Dove Mountain Ritz Carlton

Marana, AZ (halfway between Tucson & Phoenix)

www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain

2011 Greens Fees:  $129-$250

Links Magazine, 2/10

Golf Digest, 2/09

GolfChannel.com

Destination: Dove Mountain

Links Magazine

Tucked in the high desert against Tucson's Tortolita Mountains, Arizona's newest golf resort reaches new heights in amenities and luxury.

When 64 of the best golfers in the world descend on Tucson for the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, they will discover a new Ritz-Carlton resort that opened in December. The low-rise property offers rich accommodations, beautiful sunrises, morning hikes in the hills and a spa, not to mention three nines by Jack Nicklaus, his first course in the Tucson area in 25 years.

Where to play
Saguaro: The 3,894-yard layout is set in a forest of the namesake cacti and serves as the front nine for the Match Play. At 536 yards, the 5th is perhaps the longest par 4 in golf. But they say the ball flies longer in the elevation and the thin desert air.

Tortolita: Set along the base of the mountains, the 3,955-yard design serves as the back nine for the Match Play.

Wild Burro: Although not open at the moment, the 3,897-yard course is said to be Jack's favorite of the three nines.

THE RITZ-CARLTON
The spacious rooms have a Southwestern flair with mesquite wood, indigenous stone and rich fabrics. In a serene setting, the one- and two-bedroom casitas are a resort within a resort, giving guests a little extra privacy and exclusivity, and have dining and living room areas.

Where to eat
Core Kitchen & Wine Bar: Chef Joel Harrington's innovative American cuisine dishes have regional influences and are served in a casually upscale atmosphere and complemented by an extensive wine list.

Ignite: Peering into Wild Burro Canyon, diners enjoy fiery, gastro-pub fare and a collection of a 120 scotches and whiskies, as well as live music.

Turquesa Latin Grill: This family-friendly poolside restaurant is open for lunch and features Tucson-inspired Mexican food and margaritas.

Cayton's: Mountain views and Arizona sunsets accent American comfort cuisine with a Southwestern flair.

Other things to do
Spa: The Southwest desert is one of the more spiritual places in the country and Dove Mountain's "eco-holistic" spa uses balancing elements and healing sacred stones to help melt away life's cares and distractions.

Outdoors: There are more than 20 miles of trails that guests can explore on foot, on bicycle or on horseback. There are also guided Jeep rides through the Saguaro forest.

Cowboy Camp: Guests can fulfill their City Slicker fantasies at Wild Stallion Ranch, a working cattle ranch.

Pools: There are three swimming areas, including one with a 235-foot slide.

Worth Your Money This Month: Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain
Golf Digest, Published: February 01, 2009

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club
Dove Mountain
Marana, Arizona
7,814 yards, par 72
Cost: $99-$225

Twenty-five years ago Jack Nicklaus put desert target golf on the map with La Paloma in Tucson and Desert Highlands in Scottsdale. You can see how his design style has evolved at the brand new Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, which is scheduled to open in mid-January, in time to host the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

The course is a 27-hole expedition through dense desert-mountain foothills, with roomy landing areas, strategically placed fairway bunkers and a handful of forced carries. But the real fun comes on the greens, which deliver intricate interior contouring rather than the sharper-edged broad levels that Jack favored too many times in years past. The Match Play will be contested over the Saguaro and Tortolia nines.

Jack's favorite nine is the Wild Burro loop, which sits closest to the future hotel site. The PGA Tour opted to use the other two nines for gallery flow purposes, so when you tackle Wild Burro you'll get to see what the pros missed. That includes perhaps the most dramatic triangle in desert golf: holes 3, 4 and 5, which tangle with Wild Burro Wash. The green at the 470-yard 3rd is an island isolated among the sand and cacti. In other words, a hole that lends itself perfectly to match play.

At least you can enjoy it, even if the pros can't.

Dove Mountain:  As Close To Augusta Conditions as You'll Get

For legit Augusta-like conditions, Golf Channel's Erik Peterson says Dove Mountain might be as close as you can get on a public-access course. "Site of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, these 27 Jack Nicklaus-designed holes are set amidst the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains. With unobstructed panoramic views of cacti that are decades – and even centuries – old, the setting is about as naturally beautiful as a desert gets. But more important than the scenery, the course conditions at Dove Mountain are among the finest I’ve ever played. Believe it or not, the conditions at Dove Mountain remind me of Augusta National. There are two things that amaze me about the conditions at Augusta: First is the contrast of colors – the lush greens against the white bunkers, brown pine straw and blooming flowers. The other is how green the course is, without being soft. Dove Mountain is the only course I’ve played that is similar to Augusta in both regards. It begins with the tee boxes, which epitomize the word “oasis” with their green, tightly clipped Bermuda grass surrounded by gnarly desert plants. The contrast of colors and conditions is marvelous. The views from the tee down the wide fairway corridors are also stunning, with cross-cut fairway mow lines and dramatic bunkers. It’s a view that’s just as photogenic as it is intimidating. The fairways are the same consistency as the tee box, with hardly any divots to be found (this is probably due in part to the course not getting a ton of play even during high season, and also because the fairways are so large that the divots are spread far apart). Though the tee boxes and fairways are superbly maintained, it’s around the greens where Dove Mountain really stands out. The firm, fast bent grass surfaces usually are kept at around 11 on the Stimpmeter, which is lightning fast by resort golf standards. These massive putting surfaces are works of art, characterized by deceptive run-off areas and severe undulation. In fact, Nicklaus gave the greens so much severity that they were flattened in 2010 so PGA Tour officials could get them up to Tour-caliber speed without making them unplayable. Dove Mountain is no doubt one of the finest golf courses in Arizona. For the best chance of playing it in peak form, visit between October and May."