SaddleBrooke hikers “tee off” at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. (Photo by Jeff Love)
Jeff Love
Nine SaddleBrooke Hiking Club members left their clubs at home and spent a quiet morning on the links at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. The nine-some included Donna Civitella, Julie Davis, Claire Guidas, Bruce Landeck, Dale Leman, Inge McDermaid, Pat Riehle, Janet Springer, and hiking guide Jeff Love.
This Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course opened in 1995. It was closed in 2018 and has since reverted back to nature. In 2022 the property opened as Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. The existing eight-foot-wide concrete path winds through the former golf course, providing visitors with views of the Catalina and Tortolita Mountains, examples of varied desert vegetation, and the opportunity to view wildlife.
Their “tee time” was set at 7 a.m. due to forecast playing conditions. The course is a chip shot from SaddleBrooke, only 20 minutes by car. The clubhouse and other buildings have been removed, but restrooms remain open along each route. In the parking lot, a convenient porta-potty provided initial relief.
As they passed the former driving range, the party could have sliced to the right for the front nine. Instead, they hooked to the left and completed the back nine. As they strolled the cart paths, they visualized where the tee boxes and greens had been and where sand traps lurked. The fairways were now roughs, and the greens were browns. They let the occasional bike rider play through. Trees along the path provided shade, and they took breaks at tunnels under surrounding streets. Amazingly, they didn’t find any lost balls. But they saw plenty of birdies, but no eagles. They walked about 3.15 miles, or 5,544 yards.
As they completed the course, a school bus pulled into the parking lot. Talk about fortunate timing. Whew! Our 19th hole was spent with coffee on the patio overlooking the golf course at Sun City. It was another beautiful morning in the Sonoran Desert. But that’s just par for the course.
For more information about the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve, go to www.orovalleyaz.gov/Government/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks/Vistoso-Trails-Nature-Preserve.