End of Season Newsletter

 FRIENDS OF PUSCH RIDGE GOLF SUMMER 2026 NEWSLETTER

Greetings from hot and sunny Oro Valley!  We hope this message finds all our Friends enjoying the summer in your many homes around the country! There are a few of us holding down the fort here – enjoying early morning golf and air conditioning!  We have a lot of news to share.  So, grab your beverage of choice and enjoy!

SEASON NUMBERS!

We just confirmed with Darryl Janisse that our scenic 9 hole course hosted 20,858 rounds during the 2025-26 season.  (As well as three beautiful weddings.) The average revenue per round was $36.00.  This includes green fees, rentals, merchandise, and food/beverage sales.  Our four leagues were significant contributors along with Lisa D’Angelo’s incredible marketing/referral program. Thanks to Lisa, 16 hotels offer guest packages and 13 apartment complexes are attracting younger golfers.  The referral program has created support from the Resort’s bell staff, bartenders and front desk folks.  Thank you, Lisa!

With the excellent management of the course by Darryl and his exceptional El Conquistador Golf Team it all comes together, creating a big success. 

PUSCH RIDGE GOLF LEAGUE NEWS

Our leagues concluded the week of May 11th.  They all finished strong with an incredible number of rounds, increases in membership and most importantly – camaraderie and friendships shared on our gem of a course! Here’s the league summaries.

The Monday Men’s League played 1,258 rounds this year, generating approximately $45,288 in revenue for the course.  We’ve also enjoyed some truly outstanding lunches prepared by our members.  One memorable highlight was when Mike Clary roasted an entire turkey to make fresh tamales, accompanied by his homemade avocado dip.  Our shotgun starts give everyone the chance to gather on the patio afterward, enjoy a great meal, and share good company.  It’s been a thoroughly enjoyable year. 

This year, a group of year-round residents formed to continue playing golf at other courses during the off-season.  We’ll all reconvene back at Pusch Ridge this fall.  

The Lady Quails finished another incredible season – 35 years of play in Oro Valley.  We’ve said goodbye to a few ladies in the last few years and have welcomed many new players to the group.  This year we played over 1,000 rounds, generating approximately $36,000 in revenue.  Our annual league championship was a big success with winners in every flight.  We have a newly elected board and we are already planning for the start of the next season.  Friendships abound in The Quails – we are currently playing at 7AM on Tuesdays at El Conquistador.

The Wednesday Prickly Pairs League is a group of fun people that endure a whacky scramble every week, followed by dinner at local restaurants.  Notably, Fork N Fire, DiBella’s Brunch and Booze, The Landing, The Hilton Lobby Bar or around their pool and Charred Pie.  We played over 1,030 rounds, generating approximately $37,080 in revenue for the course.  These generous people donated their entry fees and winnings to three children’s charities.  Courtney’s Courage, Junior PGA in Oro Valley and Youth On Their Own.  Each received a check for $500.00.  A community minded group that has formed many friendships.

The Thursday Ladies League played nearly 600 rounds during the 2025-26 season, contributing approximately $21,600 in revenue. Word seems to have spread that the Thursday Flycatcher’s League offers 9 holes of fun, friendship, very relaxed golf and the best views in town!  While a number of our golfers have been with us since the beginning five years ago, we continue to welcome new members – including 12 new golfers this year. 

We gather at our local restaurants every second week and have an end of season celebration on Jeannee Yermakoff’s patio.  Our friendships grow stronger every year.  While some continue to play at other courses through the summer, the rest of us look forward to reuniting in late October and hearing news about everyone’s summer.

AUDUBON CERTIFICATION UPDATE

Many projects were completed and others started -to be completed in the 2026-27 season – to bring the course up to Audubon Certification standards.  You can read all about them on the new pages of The Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf website: www.friendsofpuschridgegolf.org  Just click on “Audubon” on the top bar.

The web pages contain links to newly created plant, wildlife and bird inventories to help the course fulfill the Wildlife and Environmental Habitat requirements.  Photos taken by golfers and community members, have been added to a photos page where some of the project work is also documented.  And you’ll learn of Mayor Joe Winfield’s recent tour of the course – He was favorably impressed!

Pusch Ridge, under the leadership of a Resource Advisory Group, should achieve Audubon Certification next season through the Audubon Certification Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. 

QUICK NOTES!

• Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf hosted two sold out tournaments in November and May – more to come!  

• If you are out of town and want to vote in the upcoming Oro Valley election – scheduled for July 21st. You can simply call The Pima County Recorder Officer at 520-724-4330 and ask for an absentee ballot.  They will be mailed on June 24th.  

• The Pusch Ridge Golf Course is now open for Disc Golf Play.  7AM – 7PM daily with carts available on the weekend.  Disc is off to a good start and their Friday night league has returned.  

• Check out the new Explore Oro Valley website:  https://exploreorovalley.com  Great pics of Pusch Ridge.  

• If you live in Oro Valley – The Chamber is once again sponsoring Locals Eat Local.  25 participating locations.  Pick up your map at any of the restaurants and start collecting stickers.  Learn more at the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce Website. It’s a lot of fun, a variety of yummy food and beverage choices.

Enjoy your summer and thank you for supporting Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf

With appreciation, The FOPRG Board and Advisors