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Rating Index Rating
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3.8
735 Reviews (735)
5 Stars
120
4 Stars
321
3 Stars
178
2 Stars
70
1 Stars
46
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.8
Layout
3.8
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.8
80.6%
Recommend this course
590 out of 735 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.6
25 Reviews (25)
5 Stars
6
4 Stars
9
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.6
Value
3.5
Layout
3.6
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.5
76.0%
Recommend this course
19 out of 25 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
40 Reviews (40)
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
9
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.6
Layout
3.7
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.6
80.0%
Recommend this course
32 out of 40 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

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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
735 Reviews (735)

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 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The course was in great shape

The course was in great shape. Fairways were full. Most green I've seen. I will come back and play again soon. And hope that the course is in this same condition. Thank you.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

best fairways in the city. did not overseed this winter

El Rio is a City of Tucson golf course and maintence is not a high priority. but now the fairways are lush and thick, greens good for this time of the year. summer transition from rye grass to bermuda is tough in this area. El Rio succeeded because they did not over seed this past winter. small greens are a real challenge.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course condition

Course nearly empty during middle of the day great time to play without waiting for next tee box

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Wide open!!!!

This course was in great shape this round...
If you have any arrant shots its easy to play back into your fairway because its wide open. The only thing stopping you is the abundance of trees that line 80% of the holes. Course is very fun to play!!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

It's a muni.

The greens still haven't fully recovered from aeriation and are bumpy but puttable. Need to fix before course is used for a competitive event. Bunkers were good but have to keep up on their maintenance so they don't get baked in this heat.
And, if you can't play this course in 3 hours you need to consider another activity. It's easy to get around quickly.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

This course has some challenges for me, I am new

I really enjoy playing this course, as it has enough challenges to stimulate a new player like myself. Enjoy the layout of the course and the friendly, accommodating staff.........

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

good cold water to drink !!

City course and much better kept that the others.!!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A great course. I learned how to golf here.

I really like this course. It's usually maintained very well. I was there 2 days ago and going back because it was in such great shape. Lot's of trees to hide in the shade if need be. There's some fairly long par 5's here, and a few water holes, but mainly flat.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great teaching course

This is the course I played with my 12 year old son the other day. He is learning the game through First Tee which is also headquartered at this course. I was able to make a 12:22 tee time for myself since he is able to play this course free through First Tee. It only cost me 12 for 18 holes with a cart. We played best ball for the front nine in order to keep a good pace. We played in 100+ degree temps, but he still had a great time and cant wait to play again. I recommend this course to anyone learning the game, or wanting to teach their children to play.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

City course in good condition

The course has a flat, tight design with tee boxes very proximal to the greens. It is also very forgiving because any mis-hits will end up on the adjacent fairway. The conditions were good. Green, grassy, although not lush fairways and green were in very good shape. This was my 3rd time playing El Rio in May and I like it because it's cheap, convenient practice for me.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

El Rio Is Worth Saving!

With all of the hype brought on by the Tucson city Council in an attempt to balance a difficult budget the future of El Rio Golf Course continues to make headlines. El Rio is the pride of the barrio! It has been a cornerstone of family athletic involvement for more than fifty years. An the 'kicker' is that this course remains fun to play and a worthy challenge for the average as well as more skilled golfer. The smallish and somewhat domed greens require a number of shot making skills. The course's beauty multiplies as an increase in water usage allows it to blossom. I truly enjoy El Rio as one of the Tucson City golf properties. Let's keep El Rio and dump the over-priced and ill conceived streetcar project. The pricing at El Rio is more than fair and the enjoyment scale for a visit, excellent. El Rio WILL always give back to golfing fans!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

This course was an excellent outing

Playing surface maintained well, and the pace of play made for win excellent golfing experience

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

This course is in great shape for a city run course.

Overall, this course is well worth the money and in pretty good shape, especially this time of year. A little under staffed, but understandable with this economy. If you are in the Tucson area, definitely stop in and play a round.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

We enjoyed our morning and beat the heat.

The fairways had been freshly watered but didn't affect our play except for the sand traps. We only "spent time" in two, so it wasn't a big deal. The greens were fast and in good shape. It was our first time to play the course and we depended heavily on the scorecard map to find our way, but we soon figured out the pattern.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

I HAVE BEEN PLAYING THIS COURSE FOR YEARS.

I LOVE THIS COURSE, IF I GET A 20.00 TO PLAY W/CART YEAR ROUND YOU WOULD MAKE MORE MONEY THAN YOU DO. YOU WOULD NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT SELLING ANY CITY COURSE. I HOPE YOU FIND SOMEONE THAT CAN MANAGE BETTER.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

El Rio is a fantastic traditional-style course.

El Rio Golf Course is well-maintained. It is enjoyable to golf on a course with such tradition and history. It will be extremely disappointing if the City of Tucson leadership is short-sighted and sells the property for conversion to a for-profit, religious university campus.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Best shape I've seen.

Not a pretty course but it is in the best shape I've seen it. Fairways are good and the greens are very smooth. It would be a shame to lose this muni.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

poor course attracts poor golfers with worse attitudes

The Course Itself Was Not That Bad And The Staff Are Friendly. However, The Gas Powered Carts Are Super Lousy, Smoking And Very Loud. Could Not Hold A Conversation While Moving. The Price And The Area Should Of Been My First Clues That The Golfers There Would Not Have Respect For The Game and themselves For That Matter. My Fault For Using Price As My First Deciding Factor When Choosing, Lesson Learned.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

A good friendly city course.

Price is right and te course is in good shape. You don't lose too many balls there.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Fun casual course for the average golfer.

First time I played this course in about six years. A little attention to the fairways making them a little more plush would be a great improvement. The greens were in great shape, well-manicured allowing the ball to roll smooth.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Easy
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