The Raven Golf Club at Sabino Springs
Is located nearby in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains.  The course follows the rugged natural flow of the land through rocky outcroppings and a forest of giant saguaros.  This Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed this course on a series of rare desert springs which provides its name.  With the elevated tees and sloping, well-bunked bent grass greens, the challenge continues with strenuous uphill holes and forced carries over raw desert.  The toughest holes is #11, a 625-yard, par 5, that requires two forced carries over thorny swathes of reload country.  Golf Digest selected this course 7^th on the category of “Best New Upscale Courses” for 1996 and rated it #13 in the state in 1999.  Its 4½ star rating also includes high marks for service and condition.  Walking is permitted, but with its hilly terrain, I recommend a cart.

Starr Pass Golf Club
Is one of Bob Cupp’s favorite designs and previously hosted the PGA Northern Telecom Open.  It is a typical desert course where shot accuracy is needed if you wish to score low.  There are several required shots over desert landscaping.  The only water hazard is located on hole #2.  Some of the greens and tees are elevated, providing a wide variety of differences in elevation throughout the course. Danger lurks in the nasty deep bunkers.   From the back tees, you will travel 6910 yards with a slope of 139.  The course will challenge from every point.

Heritage Highlands Golf & Country Club
Is a challenge the first time on the course.  On a number of holes, you can’t see the green from the tees, so you can’t really get a perspective on how the hole plays.  So don’t leave clubhouse without a yardage book.  Many of the holes have dogleg fairways with just enough bend and turn to make your next shot questionable.  The greens have contour and it is rare that you will get a perfectly straight putt and some of the greens are not visible from the fairway.  One of the challenge holes is #15, a 527-yard, par 5, featuring a pond that runs the last 115 yards down the left side of the fairway all the way to the green.  This Arthur Hills design is rated 4 star by Golf Digest and is a must play before it become private.

The Links at Continental Ranch Golf Club
Features wide, undulating fairways accentuated by tall stands of native grasses.  It not only gives the golf course an authentic Scottish look and feel, but also helps male par an achievable score.  The greens are firm and well protected and beware of the abundance of pot bunkers in the fairways.  The signature hole is #13, which calls for a carry over water from the back tee and water is present along the entire right side of the hole up to the green.  Course architect Brian Huntley use the natural lay of the land and created a challenging link-style course.  The way he design the greens, you will want to use the classic bump and run shots just for the fun of it.  Since the fairways are close to each other, beware of errant shots.