Marana Disc Golf Club

Marana Rock DGC has been considered by many in the disc golf community to be the best Tucson area courses and although I have yet to play any of the other courses, this course is a true treat to play. Especially considering I'm a player from Cali and the desert environment is totally foreign element for me to play in. The course is laid out in a water basin which, on this March visit, was dry except some mud near the middle of the basin. While this course is set in the middle of the desert, there's a lot of non-desert elements including some marsh land including green grass and a few pine trees full of pine needles. I could hear the sounds of frogs in the area as well. But most of the course is set in the desert with plenty of holes involving a dry clay riverbed, a monster 800 plus foot hole played out in massive sand dunes, and rocky bluffs. Unexpectedly there are several elevation changes throughout the course. Finding the course might be a challenge since there's no real address (the address I used is the one given to me by Google Maps for where the course is closest to). There will be a blue pump station on the right hand side of Coachline / Milligan and a driveway leading to a dirt road. Follow the road to the parking area and park. There's a sign right by the driveway saying "Marana Disc Golf Course". Be sure to wear shoes with traction and bring water since it does get warm even on cooler March days like the one I ventured out on (it got into the upper 70s). The course was actually quite hard considering all of the obstacles (trees, bushes, rock mounds, bluffs) you have to deal with. Quite a few long holes with two par 4s mixed into 18 total holes. Tee pads are all nicely put together with cement and very cool numbered tiles to dictate what tee pad goes with what hole. Each hole has a sign and usually there's a marker on what basket position is in play. The course has some really impressive views of Marana's desert landscape including mountain views with cactus lining the mountain ridges. Like any non-urban course, be sure to be aware of where your walking as reports of snakes (including rattlesnakes) and other wildlife have been known to cruise the area. A few of the tee areas have shade and benches, so you can take breaks from the desert sun. I think Marana Rock is still a mostly unknown course since only a handful of people were out on a Sunday afternoon playing. Most people here in So. Cal who know of some of the more popular AZ courses (Fountain Hills, Vista Del Camino) have never heard of this course. It's really a shame this course isn't played by more people since it's really a trip of a course. On the way to Pheonix or coming into Tucson via the 10, Marana Rock is a must stop for any disc golfer looking for a unique experience.

NOTE: This and the other reviews are of the _course_, not the _club_, which maintains the _course_ and sponsors tourneys on the _course_. The name of the course is the MARANA ROCK DISC GOLF COURSE. (I'm working on getting this listing changed. If I fail, I may create an entry for the _course_.)This was my first time here. Definitely go to the club's website and follow the directions on how to get there as it can be difficult to find.This was a fun course. Fun because it had a lot of variety. Some of the baskets were on unique elevations such as on top of an old asphalt pile, on a plateau next to a ravine, on a hill, etc. As a matter of fact, most were on elevations. The others were behind or through trees or brush. The most straight-forward basket was the longest--at 824 feet.The scenery is beautiful as this is in the foothills of Marana on the west side of I-10. Hills, trees, mountains, crags--it's all there. A wonderful backdrop for disc golf.I do not recommend this course when the wind is blowing, though. That was the case for us this Saturday morning. Not a great way to introduce me to this course. It already is a challenging course, and then to add 7 to 15 mph gusts is to make for one frustrating game. On putting some of the elevations, because of the wind, even a couple of four foot putts were missed. Gr-r-r-r-r-r-r.The course is basically at the end of a subdivision. #18 ends right by #1 so it brings you right back to the parking lot. Nice. #18 also ends right by a fairly new neighborhood park, so there is a good drinking fountain.It is a long course, so factor in more time to play a round. It is also a long drive from where I live, about a 25 minute to 30 minute drive from Campus Farms.It is a nice change of pace and a different challenge.

This sport was made famous by George from the show Se infield. It was the summer of George when he discovered Frisbee golf "Frolf". So when this course was built I just had to play. Maybe we should have waited till winter. Man it is hot out there walking 18 holes of Frolf. The tee box and holes are marked very well but the rest of the course is rough desert terrain. Make sure you wear appropriate foot ware and watch out for snakes. We saw a couple while we were out there or maybe the same one following us. Not sure. Good times!!!!

So this place is dead. No more golfing for you. So I drove by MANY times to see if it's been kept up or even usable. Some of the pins are visible and some can't be found at all. I'm very saddened by this because I love the sport. This course is next to my house about 5-7 miles away which is not bad for a nice Sunday drive. The nearest one to me now is about 20 miles away. I have a few photos to share and I can tell you that the only playable hole is none. Hole 1 is behind huge trees and a crossed a muddy path, hole 2 is a crossed a muddy path and the pin is easy to see. Number 3???? Well there is no pin for number 3, there is a platform but no pin. 4 non existent. 5 shows pin no platform. 6 shows pin no platform. 7 shows platform and pin yet no access to platform because of a small lake in between. 8 shows pin no platform. 9 pin no platform. 10 gone completely. 11 pin no number no platform. 12 pin no platform. 13 gone. 14 gone. 15 gone. 16 shows pin no platform. 17 shows pin no platform. 18..... 18 shows pin and shows a play form so I guess the only hole to play 18 but you'll have to lay up a few times because to the right of the platform is three huge trees and a lake. So the safe route is to the left.

Not for beginners. This is a tough course. It's beautiful, but you are really out in the elements. The tall grass made me worried that I'd step on a snake. Lots of tournaments are held here, which may show you what you're dealing with.