Tucson Area Country Clubs

Those of us who have been here for 25 years or more are familiar with the long-standing country club communities that dot the area- Tucson, Skyline, 49er's, Oro Valley, Tucson National and further south, Rio Rico and the Country Club of Green Valley. A dozen or so years ago, Ventana Canyon, La Paloma, Starr Pass and El Conquistador were added to the list.

In the past couple of years, a number of newcomers have moved in- Sabino Springs, Heritage Highlands, Rancho Vistoso, SaddleBrooke, Stone Canyon. Dove Mountain, Torres Blancas, San Ignacio and Quail Creek.

These and numerous others are similar golf communities with neighborhoods and developments adjacent to or surrounding a golf course.

While golf may be the focus of these communities, many non-golfers are also attracted to the amenities that are included- such as spacious club houses for residents and guests to use for dining, card games, fitness classes or other recreation. There are also swimming pools or tennis courts.

Imagine this: your backyard is an expanse of manicured green lawn, stretching almost as far as the eye can see to the base of the purple mountains that form the skyline. Here and there, the scene is broken with rows of trees or natural desert. Wild ducks glide on a spacious lake just 200 yards from your patio, and an occassional roadrunner or covey of quail is brazen enough to perch atop the short patio wall.

You might even see a bobcat or a javalina venture across the lawn. And the nicest part of it all- you don't need to worry about mowing grass, trimming brushes or cleaning up debris.

Too idyllic to be true? It describes the setting of thousands of homes in the Tucson, Arizona area- home located in golf communities that have been developed over the past several years.