El Conquistador has been one of Tucson’s top golf courses since it first opened in 1992.
Courtesy of El Conquistador Instagram
El Conquistador
Location: 10555 N. La Cañada Drive
Length: 45 holes, three courses — two 18-hole courses (Conquistador and Cañada) and one nine-hole course (Pusch Ridge) (16,195 yards)
Par: 72 (Par 33 for Pusch Ridge Course)
Notable hole: 8 on Cañada, Par 3 (183 yards)
The rundown: If you really wanted to do a golf marathon from sunrise to sundown and play a variety of holes without leaving the property, El Conquistador is arguably the best spot for that.
El Conquistador first opened in 1982 as the official golf course of El Conquistador Tucson, a Hilton-owned resort near the Santa Catalina Mountains in Oro Valley. Arizona golf designers Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin introduced the Conquistador Course in ’82. Shortly after, the Cañada and Pusch Ridge courses were added to the property.
All three courses are near the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, so the experience at El Conquistador comes with postcard-esque views and awe-inspiring desert scenery.
The Santa Catalina Mountains rise in the background as a golfer putts on the practice area near the club house at El Conquistador Golf Course, 10555 N. La Cañada Dr.
A.E. Araiza, Arizona Daily Star file
Despite the nearby desert landscape and towering mountain vistas, Conquistador Course has wide fairways and is forgiving for the average golfer. However, playing aggressively and taking chances could do some damage on the scorecard.