Saddlebrooke Country Club

Rated an Arizona top value, every hole of this course features beautiful views. Noted for exceptional bentgrass greens, and  featuring Bermuda fairways that is overseeded in the winter. Saddlebrooke is a short scenic drive 30 minutes North of Tucson. Saddlebrooke is a private club open to homeowners only. Saddlebrooke is an age restricted, retirement community. For homes located in Saddlebrooke please use this link: Saddlebrooke

Mountainview Golf Club

Mountainview  Golf Club

38691 S MountainView Blvd.

Tucson, Az

(520)818-1100

MountainView Golf Club is serious about its name. Located just north of Tucson in the community of SaddleBrooke and perched at 3,200 feet in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, this course surrounds the player with fantastic mountain views. Designed by architect Gary Panks and opened in December 1997, MountainView is a semiprivate course with play open to the public on a four-day advance-reservation basis. A favorite with SaddleBrooke residents, MountainView features immaculate Bermuda grass fairways and greens. Ranging from 5,030 to 6,728 yards, the golf course traces its way through mesquite-laden foothills. Wide landing areas contoured to contain all but the worst shots help golfers keep the ball out of the surrounding desert.

MountainView exemplifies Panks' desire to design a course that maintains the natural look of the land. Subtle mounding and natural hazards characterize his efforts. The 400-yard, par-4 Number 14 doglegs gently to the right, tempting the player to flirt with an impenetrable grove of mesquite trees protecting the right side of the hole to the green. The 14th hole's gently contoured green rests between wash and bunker.

The par-3 Number 17 demands an accurate downhill shot of some 207 yards from the championship tees. Playing predominantly into the wind, the hole features a moderately contoured green nestled in a natural bowl. Sweeping views of the Santa Catalina Mountains can easily preoccupy golfers standing on the tee.

But golfers must forsake the astonishing natural beauty to negotiate the demanding 428-yard par-4 Number 2. From the championship tee, a yardage plate warns of the mesquite-filled wash crossing the fairway at 275 yards. The fairway narrows as it approaches this hazard and leaves the golfer with an uphill shot of some 175 yards to a generous green protected by mesquite trees and bunkers.

MountainView Golf Club would be a marvel if only for the chance to watch the sunlight dance across the mountains. MountainView's quality and conditioning make it a worthy member of Tucson's impressive course roster. By: Paul Cooney

The Preserve

Open as of August 2004, The Preserve Golf Club at SaddleBrooke looks to be Robson Communities' premier gem in its collection of golf courses throughout Arizona. Set deep into the western foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, this challenging yet eminently playable layout by Scottsdale-based course designer Dick Bailey is already an immediate must-play in the greater Tucson area.

Playing from 4,920 to 7,006 yards from four sets of tees, the Preserve makes full use of the rolling desert ridges and deep arroyos, where fairways tilt and roll with the lay of the land. However, Bailey applied a gentle touch to the elevation shifts, never allowing the charge tee to green to become too severe or dramatic. The breathtaking exception is Number 6, a 168-yard par 3 with an 80-foot vertical drop to the green. The elevation change allows enough "hang-time" off the tee for a lasting stupendous view of the mountainous backdrop.

The rolling foothills perhaps inspired a similar movement in the greens. Their decided undulations and interesting surface shapes place a premium on accurate putts and also allow for some challenging pin placements on tournament day.

From the zinc tees, Bailey has created a track to thrill the big hitters and low handicappers. However, he remained equally mindful of the majority of the players in this active adult community who play their respective games from their respective markers. Accomplished players appreciate the tremendous risk/reward opportunities, while higher handicappers thank the designer for ample landing areas and enjoyable routes around trouble. Of course, the dry washes that cross a number of fairways create the dominant strategy and pose an equal threat to everyone. The only water on the course comes into play down the right side of Number 18.

Where no more than 800 high-end luxury homes will eventually fill The Preserve at Saddle-Brooke, this course will always lend an open feel with the view alone worth the green fee.

By: David Hubbard

Much of this information provided by www.TucsonGolf.com

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