Nobody Serves up Tucson Golf Better!

January/February 2009                   Southern Arizona Tee Times

By Tom Draper

Eight short years ago Chris Smith and Jay Warren were two young golf pros doing their thing on staff at The Golf Club at Vistoso. Today, they are a whirlwind golf travel company that generates better than 20,000 rounds of golf on courses throughout Arizona-- specifically to the delight of the Southern Arizona golf industry and to Tucson’s economy in general.

What was launched as a home-based business in 2000 has mushroomed into the single most important golf business in Tucson. From booking golf vacations for individuals and groups across the country to dealing with many tour operators throughout Europe and Canada, Tucson Golf is touting Tucson golf worldwide.

“In spite of what we all hear about the current economy, our bookings for ’09 are looking very good,” states Jay. “We’re actually kicking off ‘09 better than expected. You just can’t keep golfers down. They want to get out of the cold and snow of the Midwest and East and soak up the sun and great golf. And sunshine is exactly what we have to sell here in Tucson.”

In addition to dealing directly with consumers, Tucson Golf works closely with the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau. The two entities work hand-in-hand as Tucson Golf is able to fulfill a great deal of the bureau’s requests for golf packaging.   Tucson Golf offers their guests many different options for accommodations which can include hotels, resorts, condos and private homes.  If you can dream it, Tucson Golf can arrange it!

In conjunction with their golf vacation program, the company has added another dimension, golf schools. The Arizona Golf Academy is a customized golf school that is directed by respected golf instructor, Dave Simm and is hosted at The Ventana Canyon Golf Club. The golf schools are unique in that they are “custom fit” to his/her and their choice of dates, with instruction being limited to groups of four or less. “This keeps instruction personal, which we believe is vital to assure maximum individual attention to each golfer,” Jay concludes.

In addition to marketing golf, Tucson Golf Vacations is also becoming a major player in Tucson real estate. The company operates its own property management & real estate company, Mountain Vista Real Estate & Vacation Rentals. “We manage approximately 130 properties that range from two, three and four bedrooms—each property can be offered with or without golf packages,” Chris explains.  In addition to our golf program, we also make residences available to people simply vacationing in Tucson, and we assist all major local companies in their corporate relocation programs.”

With regard to future growth and development, Chris notes, “We are always looking at ways to expand our performance and service in the golf industry. However, our prime concern will always be to offer the very best product/customer service we can in the golf vacation marketplace.”

For more information on Tucson & Scottsdale Golf Vacations or to get their help in arranging your own golf package and/or accommodations in Tucson, visit them on the web at TucsonGolf.com or phone 888-465-3125.  

For more information regarding property management or real estate visit www.WeKnowTucson.com or call 520-575-8889.