The Rebel has left his home Southern cookin' and has headed West!

That's right. I left the honey behind and I am doing Arizona and Las Vegas. These zonies better get used to some rebel fun and my Confederate logos. I wear my heritage and my Confederate flag wherever I go and you politically sensitive ninnies can kiss my "A". I love my golf and I love my flag.

Tim McDonald's article Hold on Tucson: Phoenix offers better values than
The Old Pueblo is dead on right. What McDonald doesn't bring up is just why Tucson has failed miserably as a destination, losing the business to Scottsdale. Tucson officials used to claim that they were a better value than their Phoenix counter parts. That WAS true five years ago.

Today, Tucson's top courses have dramatically raised their fees to the point you can play Scottsdale's elite for about the same price. The three best courses in Tucson are Ventana Canyon, Starr Pass and Arizona National. You better have your "A" game and you better be able to make your shots. The scenery is splendid and all of these courses have superior customer service. Ventana is an unreal facility. If you go to Tucson, play these courses.

These fine courses, aside, Tucson is not a better value by any shape of the imagination. None of these three courses are on the level with the Scottsdale and Phoenix elite. Tucson's lack of rooms and accommodations has always been a problem. The city is geographically huge and the courses are quite spread out. You just do not have a lot of room selection here. When booking your package, you must find a place to play near the courses you intend on playing. Tucson, sidewise, is a BIG city. Starr Pass is way southwest of Ventana and will take you 45 minutes to get between the two. I do want to commend Arizona Golf Packages for taking care of me. They know Tucson like I know my ball retriever.

If you go, make sure you manage your time and know where your courses are.

Scottsdale, on the other hand, is flush with rooms and the golf courses are so much close together. Mix that with a lively nightlife, GREAT restaurants and you can see why the The Rebel may not want to go back to his digs. Tucson's nightlife really sucks....well there isn't much. If you are at Ventana, Risky Business is a hip place. Speedway Blvd has some down and dirty joints. But for fun, this place is designed for those with the Depend under garments. I love the weather, but The Rebel is not retiring to this place.

Ultimately, most great golf destinations also have superior airport access. Generally, booking your flight into Tucson will cost you more and you will find getting direct connections more difficult. By the time you add up the air, hotels/condos and rounds of golf, Tucson will be about the same price as Scottsdale/Phoenix.

Wish me luck! Keep checking in as I will be giving you the low down from out West.

Rebel

Checkout:
http://www.travelgolf.com/departments/blogs/rebel.blogger/2005/03/30/tucson_arizona_fails_to_evolve_as_viable