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2.6
338 Reviews (338)
5 Stars
16
4 Stars
70
3 Stars
85
2 Stars
81
1 Stars
86
Conditions
1.8
Value
3.3
Layout
4.0
Friendliness
4.2
Pace
3.9
Amenities
2.9
56.5%
Recommend this course
191 out of 338 reviews
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Value
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Layout
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About

Holes 18
Type Resort/Semi-Private
Style Traditional/Desert
Par 72
Length 7240 yards
Slope 132
Rating 73.0

Editor's Note: Course closed for business in 2018.

The beauty of the natural terrain and the way Jones fit the golf course into it is truly spectacular. Situated alongside the Santa Cruz River, the course meanders into the surrounding hillsides where the sunlight casts mystical purple and yellow shadows in the late afternoon. Holes 5 to 8 are considered one of the finest four hole stretches in the state, ending with the 439 yard No. 8. Teeing off from high on the hill, the fairway drops off twice before your long approach shot settles onto a green framed by a reed filled pond to the right and a gaping bunker to the left.

Course Details

Year Built 1971
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (1971)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
GPS No
Pull-carts Yes
Caddies No
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
Dress code Collared shirt required, no denim

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks

Available Facilities

Conference Facilities, Banquet Facilities

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards
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Reviews

2.6
338 Reviews (338)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 34
Patio Dining 21
Brunch 17
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 40
Water Hazards 38
Elevation Changes 19
This course/club is great for:
Locals 45
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 44
Seniors 34
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 30
In the 'Burbs 18
Convenient to the City 11

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 20-24
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Some very scenic holes

Enjoyed the course . Duck p--- only bad on maybe 3 holes all on back nine. We had golf and lunch, super deal. Nice dining room, lunch was great. People very friendly and accommodating . Like that hole number one is back to original. Will play course again.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Course has good features. Some excellent surrounding views.

Excellent layout. Greens need work. Tee boxes need work.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0

Free Lunch, great deal!

I bought a round on golf now for 35$ wich included a free lunch. I found the course in much better shape! The bar and grill seemed to be a complete change under the new ownership. It was very professional how the staff in the golf shop told us to call in on hole #8 to recieve our free lunch. When we made the turn the meals were hot and ready. Also, the grill had added some new items the menu. The course is all around so much better. I am so excited to see RRCC back on track. Grab that deal with the free lunch while they are still offer it!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser

Uh oh

Rio Rico is in poor condition this year(2013). A change of management delayed the normal overseed and the greens are brely playable. The good news: signs of activity everywhere. This wonderful course design needs some care to become one of the nicest again. I'll try again next year.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

scale of 1 to 10: 7

Love the layout. Would have rated it higher overall if the greens were in better condition.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser

For the money it is ok, but the greens are bad

This course needs some work and they are working to get it in better condition, but the geens were really slow from sanding.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

The course is improving but still needs a lot of work.

I have played "Rio Rico" many times, both with "Golf Now" and as a regular customer. I will agree that the course has improved over the past year but still needs a lot of work, especially on the greens. Unfortunately I find it hard to believe that the "Automobile Club of Arizona" would even go public and rate this course as #1. Maybe they got a free round for their comment or just did a "Drive By". As for the "Free" burger and drink, the ad is misleading. It only applies if you purchase the higher round. I purchased 2 rounds at the listed price of $20.00 over the $30.00 round but "No" burger. This puts the price of the meal @ $10.00. I'll still play "Rio Rico" and hopefully it will continue to improve.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Great course - needs lots of care.

We played the course as a 3-some. Didn't have to wait on the front nine - apparently someone thought it was a good idea to put some 4 somes out on the back. Not a good idea - we had to wait on every hole. Course was very ragged - no grass on the fairways, greens very bumpy and full of holes. Should be played as "2 putt greens". Beautiful day, nice company, poor course - but worth the $20 special rate.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser

We paid 13 dollars, but the greens were awful, the fairways were marginal. Nice layout.

Tin cup style course that is worn down. Cheap and friendly, and good for practice. Pretty and a good layout

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser

Great price - poor shape

The course was in very rough shape. The greens were bumpy, the tees were poor, and the fairways were just OK. There were several very wet spots on the course. The layout is really good with a mixture of challenging and relatively easy holes.
Pace of play was on the slow side - we even saw a fivesome on the course!
The rate we were charged through GolfNow.com was excellent, so value for money was very good. I would not want to pay $30 or more for a course in this condition.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser

The course rating box did not work.

the price was very cheap but both the fairways and greens were in very poor condition.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Previously great on its way back.

The new operators at RR golf course are trying hard to get the previously neglected course back into shape. The classic design,
RTJ, Sr, is one of the best in southern AZ. The greens are coming back, slowly but surely. The new operators, Golf Clubs of CA, are committed to returning Rio Rico to its it's former reputation. Playable except for the occasional rough green, sand traps fairways and tee boxes almost 100 per cent.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Course is on the mend

First time playing this beautiful course that's on the mend. I can only imagin what this course looked like in its hay days, but after years of neglate someone is putting in alot of work to gets this course back to its prime and I think you will see that very soon. I shall return.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Outstanding course.

The course is in very good condition, we were 15 min. late and staff there were very understanding, friendly and allowed us to play with no delay. Very good customer service. I wish other courses had friendly customer service. A pleasure to play and deal with staff there.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

great variety

Enjoy the variety of challenge in the holes and the scenery is awesome. Once the fairway grass comes in it should be an excellent course.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 101
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Lunch was great

A geart design is very good, esp the first nine last 4 holes. Condition was not good, overseed has not taken hold fully yet. In March it will be much better, they are trying hard to bring it up to speed. Greens on the front nine were not cut, but the back side was. I would not play there again till March. The free lunch was great

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/13/2013

Geart? You mean great?

Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Needs work. But the price is great!

The course needs work. It is a lot better shape than early in the fall. Greens have several bare spots but are starting to fill in. No beverage cart on the course. Ate in the cafe and was quite good. Great staff and very friendly. I enjoy this course. Great views of surrounding country. Need to contain the ducks on the course. Bird droppings all over a couple of the greens. Even with the problems it is still a great course for the price!

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser

great layout

love this track, greens need attention, working hard to improve.

Conditions Poor
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

Work in Progress

Pretty good track but needs a little TLC. It has come a long way since the dog days of summer but there is still work to do. Regardless, good golf at a great price with great staff.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser

Under renovation

Hope renovation is a success . It's a good layout. The front nine has some interesting elevation changes, the back nine rather flat, park-like. (They recently flipped the course, so if you've played it before, don't be confused). The entire course, including greens, is Ground Under Repair at this time, so even at the golfnow rate we paid, it is overpriced. I would not recommend this course at this time. Wait till renovations are finished--it'll be great to play.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
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