Golf travelers with a passion for the game and a sense of adventure will want to be among the first guests to experience the high Sonoran Desert's only luxury golf destination when The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain debuts this fall.

A variety of attractively priced golf vacation packages - available only for a limited time -now can be reserved by visiting www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain.

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain has already unveiled the Tucson area's first new Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course in 25 years and is ready to host The WGC Accenture World Match Play Championship, Feb 25-March 1, where Tiger Woods makes his much-anticipated return to competition. The property will be an indulgent retreat that features a 17,000 square-foot spa, the finest cuisine prepared by world-class chefs, and The Ritz-Carlton's unparalleled sophistication and personalized service throughout its 850 acres. Included are a 250-room hotel and adjacent cluster of secluded, multi-bedroom casitas - ideally suited for golfing families and friends. Currently, the property is scheduled for a fall opening.

The resort's invigorating playground reaches out through a majestic Saguaro forest, where the adventurous can engage the lush desert along the Tortolita Mountains. Activities range from a casual nature walk to mounting up for an authentic, Old West cattle drive, as guests at Dove Mountain will have 20 miles of hiking trails (clearly mapped by National Geographic), along with marked mountain biking routes and guided jeep tours. They can then cool off in one of three swimming pools, or ride the 235-foot water slide that gently flows throughout the complex.

Above all, The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is destination where casual elegance meets adventure, featuring an elite golf venue intended to be shared by friends and legends alike. The three nines offer unique challenges and distinct character, blended naturally among noble saguaros that line the surrounding Tortolita Mountain Range. While unveiling his first golf course in the Tucson area since introducing La Paloma Country Club in 1984, Nicklaus has integrated solid strategy, variety and fair shot values that harmonize with the high desert elevation of 2,300 to 3,000 feet.

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain also features a 50,000 square-foot clubhouse with all of the services expected from a luxury private club (tennis center, fitness center, steward-serviced private locker rooms, a double-ended practice facility). Several indoor and outdoor dining venues with spectacular views, including Cayton's, a casual but refined restaurant named for legendary Dove Mountain homesteader and cowboy poet Eugene "Cush" Cayton, proudly serving American comfort cuisine with a Southwestern flair.

While the golf courses eventually will be accessible only by resident members and resort guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, open play is available for a limited time in 2009. The fee is $225 per player through May, which includes golf, cart, access to the practice facilities and required forecaddie from the distinctive Ritz-Carlton Caddie Concierge program.

Reservations are accepted 30 days in advance through the golf shop, (520) 572-3500. Also visit www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain.