Tucson, AZ

2020 marked the East Islip crew's annual inaugural Ryder Cup trip, the beginning of a tradition none of us realized we were starting. Funk was wrapping up his final year of dental school, which felt like the perfect excuse to escape to Tucson and experience some true desert golf. COVID was still in full swing at the time, so a few of the guys may or may not have told work they were taking a quiet staycation… only to return with sunburns that were a little hard to explain.

We also learned quickly that September in the desert is no joke. Scorching heat, zero shade, and one crucial tip for anyone thinking about playing out there—bring your own water. Star Pass Golf Course, which a couple of the guys played the day before everyone got in, didn’t have water anywhere on the course. A tough discovery when you’re five holes deep, already sweating through your glove, and after a long boozy first night you tell yourself you'll take it easy.

Ryder Cup Teams:

Funk, Dog, Curt, Kyle v. Tom, Keith, Kip, Alex

Schedule:

TBD: Need to see if Dog has a 6 year old spreadsheet of the format and results.

Dove Mountain was the purest expression of desert golf we played. Every tee shot felt like a small dare—wide enough to tempt you, but framed by cacti, arroyos, and scrub that punished anything drifting offline. It’s the kind of layout where the desert isn’t just scenery; it’s part of the defense. Tee times were easy to snag, thanks to the double punch of COVID and Tucson’s off‑season heat, which meant we basically had the place to ourselves.

If you’re golfing in Tucson, Dove Mountain absolutely belongs on your list. The property has three distinct nines—Saguaro, Tortolita, and Wild Burro—each with its own personality but all sharing that Jack Nicklaus trademark of demanding tee shots and elevated greens. The practice area is legit too: a massive range tucked into the foothills and short‑game spaces that make you want to linger.

For a bit of context, Dove Mountain used to host the PGA Tour’s WGC‑Accenture Match Play Championship, where Tiger, Rory, and Jason Day battled the wind, the slopes, and the desert carries. That history gives the place a certain edge—you can stand on some of those tees and immediately understand why pros both loved and feared it.

It’s scenic, it’s challenging, and it’s unmistakably Arizona. If you want the full desert‑golf experience, this is where you get it.

Word of advice from hard‑earned experience: when the sun drops in Tucson, it doesn’t ease into darkness—it falls into it. One minute you’re lining up a shot, the next you can barely see your cart. And if you stray too far from the course, you might discover (as we did) that golf carts shut down the moment they leave their designated zone. Nothing humbles you faster than pushing a dead cart down a public road in pitch‑black desert night after playing 36 holes.

The good guys—Funk, Dog, Curtis, and Kyle—came out firing and took control of the leaderboard after Day 1. Thirty‑six holes in the desert heat will test anyone’s resolve, but the boys handled it and stacked up points early. Format and scoring need to be dug up from the archives.

Ventana Canyon’s Mountain Course ended up being my favorite track of the entire weekend. It hits that perfect blend of desert character and pure playability—lush, well‑kept fairways framed by rugged runoff areas, greens that reward a confident stroke, and elevation changes big enough to make even the average golfer feel like they’ve unlocked a few bonus yards. There’s something addictive about watching your ball hang in the air forever against the Catalina Mountains and then tumble down to a spot you’d never reach back home.

We played the Mountain Course, home to one of the most photographed holes in Arizona: the par‑3 3rd. It’s short on the card but all intimidation in person—a tiny green perched beyond a wide desert ravine, with nothing but air and nerves between you and the putting surface. You either flight a perfect wedge or you’re dropping, scrambling, or trying to manufacture a miracle from well below the green. It’s the kind of hole that sticks with you long after the round, equal parts beauty and punishment.

Public write‑ups often call the Mountain Course “dramatic,” “target‑style,” and “quintessential desert golf,” and it really does live up to that reputation. Tom Fazio carved the layout right into the foothills, so every hole feels like it belongs there—no filler, no flat stretches, just a steady rhythm of scenic views and strategic decisions. It’s challenging without being unfair, and memorable without trying too hard.

If you’re heading to Tucson, Ventana Canyon deserves a spot near the top of your list.

The bad guys—Alex, Tom, Kip, and Keith—stumbled onto their secret weapon on the drive to the course on Day 2: a cocktail of holy water and classical music. Whatever magic was in that mix worked. They stormed into Ventana Canyon with a vengeance and backed it up with a strong replay round at Dove Mountain, flipping the script and snatching the lead.

Tucson National - Catalina Course hosted the final round of our Boys Ryder Cup, which meant one thing: singles matches. Expectations were high going in—this place is a regular stop on the PGA Tour Champions, and we were ready for something big. But after two days of pure desert golf, Tucson National felt like a different world. The conditioning was solid, but it didn’t have the same rugged charm, dramatic runoff areas, or desert‑carved personality we’d fallen in love with at Ventana and Dove Mountain. It was good golf, just not the same flavor.

The singles matchups were set:
Funk vs. Keith
Kip vs. Kyle
Tom vs. Dog
Alex vs. Curt

Day 2’s comeback by the Bad Guys proved crucial. A 2–2 split in singles was all they needed to clinch the Ryder Cup. As a proud member of the losing squad, I’ll go on record saying this one deserves an asterisk. The final group was finishing in near darkness and didn’t even complete all 18 holes. That little detail will live on in Boys Ryder Cup lore for as long as this tradition survives.

Overall, this trip landed on the affordable side for a golf getaway—especially for the quality of courses we played. We booked tee times directly through the clubs, took advantage of replay rates at Dove Mountain, and benefited from Tucson’s off‑season pricing in September. And one of the underrated perks of Tucson: you can almost always count on good weather. Sunshine and dry conditions are basically guaranteed, which makes planning a golf trip there feel low‑risk and high‑reward.

Flights from the East Coast weren’t bad either, with fares from JFK to Tucson regularly starting around $149 one‑way and $297 round‑trip during that time of year. With plenty of Airbnb options, we skipped the resort hotels—having our own cars (shoutout Funk) made staying off‑property easy, and honestly, group houses always elevate the Ryder Cup vibe.

Factoring in flights, off‑season green fees, replay rates, food, and lodging, the total cost for the weekend likely came in closer to $1,000–$1,300 depending on flight choice and how many replays you squeezed in. A solid value for three premier courses, perfect weather, and a full Ryder Cup experience.

Price for Golf & Lodging: $$