago invites
all golfers to come and play on the course, built by Nugent Golf
Associates, the same firm that produced the Tour stop Kemper Lakes.
With 120 feet of elevation change, the club's 1st hole begins at
the highest point, then plays down into the valley, coming to the
back nine, which runs along the Pantano Wash. The course winds its
way through the hills and valleys of the high desert, with spectacular
and unique views of the backside of the Rincon Mountains and the
Santa Catalinas. Except for the 1st hole, which has the courses
only forced carry, Del Lago is golfer-friendly off the tees. Let
the more skilled players play the back tees, which at 7,206 yards,
carry a rating of 73.9 and a slope of 135 Par is 72.
The greens are Tif Eagle, a Bermuda hybrid, while the fairways are
Bermuda in the summer and over seeded rye in the winter. Seven lakes
at Del Lago come into play on six holes, affecting a variety of
shots: some drives, several approaches - just enough to put a little
spice into the round. Strong bunkering around the greens adds to
the challenge. It all ends with a tough uphill par-4, 421-yard finishing
hole that has water in play for two shots.
The clubhouse includes a full-service pro shop and bar & grill,
and green fees are also golfer-friendly, considering the quality
of the course. Del Lago has one of the biggest - if not the biggest
- practice facilities in the area, including a driving range, a
practice bunker, and a 12,000 square foot practice green.
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