The Highlands at Dove Mountain

Overview: At Dove Mountain in Marana, The Highlands offers an 18-hole public layout, northwest of Tucson. Arthur Hills designed the layout, which opened in 1997 and is listed at par 72 and 6,904 yards from the longest Rattler tees. The front nine moves across flatter ground, while the back nine climbs into more rugged terrain around lakes and the foothills. Views stretch toward five mountain ranges, giving the course a broad southern Arizona setting and making it a useful Tucson-area stop for golfers who want mountain scenery without the scale of a resort-only property.

History: The course was built as part of The Highlands at Dove Mountain community and has remained central to the neighbourhood’s identity. The operator describes a 2019 renovation and new practice putting green intended to improve the playing experience. Seven tee boxes and a range of playing lengths keep the Hills design approachable, while the varied front-and-back-nine environments give repeat rounds a natural change of rhythm. Its public operation also makes it a more accessible counterpart to the high-end courses around Dove Mountain.

Did You Know? The course is designed so that every hole has a view toward mountains, the city or the surrounding valley. The front and back nines feel noticeably different because the back nine wraps into hillier ground.