PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Tucson National — Catalina

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Tucson National — Catalina in Tucson, AZ.

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Tucson National — Catalina golf course

Tucson National — Catalina

Tucson, AZ
Blue tees · 7,262 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Tucson National — Catalina

Designed by Robert van Hagge and Bruce Devlin, the Catalina Course at Omni Tucson National Resort is a classic, traditional parkland layout situated against the backdrop of the Santa Catalina Mountains. A longtime host of the PGA Tour's Chrysler Classic of Tucson and current host of the PGA Tour Champions Cologuard Classic, Catalina features tree-lined Tifway 419 Bermuda fairways, Champion Bermuda greens, eight lakes, and 80 strategically placed bunkers. Unlike typical regional desert courses, Catalina plays as a lush parkland venue with gentle contours, demanding tee-shot positioning, and severe green complexes.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Tucson National — Catalina

Off the tee

Tee shots require disciplined positioning between tree-lined fairways, fairway bunkers, and lateral water hazards. Several holes feature severe penalizing hazards on one or both sides, culminating in the 18th hole where water frames both sides of the landing area.

Elevation & terrain

Terrain across the course is generally level to gently undulating, though multiple green complexes are noticeably raised. Uphill approaches require proper club selection to clear fronting bunkers, false fronts, and surrounding mounding.

Approach play

Approaches demand precise distance control into medium-sized greens guarded by 80 sand traps and eight lakes. Overshooting greens often results in steep collection areas or severe back-to-front downhill putts.

Around the greens

Raised green complexes are protected by deep bunkers, grass mounding, and steep fall-offs. The Champion Bermuda greens slope dynamically, rewarding shots played below the hole for flat uphill putting lines.

Best way to play it

Prioritize accuracy over distance off the tee to keep shots clear of fairway sand and water. Play approaches conservatively toward the center of green surfaces, staying below the cup on back-to-front sloping greens to avoid multi-putt bogeys.

Key takeaways

  • Traditional parkland style in Arizona with mature trees, gentle contours, and no forced desert carries.
  • PGA Tour tested finishing hole on 18 with water framing both sides of the fairway.
  • Eight lakes and 80 sand bunkers tighten fairways and raised green complexes.
  • Champion Bermuda greens feature pronounced slope and back fall-offs requiring careful distance control.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
4
395
9
Aim for the middle of the fairway between the fairway bunkers off the tee, then club up sufficiently on the approach to clear the front green complex and avoid the lake short-right.
Your 240 yd driver · ~155 yards remaining by raw distance.
2
5
535
15
Prioritize fairway accuracy off the tee and on the layup. On the short approach, target the center of the small contoured green to leave a manageable putt.
Your 240 yd driver · ~295 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
3
4
375
7
Lay up off the tee with a fairway wood or hybrid, staying clear of the trees lining the left side to setup a clean approach over the water hazard short of the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~135 yards remaining by raw distance.
4
3
170
13
Select enough club to ensure full carry over the front water hazard, favoring the center or right-center of the putting surface.
5
4
398
5
Steer clear of the large fairway bunker off the tee. Take extra club for the uphill approach to the raised green, but avoid overshooting as the surface drops off sharply behind the back edge.
Your 240 yd driver · ~158 yards remaining by raw distance.
6
4
425
11
Target the fairway center between the landing-zone sand traps. Approach the elevated green with enough carry to clear the front bunker and surrounding mounds.
Your 240 yd driver · ~185 yards remaining by raw distance.
7
3
247
17
Aim for the middle of the green surface regardless of pin location. Avoid missing left where the hill drops off out of view from the tee.
8
5
587
3
Position your tee and second shots to avoid fairway bunkers. Approach the green carefully as sand surrounds the putting surface on all four sides.
Your 240 yd driver · ~347 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
9
4
436
1
Favor the left side of the fairway off the tee to keep clear of water hazard. Take extra club to reach the raised green complex on your approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~196 yards remaining by raw distance.
10
5
511
10
Play smart off the tee and on the layup by keeping right of out-of-bounds stakes along the left side to set up a short-iron approach to the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~271 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
11
5
525
4
Drive and lay up toward the right-center of the fairway. Stay away from the left boundary line across all three shots to avoid out of bounds penalties.
Your 240 yd driver · ~285 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
12
3
183
16
Add half a club to account for the uphill slope, aiming for the center of the green surface to avoid short and lateral chipping traps.
13
4
404
14
Take advantage of additional roll off the tee, then execute a high-precision approach into the raised green, avoiding sand both short and long.
Your 240 yd driver · ~164 yards remaining by raw distance.
14
4
404
6
Favor the left-center of the fairway off the tee to steer clear of right-hand bunkers. Play your approach to the front half of the shallow green to avoid falling off the back.
Your 240 yd driver · ~164 yards remaining by raw distance.
15
5
610
8
Focus on accurate tee and layup placement between fairway sand traps. Plan this as a mandatory three-shot par 5 to leave a wedge into the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~370 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
16
4
428
12
Aim off the tee toward the left-center fairway to avoid right-side bunkers. On approach, leave your ball below the hole location to avoid fast downhill putts.
Your 240 yd driver · ~188 yards remaining by raw distance.
17
3
186
18
Aim straight down the central axis of the narrow green. Depth errors short or long are forgiving compared to lateral misses.
18
4
443
2
Hit a precise tee shot over the ridge between the water hazards guarding both sides of the fairway. Take enough club to reach the elevated green as any missed approach easily leads to bogey or worse.
Your 240 yd driver · ~203 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.