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Rating Index Rating
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3.8
732 Reviews (732)
5 Stars
119
4 Stars
321
3 Stars
176
2 Stars
70
1 Stars
46
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.8
Layout
3.8
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.8
79.8%
Recommend this course
587 out of 732 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
30 Reviews (30)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
16
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.5
Layout
3.5
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.5
76.7%
Recommend this course
23 out of 30 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
43 Reviews (43)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
21
3 Stars
9
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.7
Layout
3.7
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.6
81.4%
Recommend this course
35 out of 43 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The staff here consistently earns high praise for being welcoming and genuinely helpful to golfers of all skill levels. Tee boxes, fairways, and greens hold up well, and this classic course offers solid value for the experience.

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Municipal
Style Desert
Par 70
Length 6436 yards
Slope 124
Rating 69.4

Previously known as Trini Alvarez El Rio Municipal Golf Course

Book a Tee Time at
El Rio Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1934
Golf Season Year round
Architect William P. Bell Ken Kavanaugh (2004)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities
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Reviews

3.8
732 Reviews (732)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 15
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 30
Water Hazards 10
Undulating Greens 7
This course/club is great for:
Locals 31
Beginners 26
Seniors 26
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 44
Near Local Attractions 6

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Over Seeding

The course was recently over seeded but played well . It’s a yearly thing here in Tucson . The staff was great, felt right at home !

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Pace of play

The pace of play absolutely needs to improve to play a full 18 holes dont make any other plans for the next 3 hours overal the course is in great shape the greens are slow and need to be mowed slightly down to make it a little faster but i will still play this course its a fun course

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0

Reliable el rio

Played el rio for second time this year. Course has been over seeded. It is in very good condition. Always a fun course to play.. fairways And greens bee nice. (Greens pretty slo right now)

Great staff and nice facilities. Pace of play a little slow

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Course is only playing Front Nine twice at present time. That created backlogs at numerous holes. Constructions has been ongoing for months at end! Really wish they could finish up the project as this course is really one of my favorites!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

1/2 course

On 9/6/20 we showed up and were told that 1/2 the course was closed. Not the front 9 or back 9, but physically they closed 1/2 the course and made 9 holes out of the 1/2 that was open. This was not anywhere on the website when making the reservation. We were to start @ 808am and we didn't tee off until around 830am. It took 5 hours to play 18 holes. The scorecard didn't match the holes we played, so it was difficult to know if we were on a par 4 or 5. Then, after 9 holes of waiting before we could hit our 2nd and 3rd shots, the attendant told us 3 times to hurry up and tee off because he "had people waiting". We knew there were people waiting, as we were waiting the entire time we were playing. It is never nice to be told to hurry up and wait. The pair my friend and I were paired up with were great, and the greens were good. I would only play this course again when it is back to 18 holes, whenever that may be. I will always from this date on call before making a reservation, regardless of where we are playing.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Good Course

Good low budget course, back nine was being worked on so that was the biggest downfall.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Not maintained

Dirt fairways. Not mowed around greens. Standing water in fairways from watering grass. Tee boxes not mowed. No distance markers on course.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Dont play this course

The staff here are very rude and rush you to hit off the first tee the tee boxes are very crowded by other golfers waiting to hit there ball also they never will ever open the back nine the price for 18 holes but you play the front nine twice who wants to play the same hole they also dont clean or sanatize the carts after your round

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Work in progress

Getting ready to open the back nine and start on the front nine. This will soon be a great course. Great staff. Friendly professional

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Awful

Got charged twice for the round. First by tee off then by the course. I told them it was prepaid and they said they don’t do that so I gave them my card and got charged again. Then the round, conditions and pace was so bad I left after 9 holes.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Disappointed

Looks like maybe some upgrades are taken which is a good thing, however I wish I was told that at check in. Beverage service wasn’t available until I almost finished 9 holes.

Then she passed right by us. Starter was unorganized! It just really seems like amateur hours now a days at El Rio which is a shame, there so much history at this course.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Maybe a just a off day

Paid for a full 18, got there and they only allowed to play the front 9 twice. Wouldn't have been so bad if a lot of the holes fairways were completely mud.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Almost there

This has always been my favorite course to play. Over the years I have probably played here over 50 times. Even though you guys are still working on the course it still looks pretty good. Every time I play there it gets better every time. Can’t say enough about the staff there either very happy all the time and makes playing there better.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

No warnings

No reference on Tee Off when reserved about only 9 holes available and cow pasture fairways. Nines were switched so my SkyDroid distance tool was useless.

Staff was friendly but I would not have reserved if knowledge of these deficiencies. I understand there were winter grass issues.

Staff was friendly enough. Should have had a “caution warning” when customer reserving. We quit after nine holes.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
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