About
Imagine teeing off at sunrise with the Sonoran mountains in the background and the soft swish of palm trees cheering you on. That's what a day at San Carlos Country Club is all about.
Established in the early 70s, it has long been a meeting place for local and visiting golfers. It's a very well-kept course, just a few minutes' drive from the center of San Carlos. The course is designed to take advantage of the natural setting, with many of the holes set right in the desert with cacti, mesquite, and the towering form of Tetakawi Mountain in the background.
San Carlos is much more than just a golf course. It's a social club in its own right with a real atmosphere where people come to play, to hang out, to have a weekend, and so on. It's hosted a whole host of tournaments over the years as well as a number of charity events and just plain old weekend rounds. It's a very welcoming place. The course itself is 18 holes with a mixture of long par fives, some tricky water hazards, and a lot of forgiving fairways, so it's a course that you can play on as a very experienced golfer as well as someone who's just got a bit of a passion for the game.
Off the greens, there's a driving range, putting green, pro shop, and a fairly casual restaurant and bar with great views of the course.
Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newbie, San Carlos Country Club is the place to go, offering a great golf experience by the edge of the desert and the sea.
San Carlos Country Club: Fun Facts & Cool Features
One of the most obvious features of the course is the view of Tetakawi Mountain, which forms a very dramatic background to several of the holes and is a very popular subject for photos. The fairways are full of native desert vegetation, and you're likely to see roadrunners, hawks, and the odd iguana along the way. Water on a few holes adds both difficulty and visual interest, especially on a breezy afternoon when the pond mirrors the sky.
It's a very laid-back course; there's never any rush at all, so you can take your time, enjoy the views, and indeed you canquite happily stop off for a drink on the patio at the club halfway through your round. The San Carlos Open every year is a major event which brings in players from all over Sonora and indeed from outside the state. It's a real community type of thing. There are lessons and clinics for the complete beginner as well as for those who want to work on their game, with the local pros being very helpful and giving you all sorts of advice.
Golf carts are generally included in the green fee, and the pro shop has everything you could need (clubs, balls, hats, sunscreen, etc.) so you won't have forgotten anything. The clubhouse restaurant is a great place to refuel after your round, with cold drinks, food, and a terrace that is ideal for sitting back and watching the sun go down over the fairways.
San Carlos Country Club is all about golf, the views and the general ambiance. It's the ideal place for a proper round of golf or just a relaxed day out in the Sonoran sun.
Local Tips
- Book tee times in advance, particularly during the high season (November – April).
- Take plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat; shade can be limited.
- Don't miss the clubhouse patio for post-round drinks and local seafood specials.
- The course is very casual—collared shirts are encouraged.
