Rio Rico Golf Club
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About
Editor's Note: Course closed for business in 2018.
The beauty of the natural terrain and the way Jones fit the golf course into it is truly spectacular. Situated alongside the Santa Cruz River, the course meanders into the surrounding hillsides where the sunlight casts mystical purple and yellow shadows in the late afternoon. Holes 5 to 8 are considered one of the finest four hole stretches in the state, ending with the 439 yard No. 8. Teeing off from high on the hill, the fairway drops off twice before your long approach shot settles onto a green framed by a reed filled pond to the right and a gaping bunker to the left.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black | 72 | 7240 yards | 73.0 | 132 |
Blue | 72 | 6706 yards | 71.1 | 128 |
White | 72 | 6220 yards | 68.9 | 124 |
Silver | 72 | 5737 yards | 66.1 | 117 |
Silver (W) | 72 | 5737 yards | 70.9 | 128 |
Red (W) | 72 | 5085 yards | 67.0 | 121 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black M: 74.9/131 | 449 | 594 | 202 | 386 | 202 | 412 | 480 | 439 | 420 | 3584 | 558 | 371 | 193 | 447 | 406 | 441 | 448 | 192 | 600 | 3656 | 7240 |
Blue M: 73.1/123 | 421 | 558 | 173 | 363 | 183 | 389 | 472 | 431 | 411 | 3401 | 523 | 342 | 160 | 422 | 370 | 403 | 370 | 162 | 553 | 3305 | 6706 |
White M: 70.7/121 | 395 | 523 | 159 | 339 | 157 | 358 | 453 | 412 | 392 | 3188 | 496 | 319 | 145 | 382 | 354 | 377 | 322 | 132 | 505 | 3032 | 6220 |
Silver M: 69.2/117 W: 70.2/119 | 367 | 492 | 137 | 319 | 147 | 338 | 438 | 352 | 346 | 2936 | 480 | 292 | 131 | 351 | 328 | 348 | 293 | 102 | 476 | 2801 | 5737 |
Red W: 67.1/113 | 299 | 445 | 106 | 291 | 128 | 303 | 368 | 310 | 333 | 2583 | 463 | 273 | 114 | 295 | 280 | 291 | 256 | 77 | 453 | 2502 | 5085 |
Handicap | 3 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 4 | |||
Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
Handicap (W) | 5 | 1 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 18 |
Course Details
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Closed
After a 60 minute drive this golf course is closed and has been for 6 months, seems like Golff Now needs to check more often before they book golfers into closed courses
Course Closed
I booked a tee time on 1/4/19 for Rio Rico golf course in Rio Rico Az. To play on 1/5/19 your hot deal. Drove to the course 60 miles from my house only to find that the course has been closed sense September of 2018. How can Golfnow not know this? I can only hope when I call about this that they will compansat myself and my partner for our inconvenience.
NEEDS WORK
I have played this course many times. At one time it was a 5-star course and used as a Q School course in the 80's and 90's. The new owners have a challenge. The day I played the staff provided an astro turf patch to hit from the dirt fairways. The greens were shaping up with plenty of grass which not had not been rolled. This is such a special course. It has a great layout, is fair and offers variety. I am glad I had the opportunity to play the course in its prime. The owners should bite the bullet and close for 2+ years. Get it back in shape.
I heard that this course was one of the finest in the Southern Arizona areas. That was then this is now, I hate to give it a crappy review but you might as well save your money. The fairways are akin to a farmers field the greens are “green” but bumpy and need lots of work. I feel for the current owners but they need major investors to bring this course up to its past glory.
Improving
While the greens were sometimes difficult to putt, at least they were grassy and green. There is no difference between the fairway and the rough, but that made for a lot of extra roll distance. Overall, an enjoyable experience at a good value: but a lot more work needs to be done to return the course to its Glory days.
I want to say something positive.
Rio Rico is a great Trent Jones design that is really not playable. I paid $13, played with 2 really nice guys but fairways are a field kind of mowed. NO grass anywhere except greens. Greens are very, very rough with long grass. One water cooler had weeds growing in it.
I did not try the grill.
I enjoyed it for the novelty and really hope someone saves it but I won't be back until then. Sorry.
