Category: Tucson

The Buzz: Built along the west bank of the Santa Cruz River in the northwest corner of Tucson, Silverbell opened in 1979 and underwent a major renovation in 2004 turning it into the most popular of the five courses in the city’s recreation system. Originally built on an uncapped landfill, the land began to sink prompting a total makeover directed by hometown course architect Ken Kavanagh, who also oversaw renovation of city courses Randolph Park and El Rio. Holes 7-10 are the only ones that remain from the original design by Arthur “Jack” Snyder and three of those were lengthened by adding extra tees. The course is a traditional design, defined by open fairways, large greens and relatively flat terrain. At nearly 7,000 yards, it is now the longest of Tucson’s five “munies” and has surpassed even Randolph in the number of annual rounds played.

“It took a few years for the grow-in to be complete and there were some rough spots during that time, but it turned out absolutely beautiful,” said city golf director Mike Hayes. “It’s hard to explain if you’re not familiar with the old course, but the transformation is pretty impressive. Ken did a wonderful job with the design.”

Along with the new holes, many of Silverbell’s nine lakes were enlarged, bringing water into play on 10 holes. Adding to the challenge are 40 bunkers strategically placed around the greens. The course was changed from par 72 to par 70 and there are four sets of tees at 6,936, 6,391, 5,843 and 5,285 yards, with a rating of 71.7 and slope of 126 from the back tees.

The course has three par-5 holes and five par-3s, and if you play from the tips, only one of those – the par-3 third at 152 yards — can be considered an easy par. The par 5s, which measure 555, 559 and 595 yards, are ranked as the hardest three holes on the course and the other par 3s are set at 195, 200, 220 and 237 yards. With its traditional design, errant drives often remain in play from adjacent fairways and greens are open in front, allowing golfers to run shots up to the putting surface.

The back nine is a fun challenge with several good holes, starting with the 11th, a 395-yard par 4, where the green is separated from the end of the fairway and positioned at a 90-degree angle. Then comes a par 3 over water, followed by a pair of par 4s with sharp doglegs left and right.

No. 16, a par-3 at 237 yards over a lake, is the new signature hole. The same lake comes into play on the 17th, a 410-yard par 4. The 18th, formerly a par 4, is a slight dogleg right par 5 that is rated as the No. 2 handicap hole at 555 yards with bunkers guarding both sides of the green, and the Tucson Mountains providing a distant but scenic background.

Practice facilities here include a driving range, large putting green, chipping and bunker areas and a 100-yard wedge practice area. Combined with its low green fees, many locals think Silverbell now ranks as the best value play in the Tucson area.

The Buzz: Randolph Park stands as the longest course of the five in the City of Tucson system and, for many public players, the preferred layout. What they don’t see below the surface is a rich history of one of the most popular municipal courses in the United States. For starters, the entire Randolph Park complex is an oasis left to the town by railroad tycoon Espes Randolph in the early 1900s, using land he stipulated must be used for parks and recreation. The course was created in 1925, at a time when sand fairways and cottonseed greens were in order, were sprayed with oil to keep them from being swept away by wind and were raked by golfers after they putted out.

It was grassed in 1936 under the direction of legendary course designer William F. “Billy” Bell, who slept on the clubhouse floor during the project, which was completed with labor provided by one of President Franklin Roosevelt’s “New Deal” programs. Bell also designed the second Randolph Course, now known as the Dell Urich course, in 1961. It was revamped in 1996 and, together, they are the second-most played public golf complex in the country, behind Torrey Pines in San Diego, also designed by Bell.

The parkland-style course has been modified over the past 30 years to accommodate tournaments as the host of PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events, adding even more to its history. Annika Sorenstam, who played college golf at the nearby University of Arizona, captured her LPGA Hall of Fame victory here and won the event twice. Other winners on the course include Juli Inkster, Dottie Pepper, Meg Mallon, Laura Davies and Jan Stephenson. Winners of the Joe Garagiola Tucson Open played at Randolph include Tom Watson, Craig Stadler and Johnny Miller.

Randolph Park is a straightforward layout with good bunkering, tree-lined fairways, which run parallel, and has water in play on five holes. The location, in the heart of Tucson, provides close proximity to many fine restaurants and hotels. Add it up, and Randolph North might well be Tucson’s best value course.