Lads,
In the same spirit as the trip to Cape Breton Highland last June, this year's GolfClubAtlas.com gathering will be held in the Land of Enchantment. The general particulars are as follows:
Date: Weekend of September 20th & 21st
Place: New Mexico
Saturday, Sept. 20th -- Black Mesa Golf Club, Designed by Baxter Spann. Located on the historical Santa Clara Pueblo 20 miles from Santa Fe and 80 miles from Albuquerque, the course (apparently based on what I've seen in pics) plays through dramatic sandstone ridges with Black Mesa visible from several locations. The scale of the place is huge and there will never be housing etc. to take away from the beauty of the surrounds. Mike Nuzzo is going to post some pics soon so you be the judge.
Round 1 - Black Mesa Golf Club
Lunch with Baxter Spann
Roundtable presentation followed by Q&A
Round 2 - Black Mesa Golf Club (with a different wind)
Followed by evening events in Santa Fe.
Sunday, Sept. 21st -- Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club, Designed by Ken Dye. Located in Sandia Park, New Mexico (20 minutes from Albuquerque), this course (45 miles from Santa Fe and 25 miles from Albuquerque) currently ranks #23 on Golfweek's list of the Best Modern Courses in the country. The course is situated on the east side of the Sandia Mountains and surrounded by mountainous terrain and vegetation of the New Mexico high desert. The layout features landing areas and greens separated by arroyos, native vegetation and rock outcroppings. Again, the pics I've seen remind me of nothing else.
In the afternoon, some may head out for PM flights but I hope others can join me for the 3 1/2 hour drive to Farmington. I hope that we can get there with enough daylight to play the back nine at Riverview, a very neat sounding 9 holes according to the legendary Adam Clayman.
Monday, Sept 22nd - Pinion Hills, designed by Ken Dye. If there is time, I hope we can play 36 holes here but I for one definitely need to be back in Albuquerque for a late evening flight.
Pricing: Golf in New Mexico is a great, great bargain, and this site is going to do what it can to promote that very important fact. We are looking at an approx. price of $50 or less per round. There are plenty of affordable hotel options of $100 and less a night as well. Flights into Albuquerque are relatively cheap.
Mike Nuzzo will be posting additional details of the trip as things firm up. Please instant message Mike (I'm traveling much of the next two weeks) with any suggestions.
Cheers and I hope to see you there.
Ran