JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa

No staff direction to which routing we were assigned. On course amenities, water, restroom rooms, etc weak. Not on par with other resort courses.

First off, I really enjoyed my round at Starr Pass. We were staying on site in the golf suites (which were great), so it was very convenient and our first round in Tucson. The course layout was excellent, very fair and varied from hole to hole. Definitely not cookie cutter. My one criticism of the layout is the tee boxes could use better signage. My son was playing the tips and they were sometimes hard to locate. The course conditions were above average overall, tees and fairways were excellent, but the greens had a fair amount of dead areas and were probably on the low end of all the courses we played. My biggest negative from the round is the course has 27 holes, we booked Rattler/Roadrunner as they were highly recommended. When we checked in, we were told that Roadrunner was closed, our rotation would be Coyote/Rattler and they were both cart path only. I'll never understand why courses who use online booking feel this is okay to pull with their guests without prior warning. I'm in good shape, but for some players this is a deal breaker in 100 degree heat, not to mention, not what we paid for. All that being said clubhouse personnel were all very friendly and helpful. Cart girl made plentiful visits and was also very personable. To sum it all up, nice course that could be a little better maintained, great desert views that make you forgive the conditions a bit, but call and check with the clubhouse for any unusual circumstances before booking.

The after overseed is going ok but something is really going on with the greens!! They are having to cut out large chunks and re sod! Not sure if it’s diseased or invasive grasses?? $95 is not the correct price right now! $65 at absolute highest! Fairway’s and tees are good but poor quality greens.

After we checked in we were advised by the starter that the front 9 would be cart path only. We should have been advised of this much earlier by text or email, or by GolfPass.

This meant we had to march back and forth across a very hilly course in 90+ degree heat. And even so managed to finish the front 9 in less than 2.5 hours, right behind the group in front of us.

We then started the back 9 looking forward to a better pace of play with less huffing and puffing. But the cart GPS started covering the screen on every hole blocking the course information we needed with a message saying we were behind pace and the course marshall may ask us to skip a hole. Of course there was no place for us to go since we were right up on the group ahead of us, and when the marshal did drive by he just gave us a friendly wave. But still on every hole the same irritating message popped up on the screen covering the info we needed to make our shot. It was easy to delete, but time after time this message came up reminding us of what a unnecessarily difficult time we had on the front 9. If the course management is going to create conditions affecting the pace of play, they should adjust the time on their pace of play clock or turn it off.

We finished the back 9 in 2 hours 15 minutes, even with waiting on the group in front of us on multiple holes.

All in all, this was not the enjoyable experience it should have been and definitely was not worth the money.

Called the day before to check on conditions because I knew they'd overseeded recently, specifically asking if it was cart path only. I was told that it was not, that the course was in good shape for my round the next day. I arrive at the pro shop and as I pull my credit card to pay, I am told that it the front 9 (recently overseeded) was cart path only. When I protest being told one thing and now it being another, the person behind the counter says "it's only the front 9". No apology, no offer to refund, just a "oh well, you are SOL" look directed at me. Bag attendee didn't say anything else, didn't put the normal water cup in the cart, and left my bag hanging off the back of the cart by just the strap. Starter then adds to the conditions list, letting us know they didn't have the greens respond to the overseeding as well as they'd liked, and that the greens were in rough shape on that front 9. Thankfully, I played with a father and son duo that were a pleasure to be around, and that turned everything around. A little honesty and empathy would go a long way.

After 30 years of vacationing In Tucson, always playing a round at Starr Pass, this is the worst condition I’ve ever seen the course.

Amazing layout among the desert arroyos. Wonderful hilly design with elevation changes and almost no straight holes. Entire course in excellent shape with subtle undulating greens.

Would play again in heartbeat.

Caution for shorter drivers- play the forward tees.

This Hotel experience was simply perfect. Friendly staff, the one bedroom was just perfect, the views were so beautiful. We enjoyed the lazy river late at night, when it was quiet and we were alone. The next day we walked for an hour against the current in the lazy river, well before the kids and crowd, and I must say it was an outstanding workout. The golf experience with friends was just wonderful, but for $100.00 per person, walking 9 holes on cart path only , with the greens simply pathetic. Bald patches, sand, terrible. A 2 foot putt? Good luck as to where it goes. The Roadrunner side was better, but they should not be charging that rate for when the course is in this condition. I LOVE Starr Pass, and we will most certainly return, but this golf day was challenged by bad green conditions for the cost.

GUR should stand for greens under repair. Very disappointing conditions on the greens. Pace of play was terrible and there were no marshals. The layout has never been a favorite but on previous visits conditions were quite good.

The coyote course fairways were great but the greens were horrendous. Roadrunner was in good shape but it is the shortest of the 3. The other 9 is closed for overseeding. For $45, great views and a good practice facility. Since it isn’t season yet, I understand the overseeding and prepping but there needed to be mention of it on here that conditions were about 50%.

I bet it is gorgeous come November.

Coyote was cart path only. We had called to check on this issue and pro shop said carts were allowed. We would not have booked the course if we had known this. Greens were in very poor shape. Many dead areas and areas with cut outs of new grass. Very long route to get to 2nd nine, roadrunner. No cart or other warning signs around greens or other cart lock-out areas, cart was stuck 4 times on Roadrunner nine. Very frustrating to say the least. Never saw a Marshall on the course for assistance.

One of the best courses in Tucson. Had an 8AM tee time, starter let me go as a single at 715, off the course by 930, awesome morning. Greens were faster than usual but very good shape.