Fred Enke Golf Course

I decided to review this course after playing because one review was a slam and the other was old and from a first-​time golfer. This is the most difficult of the Tucson city courses. It is a little bit of a target course with some greens up on a bit of a plateau and some ringed by rocks so that you can’t run a ball up onto the green. Also some blind shots and desert carries. There’s a wash that runs across some of the fairways that you need to carry. If they sell a yardage book it would be a worthwhile investment as the cards have no maps and yardage markers are almost non-​existent on the course. There were lots of round purple sprinkler heads down the middle of the fairways but we never figured out what they represented! You could find a red stake on the sides of most fairways so at least you knew where 100 yards was.
This course doesn’t overseed on the normal schedule. That’s good if you don’t want to have to stay on the cart path like other courses in the fall. That said, the fairways have plenty of grass on them, it’s not hardpan, but it’s just not green. The tee boxes and greens are green and in good condition. Also the range and practice area. Really nice, large putting and chipping area.
The cartpaths are not really paved. You drive on kind of dirt dusty paths. Sometimes right down into the sand in the washes so you fell a little like you are four wheeling’
The course has interesting, well designed holes. Easy to get to from the east side of Tucson, Vail or Green Valley and it’s really close to Davis Montham Air Force Base. I normally book discount tee times, and if this course were ten dollars or more less than the resort courses, I would consider it a good value but it is not comparable to El Conquistador, Vistoso, Starr Pass if the price were the same or even close.

Worst course ever.
I downloaded this app simply to warn people not to play here.
Goat ranch, construction site, golf course.
I couldn’t pick which one it was.
Should have asked for my money back for false advertisement.

First off, let me preface my review by informing anyone reading this that I have only ever been golfing once, at this course. Therefore, I don’t have anything to compare it to, thus my review may be completely off. Proceed at your own discretion.
My husband took me to try my hand at playing golf this week, since his entire family is full of very talented folks who enjoy the sport often. I figured I should get into the spirit of things so that I could at least understand what his family was talking about when I was in their company. Par 4? Par 5? Birdie? Irons? WOOD??? What the???
So, like most beginners (I imagine), my hubby started me off on the range with a $ 7 bucket of 70 balls (Is that politically correct??) and his Dad’s clubs. So, he told me about being inside a barrel. about keeping my elbows in. about turning my hands a certain way, about my foot movements, about where my head should be facing, about how to pretend I’m a pendulum, how not to hack at the ball like I’m chopping logs for a fire, etc etc.
With his expert advice, I took my very first swing ever and completely missed the ball. I tried again, hit the dirt and knocked a big chunk of grass a few feet in front of me. Awesome! I was already getting the hang of it.
So after about 20 swipes, only ever managing to hit the balls a few yards and getting some air twice, I developed a blister on my delicate thumb and «had to» quit playing. Remorseful, my hubby apologized for not getting me a glove beforehand since most people use them to avoid these issues.
We went into the empty pro shop (snack bar, tables to sit at, various clothing and golf gear for sale) and I found a lovely glove that fit over my newly taped blister. Michael Jackson would have been so jealous of me. Seriously — I looked like a professional. The lady who helped us and rung us up was very friendly and encouraging and advised me that I may want to pop some ibuprofen afterwards since I’d be using muscles I don’t often (Never ever ever) use.
The course was empty that day (around 9:00a.m.), so my husband decided we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play the actual course since we wouldn’t have to wait for other people, but mostly since his golf-​challenged wife wouldn’t hold anyone else up. We opted for 9 holes and a cart. It was more expensive than what I’d imagined, but I’ve never played before so I didn’t know what to expect.
In my fancy new glove, sitting next to my sweetie-​pie, I felt pretty fantastic. Like a real boy… er, real golfer. We zoomed away at close to warp speed to the first hole. The grass was short and a bit dry and scruffy, so the ball didn’t roll as easily as it should, according to hubby. The putting greens also were not the best around, as they needed a bit of upkeep and care.
None of the dry grasses or dusty fairways bothered me, though. I was having fun just being out in the sun, turning a nice golden brown before being removed from the oven.
Many of the holes involved hitting the ball over sand, or over a road, or over hills, etc. It took forever for me to get through those areas and I spent a lot of time fishing for my ball out in the boonies, as friendly squirrels and birds danced and sang around me making a beautiful dress for the ball later that evening.
We finished our 9 holes after about 1.5 hours and were both ready to head home. We returned the golf cart and headed away, reflecting on the adventure as we drove.
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Wildlife we encountered throughout the course: Ground squirrels, coyote, birds, gnats, lizards, rhinos. We saw several huge pack rat nests hidden here and there.
Blister Report: My thumb is healing well and no longer stings when i rub soap on it.
Greenish/​White Alien Skin Report: After spending 2 hours in the sun, my arms are now about a shade darker than they were previously.
Soreness Report: The only soreness I’ve experienced was a minor bit on the front of my lower arms.
Fitting in With the Talented Golfers in My Husbands Family Report: Not quite there yet.