For those desert dwellers who live out west (year-round or part-time), most will tell you there’s no better place to practice your swing then in Tucson. Aside from the superb climate, Arizona has more challenging golf courses per square mile than most states could ever dream of. And for that, we host several statewide tournaments including February’s up-and-coming Accenture Match Play Championship held at the recently unveiled The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain (Tucson's newest luxury resort) and the PGA’s formerly named FBR Open, now the Waste Management Phoenix Open, held at the TPC Scottsdale. As for which celebrities grace our golf courses, well, we like to take a wait–and-see approach.

Surrounded by cascading mountains, bright blue skies and year-round sunshine, Tucson’s golfing community generates a profitable year-round buzz. Yup, even in our blistering summer’s 100-plus degree days. But, for those avid duffers hitting the greens during the wee hours, it’s all par for the course.From private, semi-private, resort and public courses, great golf architects like Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Tom Fazio, Tom Weiskopf and Jack Nicklaus have all put their own twist on a few Tucson courses and even stayed to play a few rounds. In fact, a total of 29 courses provide Tucson with greenery.

With today’s golf enthusiasts balancing work, family and life outdoors, few companies like Tucson Gold Vacations, LLC and Vacation Caddy cater to golfers looking to hit the links—near and far away. From planning golf outings, to finalizing tee times and vacation rentals, these services handle all the mundane details giving you a final itinerary with dates and times. All you have to do is show up.After an afternoon of perfecting your golf swing, stop by the course’s clubhouse for a refreshing drink or bite to eat. Most locations provide a members-only lounge where golfers can retreat for a little r-and-r before continuing about the day.

But, golf is not all about men. More recently, women have made a name for themselves with the LPGA. This once male-dominated sport is getting a facelift and perhaps giving men a little run for their money. For those women who’ve shied away from the sport, many courses now offer lessons, like the Hilton Golf Academy, making golf a little less intimating when playing for the first time. Remember practice makes perfect.