A tarnished trophy
My wife and I couldn’t pass up the hot deal to play this Robert Trent Jones Sr design. V Apparently this was a Qschool course back in ‘79. The course is in rough shape which didn’t dissuade us from getting the experience under our belt. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Can’t say we’ll be in the area again, but if we are we’ll be rooting for the courses climb back to its prominence.
nick
The course needs a lot of work - that said it was a GREAT course and we hope it is around for a long time - we hope people get behind them and help resurrect this classic Robert Trent Jones course - it's a jewel in the desert.
This place sucks
The people who bought and managed the property ran it into the ground, totally ruined by staff. Best "Jones" layout in Arizona by far. Obliterated by dumb and lazy people. A shame, a tragedy, a crime beyond compare.
COURSE IN THE WORKS
Don't be too hard on this course
1) Jane, is PGA teaching pro since '88. Nice lady runs the course
2) the Pumps are in bad condition because, well original not used for many years in 2000's, matter of fact only one pump working.
3) She has greens playable little shaggy some bare spots but you can play 2 putt rule. I had two kick in birdies.
4) Because the water problems (which she just got rights too) has to hand water because sensor are working. Yes the fairways are bare except for where the straw lays, so if you can't pick the ball clean you can score. I shot 75. Remember divots are to be small and shallow.
Her plan is to fix the pumps and work out from the green to 100 yards get grass growing on the fairways.
She has volunteers, but looking for help on cash flow of course, losing money daily. I like the course only Robert Trent Jones in the state of AZ I believe. So don't be hard to judge.
We need your support
One of the prettiest golf courses I have played on. The birds on the course are unbelievable if you are a bird watcher . The course itself is a lot better than last year the owners are doing their best on a limited budget and Volunteers. The front nine are the best the greens are a work in progress but if you want a challenge do the back nine its a bit ruff but fun .The owners need all the senior golfers in the local area to come out and support them as they are two of the nicest ladies you can meet and with a bit of work this course could still be one of the best courses in the Area. Maybe as a suggestion try making bigger holes to get more Newbie golfers for the winter months to just to have fun Big Mike Canada Snowbird
Making Rio Rico Great Again
Course had fallen on hard times and we hadn't played for a while. Still a work in progress but very much improved. All 18 holes are open again and course is very playable. Staff could not be friendlier. We really enjoyed our round and will be back soon.
Poor
Only nine holes open, course needs a lot of work! Won’t be going back! Restaurant and bar nice !
They opened the other 9, greens are good I was told and the course staff is working on the t-boxes. I am playing 3 of Feb.
Lots of work to do
This used to be a premier golf course. What I encountered was awful. The only grass was on the greens and some of them were real shaggy. The fairways were dried Bermuda and dirt. A real shame.
Work in progress
I have played this course various times this past summer (2017). Even with it being a work in progress, I know that it will get back to where it once was. The management team here is awesome, they have a plan and are working extremely hard. I will continue to support this course by golfing here and giving them all the support that I can. Thank you Rio Rico Golf Resort for all you do and what you are doing for our community.
It's DEAD!
Drove down to look at it (35 miles) and were extremely disappointed in the condition! Weeds & grass severley overgrown, and no no water! One of my favorite courses is gone!
Worst course I've ever played
I've never had to leave a course after 1 hole, that is until I came across Rio Rico, the fact that they call this a resort is a joke and should just close the doors for good.
That golf course needs a big help -water and TLC. From people
We were sad to find this beautiful place to get in such a bad shape , look like needs a irrigation system to be fixed and get some knowledgeable people back in work there and restore it
Hope for this to happen soon
Take care. Hana
I appreciate that Rio Rico responds to the reviews with words, but at this point they are a broken record. I haven't been down in a few years. I was hoping the reviews would show some sign of improvement, but it doesn't seem to be happening. It could be so wonderful, but...
It used to be a good course
The conditions are terrible tee to green. At one time it was a very nice course but course was neglected for a long period of time. Hopefully it will be brought back the way it one was.
Hello, thank you for reviewing our course, Rio Rico Golf Club. We appreciate you taking the time to leave us your feedback. We are sorry to hear that there was miscommunication about the course. We will make sure to pass this along to our staff. We hope to see you again in the future.