PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Starr Pass — Roadrunner/Coyote

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Starr Pass — Roadrunner/Coyote in Tucson, AZ.

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Starr Pass — Roadrunner/Coyote golf course

Starr Pass — Roadrunner/Coyote

Tucson, AZ
Gold tees · 6,593 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Starr Pass — Roadrunner/Coyote

Starr Pass Golf Club's Roadrunner/Coyote combination is a 18-hole Sonoran Desert layout designed by Arnold Palmer and Bob Cupp in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains. Playing through rugged canyons, arroyos, and saguaro-studded terrain, the Roadrunner front nine features dramatic elevation changes and shorter tactical holes, while the Coyote back nine stretches out into a quiet, undisturbed natural sanctuary rich in native wildlife and local history.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Starr Pass — Roadrunner/Coyote

Off the tee

Tee shots demand disciplined club selection and target-oriented play rather than sheer distance. Tight fairways framed by desert washes, cacti, and natural rock outcroppings punish wild drives with lateral penalties.

Elevation & terrain

Significant mountain elevation changes occur throughout the round, particularly on the Roadrunner nine where dramatic downhill drop-offs alter effective distances by up to two or three clubs.

Approach play

Approaches regularly require carries across natural desert arroyos and dry washes to elevated or well-guarded green complexes. Distance control and proper trajectory are essential when dealing with swirling mountain winds.

Around the greens

Greens are typically fast and undulating, guarded by deep bunkers, subtle collection areas, and steep slope drop-offs into desert rough. Putting breaks generally pull toward the Tucson valley floor.

Best way to play it

Prioritize ball-striking accuracy and position over length. Play defensively on holes with severe forced carries, take advantage of dramatic elevation drops with conservative club choices, and manage approach angles to avoid desert penalties.

Key takeaways

  • Dramatic elevation drops on the front nine require substantial club adjustments on tee and approach shots.
  • The 15th hole (Coyote #6) features the historic 1880s Richard Starr Stagecoach Trail and a central rock outcropping in the landing area.
  • Greens feature subtle mountain contours that consistently push putts toward the Tucson valley floor.
  • Desert arroyos and lateral hazards border almost every fairway, making fairway accuracy far more valuable than distance.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
4
436
5
Target the left side or center of the green to avoid the sloped drop-off into the large desert wash on the right.
Your 240 yd driver · ~196 yards remaining by raw distance.
2
4
423
13
Lay up short of the diagonal ravine off the tee or hit a precise carry, then play across native desert to a narrow green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~183 yards remaining by raw distance.
3
5
495
3
Club down up to two or three clubs due to the massive downhill elevation loss, aiming strictly for the center of the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~255 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
4
4
435
7
Favor smart positioning on the layup to ensure a clear angle past desert arroyos onto the putting surface.
Your 240 yd driver · ~195 yards remaining by raw distance.
5
3
170
17
Take an extra club on the approach to clear the desert wash short of the green and avoid score-inflating penalties.
6
4
350
9
Play to wide landing areas on each shot, resisting the temptation to cut corners over heavy desert vegetation.
Your 240 yd driver · ~110 yards remaining by raw distance.
7
3
198
15
Use a conservative club off the tee to keep the ball in the main fairway channel and avoid lateral desert scrub.
8
5
543
1
Aim for the safe center of the putting surface, avoiding aggressive lines toward pins placed near desert edges.
Your 240 yd driver · ~303 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
9
4
436
11
Navigate fairway bunkers on the layup and carry the desert wash cleanly to reach the well-protected green complex.
Your 240 yd driver · ~196 yards remaining by raw distance.
10
3
199
16
Drive down the center of the fairway to establish a clean angle into the green away from native saguaros.
11
4
413
6
Keep the tee shot within the central fairway corridor to allow an unimpeded approach shot to the putting surface.
Your 240 yd driver · ~173 yards remaining by raw distance.
12
3
223
14
Lay up smartly between desert washes rather than taking risky lines over natural mountain features.
13
4
391
8
Focus on finding the open fairway center to set up an approach iron across native desert land.
Your 240 yd driver · ~151 yards remaining by raw distance.
14
3
194
18
Aim for the center of the putting surface to guard against bunker traps and slope fall-offs.
15
4
347
10
Decide off the tee whether to lay up safely in front of the rock outcropping or drive past it to leave a short wedge approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~107 yards remaining by raw distance.
16
4
451
4
Select sufficient club to comfortably clear the front desert carry, playing for the receptive safe side of the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~211 yards remaining by raw distance.
17
5
556
2
Treat as a three-shot hole, selecting clear fairway target areas on the second shot to stay clear of cross-cutting washes.
Your 240 yd driver · ~316 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
18
4
333
12
Aim for the wide portion of the fairway off the tee to leave a clear approach angle into a well-guarded final green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~93 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot 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.