Tubac Golf Resort and Spa

Location: 1 Avenue de Otero, Tubac, AZ 85646. Map
520-398-2211 Phone
800-848-7893 Reservations
520-398-9261 Fax
WebsiteTubac is one of my favorite small towns. It has history, art and culture, and beautiful mountain views. Tubac, 45 minutes south of Tucson, Arizona, was established in 1752 as a Spanish presidio (fort). It is now a destination for art enthusiasts as well as nature lovers who enjoy birding and walking along the river trail. More on Tubac.The resort is a true retreat. The rooms dot the beautiful grassy grounds and are shaded by ancient trees. The resort looks very much like the hacienda it once was. It is elegant yet simple in architecture. Rooms are large, some being spacious suites. There are restaurants on site, a marvelous gift shop, a full-service spa and, of course, the golf course.While there are often specials available and seasonal rates, the typical room rate average $213 per night.I love dining al fresco and the Tubac Golf Resort and Spa offers you great patio dining. You can enjoy fine Mexican food at Dos Silos or head over to The Stables (no horses there now) for a marvelous golf course and mountain view. Have a margarita and select from their extensive menu of regional cuisine.

And, if you're in the mood for entertainment and your timing is right, you can always meet up with a wild bunch of 4 Illinois women who can match anyone shot for shot with tequilla.Tubac Golf Resort & Spa's 27 hole championship course was designed in 1959 by renowned golf course architect Robert "Red" Lawrence, the original 18 hole course stood as the most desirable in the Southwest, and was where many of the scenes of Kevin Costner's 1996 golf movie Tin Cup was filmed.

In the fall of 2006 local golf course architect Ken Kavanaugh added nine new holes, significantly enhancing the preexisting cottonwood treed and lushly verdant layout.Our expert on spas, Anitra Brown, reviewed the resort's Spa. Anitra described the spa that uses traditional materials, including richly polished mesquite doors in the locker room, Mexican tiles, heavy wooden doors and iron wall sconces. There are only eight treatment rooms, which makes it an intimate experience, and you can relax in the spa's walled outdoor patio before or after your treatment. More on the spa (and some mistakes that Anitra made while there).The resort has a lovely pool, walking paths, tennis courts, fitness center, and a business center. Of course the best amenity of all is that you will be close to Tubac with it's galleries, historical sites, and even more quaint restaurants.Tubac Golf Resort has it's own wedding chapel. In the style of an old mission, the chapel is a major reason you might want to have your wedding in Tubac. The resort offers 98 spacious suites and guestrooms, over 7,000 square feet of modern banquet space, suitable for up to 400 people in theatre/reception style seating, and some of the most spectacular outdoor views imaginable. While the latter is their marketing language, I fully agree. It's just beautiful there.Of course since I love Tubac, I'll recommend a visit there anytime. But what I didn't realize was that the beautiful resort on the grounds of the historic Otero Ranch was such a relaxing and beautiful retreat.

We were attending the Tubac Festival of the Arts, not far from the resort, and decided to spend just one night there. That was a big mistake. There is so much beauty to experience a the resort, you have to spend at least a long weekend there.

We enjoyed the adobe style suite with beautifully tiled bath and saltillo floors. And we decided to dine outside at The Stables restaurant to see the glow of the sunset on the mountains. That turned out to be an excellent choice as we chatted with visitors from Idaho and Illinois who regaled us with stories of the excellent golf course and how much they had enjoyed the resort. We talked well into the night warmed by the glow of space heaters and served by cheerful and attentive staff. I highly recommend such culinary delights as the Albondigas (meatballs) and the excellent Margaritas. Another regret? Only having one night to sample the resort's cuisine.

Before we checked out, we walked the beautiful grounds and visited the resort's excellent gift shop. If you are furnishing your home with hints of old Mexico or the Southwest, the gift shop is a must-see. Not only are the items beautifully displayed, they are unusual and very unique pieces. I'll bring a friend back there who is furnishing her home... just to see the lamps!

The restaurants are open to the public so if you don't have a few days to spend there, you can at least enjoy the ambiance over lunch or dinner.

I highly recommend this resort. The Tubac Golf Resort is scenic, romantic, restful and is guaranteed to leave you with wonderful memories of your visit to southern Arizona.