Rio Rico Golf Club

Course is fairly rough currently. It was recently purchased and is in the beginning stages of reconditioning and remodeling. The rough is pretty much unplayable and tee boxes are a disaster. So Why do I love this course? It's a combination of things...the great people they employ, the relaxed atmosphere of Rio Rico, a fun tract ( especially the front 9 ) and the promise of good things to come ( with new ownership. ).
I'll be back...and I have an hour drive just to get there !

Course not well maintained. Looks like a course that will be closing in the future

The course is under new ownership and they are trying to get it back to where it once was but they have lots of work to do. The course was very 'shaggy' and the bunkers were all hard-pan. The 15th green was a temporary green. The staff was extremely friendly and asked us to give them a chance and thanked us for coming down and playing. The lunch sandwiches were excellent! You can't hit a large bucket of balls for the price of the green fees so even though the course is still in rough shape you can't argue the value. Will probably go back in a while to give it another chance because it's such a nice layout and the staff was so friendly.

I had heard great things about the course and having lived in Tucson for 18 years, never had gone down to play. A friend had a Groupon deal, so down we went.

The staff did warn us ahead of time about the course conditions...they didn't lie, it was in rough shape with one temporary green.

The bones are there, it could be a very nice course with some TLC, which appears to be on it's way with new management.

I will give them another shot once things are back up to par!!

excellent treatment and the environment is perfect

Nice Layout, but greens are mostly in bad shape. Course is on the rebound after being neglected by previous owners, from what I've heard. A good challenge tee to green.

People are really nice. Food special with golf was really great. We all played (3 of us) extremely well - pars, birdies and a hole in one on #12 made it an awesome day.

Sadly, like many of the courses in Southern Arizona,
Rio Rico suffers from lack of water and other resources.
Nice lay out but really thin hard fairways and rough greens.

Low prices are the best feature.

This was the worst conditioned course that I ever played. There was almost no grass in the fairways, the greens were virtually unputtable, and the tees were hard as rock and several had multiple animal holes. The gentleman in the pro shop told us to take a handful of tees because we would break a tee on almost every hole (he was correct).

Conditions were not that great. Fairways are patchy and the greens have some bad patches. The golf carts are great. It was just an okay round of golf.

Our wives booked this course for us. This course is in rough shape very rough. We played winter rules. The greens are terrible. The bunkers are like concrete, with some having so much water they could have been a temporary duck pond. Dead trees along fairways. Views are good that is about all I can say. Now on to the on course two bathrooms or "outhouses"
No paper towels, soap ,overflowing trashcans one bathroom had no sink. Water fountains did not work. I played and play decent amount of golf on some bad tracks this is at the top of the list dont waste time if you play golf regularly.

This our first time to play this far south in AZ. A friend suggested that we try it and we will do it again next year.

As a relatively new golfer, the opportunity to play golf in a natural setting is important to me. Rio Rici is open, natural and friendly to a variety of shots and experiences. Here is what I love...no homes crowding in on the fairways, natural Sonoran Desert views, flora and fauna that actually live there and a sky that is always a spectacular panorama.

In the past year, the improvements have been rapid and ongoing. The head pro is an amazing teacher and an inspiration to all levels of golfer. She has turned my game into something I can look forward to, not an experience fraught with tension and trepidation. This is a great place and I feel fortunate to be growing and evolving with Rio Rico. We're all getting better and better.

Course conditions were the worst I have encountered in S. AZ.

staff friendly and helpful .course not in great shape, greens in poor shape not filled in and very bumpy. Sand traps very short on sand to the point of being unplayable.

While I understand Rio Rico has has some tough years, under new management the course is on the way back, which is great to see. We love to walk and prefer a course surrounded by nature, not houses. Rio fits the bill on both. A Robert Trent Jones design from the late '60's it still has the solid bones of a well designed track. You will see lots of wildlife and birds!

The golf pro, Jane, is a top notch teacher. If you have rough edges or inconsistency in your swing, don't hesitate to work with her.

After your round, the grill is good, but you can also stop at the Espendor, the resort a short drive away. Great views from the deck!

Kept hoping conditions would improve, they do not!! Bathroom on course filthy and flooded. We were embarrassed to bring friends there. Not worth playing even for a low price.

If you are out there to have some fun where you seldom wait on the tee box then this is the course for you. Read that this course was a 'gem'. Would not be a word we would use. It was fun. It was great value especially if you watch golfnow. The greens need some extensive work. The large trees are a treat.. Watch out for the wind.
Take a look at Kino Springs or Haven if you prefer a more groomed courses.

This course has it all - dog legs, bunkers and lakes. What it doesn't have is grass on the fairways, greens clear of invasive grasses, and sand traps with sand, not hard pan. If this course would be in shape it would be a top ten in the area. But it is not yet there.

Gave Rio a shot last week and the course has come back to quality playing conditions! As for the price you can't beat it! The Greens still need some improvement but the fairways, sand traps and tee boxes were in great condition. The staff was very helpful and the grill was delicious! Keep up the good work Rio Rico, you are truly a hidden gem!