Raven Golf Club at Sabino Springs
Tucson, Arizona
An RTJ Jr. design in the Sabino Canyon area of northeast Tucson, the Raven at Sabino Springs features a target-style desert layout through the Santa Catalina Mountain foothills. The par-71 blends dramatically with the native Sonoran terrain while offering generous fairways and strategic bunker complexes at an accessible daily-fee price point.
History & Heritage
Originally opened as The Raven Golf Club at Sabino Springs in the mid-1990s, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. on 430 acres of natural Sonoran Desert in the Santa Catalina Mountain foothills adjacent to Coronado National Forest. The course was later rebranded as Arizona National Golf Club.
Named to Golf Magazine\'s "Top 100 Courses You Can Play" and voted best public course in Tucson. The nine natural springs on the property influenced the routing, creating water features throughout. Serves as host for USGA qualifying events.
Signature Holes
Elevated tee with panoramic valley views stretching toward the Mexican border. Bunkers demand precision on this scenic one-shotter.
An elevated tee with an intimidating water hazard left and sweeping desert scenery to finish. A strong, memorable closer.
What to Expect
A true desert layout winding through mesquite-lined arroyos, rock outcroppings, saguaro forests, and nine natural springs. Bent grass greens are mostly flat with subtle undulations.
Breathtaking mountain-to-valley vistas throughout. The desert penalties are severe for wayward shots, but fairways are generally generous for accurate players.
Playing Tips
Most putts break away from the mountain, even when your eyes disagree. Trust the read.
Lay up before water hazards on holes 2 and 8. Hole 15 has a visual illusion where the green appears to slope one direction but breaks away from the mountain.
Desert air adds distance. Choose tees wisely — the penalties for missing fairways are severe.
Highlights
- ✓ RTJ Jr. target-style desert design
- ✓ Santa Catalina Mountain foothill setting
- ✓ Accessible daily-fee pricing in northeast Tucson
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as Arizona National?
Who designed it?
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