The Club at Starr Pass in Tucson, Ariz., recently celebrated the opening of its newest restaurant. Creosote – Sonoran Kitchen & Cocktails celebrates the bold flavors, colors, and ingredients of the Sonoran region, and the opening of its newly renovated clubhouse.
Creosote’s culinary team that brings a fresh, modern approach to local cuisine in a setting that reflects the beauty of the local landscape. Open to the public for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Monday, Creosote features lunch and dinner menus crafted with “heritage ingredients, bold desert flavors, and a deep respect for the land.” With a focus on sustainability, seasonality, and scratch cooking methods, dishes blend Sonoran cuisine with modern American.
The club’s renovated clubhouse also features a new, 3,000-square-foot golf shop and a new lobby lounge, as well as refreshed locker rooms.
On the golf course, the greens renovation project is progressing on schedule on the Pioneer and Gambler nine-hole courses with the introduction of TifEagle Bermuda grass, a high-performance surface that ensures exceptional putting conditions. The Pioneer and Gambler nines are set to reopen on September 1, just in time for cooler temperatures. The Club’s Palmer nine-hole course remains open for guests to enjoy throughout the summer.
This December, The Club at Starr Pass will host Stage 2 of PGA TOUR Q-School, bringing elite competition back to a property with deep PGA TOUR roots. Once a TOUR stop, the club now continues its legacy by playing a role in shaping future stars on the path to the PGA TOUR.
“This renovation is more than just a refresh, it’s a full-circle moment,” says The Club at Starr Pass’ General Manager David Loomis. “We’re honoring our PGA TOUR history while creating a modern, welcoming space for our members, guests, and future champions.”
The Club at Starr Pass is the golf offering of the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa and features three 9-hole routings: Pioneer, Gambler and Palmer. Robert Cupp and PGA TOUR professional Craig Stadler designed the original 18 holes in 1987. Then in 2003, Arnold Palmer was brought in to add another nine holes and refresh the previously existing 18-hole experience. Set against the Tucson Mountains, each of the three layouts have dramatic elevation changes, are surrounded by iconic saguaro cacti, while crisscrossing multiple desert arroyos and ravines. Contrary to its rugged Sonoran Desert setting, Starr Pass is located just minutes from downtown Tucson and the Tucson International Airport. Starr Pass has been a host to the PGA TOUR’s Tucson Open and has played host to many golf legends including Palmer, Phil Mickelson, Payne Stewart, and Nancy Lopez. Starr Pass is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, demonstrating a high degree environmental stewardship.
