The Club at Starr Pass (Pioneer/Palmer)

Overview: Pioneer/Palmer is an 18-hole combination within The Club at Starr Pass’s 27-hole desert facility in Tucson. The course winds through the Tucson Mountains and arroyos, using natural rock, elevation change and native vegetation as its defining hazards. The directory routing pairs the Pioneer and Palmer nines, with course records listing a par of 70 and 6,538 yards from the back tees. Arnold Palmer is associated with the Palmer addition and later work, while the wider property also carries the earlier design legacy of Bob Cupp and Craig Stadler.

History: Starr Pass opened its original 18 holes in 1986, and the property later became a setting for the Tucson Open. Arnold Palmer designed an additional nine holes in 2005, creating the 27-hole resort facility that supports several combinations. The club’s current history also notes Troon management from 2023 and the continuing restoration of the 27 holes. The Pioneer/Palmer routing is therefore part of an evolving property with a clear connection to Tucson’s professional golf history and the older trail that gives Starr Pass its name.

Did You Know? A historic stagecoach trail associated with Richard Starr runs through the property, and the sixth fairway follows part of that route. The surrounding habitat is managed as natural desert rather than as a blank canvas.