The World’s Best Face Off
From 2009 to 2014, Dove Mountain hosted golf’s global elite for the WGC-Accenture Match Play. Fans witnessed tense battles—like Jason Day outlasting Victor Dubuisson in dramatic fashion—etched against rugged Sonoran peaks.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
The Golf Club at Dove Mountain
Marana, Arizona
Established
2009
Architect
Jack Nicklaus (Signature Design), with Chet Williams (Nicklaus Group); major improvement project led by Nicklaus Group in 2025–26
Access
Private – Resort Guest Access
Par
Par 72
Length
5,097 – 7,849 yds
Green Fees
$$$
The verdict
Championship Desert Challenge, Reborn
Dove Mountain delivers serious desert golf with a championship pedigree and stunning Sonoran views. The recent $15 million revitalization amps up playability and polish, blending bold Nicklaus strategy with more enjoyable, accessible conditions. If you crave tournament-worthy tests with a reimagined edge, few Southwest venues match this big-stage experience.
Course DNA
Difficulty
82
Scenery83
Conditioning88
Shot Variety77
Walkability61
Green Complexity78
Wow Factor74
Design Quality81
At a glance
Quick facts
Course Style
Dramatic high-desert championship
Elevation
2,800 feet above sea level
Greens Renovation
All greens rebuilt in 2025
Bunker Sand
New white-sand bunkers post-2025
Signature Combinations
Saguaro/Tortolita, Wild Burro/Saguaro, Tortolita/Wild Burro
Pro Tournament Pedigree
WGC-Accenture Match Play host (2009–2014)
Playable for Public
Limited tee times for non-members
The design
The architecture
Dove Mountain embodies the boldness and challenge of Jack Nicklaus's modern championship designs, set on a canvas of wild Sonoran foothills and sculpted for both spectacle and strategic bite. The routing threads through swales of native desert, accentuating elevation swings and panoramic views, while generous landing areas give way to new, sharply contoured greens and crisp white bunkers after the sweeping 2025–26 improvements. It’s a demanding, visual feast that now walks the line between pure tournament test and accessible resort play, thanks to a careful rebalancing of penal desert and playable, visible golf.
Nicklaus’s shaping and vision create a desert championship with attack angles, heroic carries, and spectacular stage presence, now fully refreshed for modern play.
Defining features
- Rebuilt and improved greens on all nines
- White-sand bunkering and visual contrast
- Strategic desert carries with bailout options
- Dramatic mountain and valley views throughout routing
- Expanded, laser-leveled tee complexes
- Cleared desert vegetation opens up sightlines and landing areas
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 3
The Wind-Swept Perch
PAR
3
YARDAGE
203
This exposed par 3 is a classic Nicklaus test, firing downhill to an expansive green bracketed by desert arroyos and stark bunkers. Shifting winds amplify the drama, and the shot demands absolute conviction.
Play it smart
Choose a club based on wind and nerves—shots left short tumble off false fronts, while bailing long courts prickly trouble.
Where it bites
Miss badly and you’ll have a torturous bunker or desert recovery from severe slopes.
Course management
Shots to think about
Windy exposed par 3 with tough carry
Check the flag and your ego—take enough club, trust your swing, and favor the safe side of the green.
Long desert-crossing par 5
Be realistic: Unless you’ve hammered one A1, play short of trouble, then wedge up for birdie—don’t let greed beat you.
Narrow, bunker-flanked landing zone
Target the wider side—even if it’s a longer approach in—rather than risking a shot lost to sand or sage.
Fast, sloping modernized green
Stay below the hole on approach and expect significant movement on first putts—speed control is everything.
Tee shot with angled sightlines and wind
Commit to your line and pre-shot routine; indecision leads balls into desert, not fairway.
Downwind downhill short par 4
Resist temptation to overpower—use less club and trust the run-out, aiming for favorable layup positions.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Fresh, revitalized greens and crisp white bunkers deliver modern championship polish.
Pace
Deliberate private/resort pace; expect relaxed rounds built for enjoyment, not racing.
Vibe
Desert luxury meets tournament drama—premium amenities, secluded atmosphere, and big-stage energy.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Bring Plenty of Balls
Desert rough and arroyos eat wayward shots; even lower handicaps need extras.
02
Hydrate Constantly
High Sonoran heat and dry wind sap you quick—start fueled and keep water handy all round.
03
Trust the Yardages
Elevation and wind change club selection by 1–2 clubs on some approaches—double-check before every shot.
04
Practice Short Game
Rebuilt greens and tight surrounds demand great touch—don’t arrive rusty with wedges or putter.
The lore
How it came to be
- 2009
Club opened, debuting Nicklaus's new desert layout
- 2009
First WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship hosted
- 2014
Last PGA Tour WGC held at Dove Mountain; Jason Day wins
- 2025
$15 million capital renovation launched, major course overhaul
- 2026
Greens, bunkers, and tee complexes revitalized throughout all nines
Stories & legends
What makes it special
From Brutality to Balance
Once maligned as punishingly tough, Dove Mountain’s post-2025 overhaul opened up sightlines, improved green complexes, and made for a more inviting—even fun—desert test that still bristles with championship scale.
Desert Drama at Altitude
Set nearly 3,000 feet up in the Catalina foothills, the course is alive with wind, sky, and shifting shadow. Every shot feels magnified beneath the big Southwestern sun, making every round at Dove Mountain a genuine occasion.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
At opening, Dove Mountain was the longest course played in PGA Tour history at nearly 7,850 yards from the tips.
2
This was the site of the last U.S.-hosted WGC Match Play Championship before the event’s move.
3
Winners' names (including Jason Day, Matt Kuchar) are still spot-lit at the club from its WGC era.
4
The recent renovation replaced every bunker with bright, Augusta-style white sand.
5
Post-renovation, much in-play desert vegetation was cleared for greater playability—making the course far less penal for wayward shots.
Build the trip
If you’re making a Tucson desert golf trip
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Sewailo Golf Club
Public – Resort Guest Access
Widely praised as Tucson’s premier public-access course with bold native landscaping.
The Gallery Golf Club
Private
Championship-level private venue with outstanding pair of routings in Marana.
The Highlands at Dove Mountain
Public
Accessible nearby round with high-elevation desert views and friendly play.
Omni Tucson National (Catalina)
Resort
Historic resort track with a legacy of pro events and lively atmosphere.
Arizona National Golf Club
Public
Challenging public desert design with elevation changes and interest.
Stay in Marana or Dove Mountain for the best access to golf and quick transitions to each course.
Course DNA
If You Like The Golf Club at Dove Mountain
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.2
Pronghorn Club at Juniper Preserve (Nicklaus Course)
Bend, OregonConditioning
Why it matches: Pronghorn Club at Juniper Preserve (Nicklaus Course) is a natural next stop after The Golf Club at Dove Mountain: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Strong DNA Match7.9
Whiskey Creek Golf Club
Ijamsville, MarylandConditioning
Why it matches: If The Golf Club at Dove Mountain is your kind of course, Whiskey Creek Golf Club is worth a look because it puts the same premium on presentation.
Strong DNA Match8.3
The Club at Boot Ranch
Fredericksburg, TexasConditioning
Why it matches: If The Golf Club at Dove Mountain is your kind of course, The Club at Boot Ranch is worth a look because it puts the same premium on presentation.
Community Sentiment
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