PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Quarry Pines Golf Club

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Quarry Pines Golf Club in Tucson, AZ.

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Quarry Pines Golf Club golf course

Quarry Pines Golf Club

Tucson, AZ
Gold tees · 6,482 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Quarry Pines Golf Club

Quarry Pines Golf Club in Tucson (Marana), Arizona, is a unique par-71 layout featuring two dramatically distinct nines. Designed by Brian Huntley and updated by Gilmore & Graves, the front nine plays along the upper desert rim with pine-lined fairways, while the back nine drops up to ten stories into a reclaimed 90-acre sand and gravel quarry pit with extreme elevation changes, forced canyon carries, and tight target landing areas.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Quarry Pines Golf Club

Off the tee

Tee shots require strict placement over power, as tree-lined upper fairways give way to tight canyon corridors on the back nine. Drivers are often unnecessary on shorter par 4s and quarry holes where narrow landing zones are framed by sheer cliff drop-offs and desert native areas.

Elevation & terrain

The front nine remains relatively level along the quarry rim, but the back nine features dramatic vertical drops into the quarry floor. These drastic elevation changes demand careful club adjustments for downhill tee shots and uphill approaches into elevated green complexes.

Approach play

Approach shots frequently feature forced carries over cavernous ravines, deep washes, and quarry drop-offs. Precise distance control is essential, as false fronts and steep side slopes quickly funnel short or offline shots into deep bunkers or hazards.

Around the greens

Greens feature distinct tiers, subtle bowls, and false fronts protected by deep sand bunkers and steep surrounds. Recovery shots from offline approach positions are exceptionally tough due to sloping terrain falling away from the putting surfaces.

Best way to play it

Prioritize position and accuracy off the tee to navigate the narrow corridors and avoid quarry drop-offs. Respect the drastic elevation shifts and canyon carries on the back nine by taking enough club to safely reach green centers rather than chasing aggressive pin locations.

Key takeaways

  • The course presents a Tale of Two Nines: a traditional upper-rim desert/pine front nine and a dramatic quarry-pit back nine.
  • The back nine features dramatic elevation drops of up to ten stories into a reclaimed gravel quarry.
  • Hole 11 is a signature par 3 requiring a high-stakes forced carry over a cavernous quarry pit.
  • Accuracy off the tee is paramount, as sheer cliff walls and desert canyons penalize errant drives.
  • Elevation changes on the back nine heavily affect shot distance, requiring thoughtful club selection adjustments.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
5
524
5
Aim for the left-center of the fairway off the tee to offset the natural rightward slope and establish an optimal line for the layup.
Your 240 yd driver · ~284 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
2
4
332
11
Lay up with a fairway wood or hybrid to find the wide fairway landing zone and leave a short iron into the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~92 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
3
4
417
3
Target the fairway center off the tee to avoid perimeter trees and maintain a clear angle to the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~177 yards remaining by raw distance.
4
4
320
9
Select a club off the tee that ensures finding the main fairway landing area away from surrounding tree hazards.
Your 240 yd driver · ~80 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
5
4
490
7
Favor the left side of the fairway off the tee to avoid right-side desert hazard areas and open up the green angle.
Your 240 yd driver · ~250 yards remaining by raw distance.
6
3
200
15
Aim for the middle of the putting surface to take front greenside bunkers out of play.
7
5
501
1
Keep the tee shot down the left-center of the fairway to stay well clear of the right-side highway boundary, playing this as a strict three-shot hole.
Your 240 yd driver · ~261 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
8
3
202
13
Select enough club to comfortably carry fronting rough and sand to settle on the flat section of the green.
9
4
302
17
Drive down the center of the fairway to secure an unobstructed approach into a green guarded by front bunkers.
Your 240 yd driver · ~62 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
10
4
334
8
Aim tee shot toward the center-right fairway landing zone to set up an approach shot to an elevated putting surface.
Your 240 yd driver · ~94 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
11
3
256
10
Select enough club to clear the cavern pit entirely, aiming for the center of the green as shots short, left, or right tumble into steep quarry hazard drop-offs.
12
5
574
2
Guide tee shot down the fairway corridor avoiding cliff drop-offs on the left, and lay up carefully to set up an approach to a green bisected by subtle swales.
Your 240 yd driver · ~334 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
13
4
368
16
Use a fairway wood or hybrid off the tee to stay within the fairway channel, leaving a short approach into an elevated knoll green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~128 yards remaining by raw distance.
14
4
405
6
Target the center-right portion of the fairway off the tee to avoid left-side canyon drop-offs, setting up an approach into a bowl-like green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~165 yards remaining by raw distance.
15
3
134
18
Focus purely on distance control to land short-iron approach on the center tier, avoiding severe roll-offs around the perimeter.
16
5
561
4
Execute three controlled shots down the center of narrow fairway landing zones rather than challenging tight quarry canyon margins.
Your 240 yd driver · ~321 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
17
3
197
14
Aim for the middle of the green to clear the fronting ravine and bypass tucked pin positions near perimeter drops.
18
4
365
12
Play tee shot to the outer bend of the dogleg fairway to avoid hugging the inside quarry edge, establishing a clear uphill approach to the home green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~125 yards remaining by raw distance.

Course information and strategy are provided for planning purposes. Yardages, course setup, hazards and playing conditions can change. Always confirm current course information before your round.