Where to play in Santa Fe?

[Chris Pearson]

I'll be in Santa Fe June 17-23, and I'm looking for the best places to play within about an hour radius. Is there any noteworthy GCA in the area?

(While I appreciate all recommendations, private clubs aren't much help unless you also know of a way to get on. Thanks!)

[Tom_Doak]

Black Mesa was the answer to this question.  Not sure if it still is, last reports were that it was in tough shape.  But it's a beautiful setting, regardless.

[Kalen Braley]

Agree with Tom here, fantastic and unique course.

PaaKo Ridge is also worth a look too!

[Chris Pearson]

Thanks, Tom and Kalen. I knew about Paa-Ko Ridge and will probably make the trek down there. Current satellite imagery for Black Mesa looks promising, and the way the course winds through the smaller mesa formations makes it seem pretty special.


Apparently, a drought in 2014 and early 2015 took its toll on Black Mesa; if anyone has any insight into its current condition, I'd appreciate it.



On a separate note, my limited research suggests that Baxter Spann was active in the Santa Fe area in the early 2000s. Because of this, I'll probably play at least two of his courses while I'm there.


I've not played a Spann-only course, but the two Finger, Dye, Spann tracks I've played had some pretty crazy greens with steep plateaus and wild slopes.


Finally, does anyone know anything about Las Campanas? With two Nicklaus courses that cover a massive acreage, the club seems like a bit of an outlier in Santa Fe.


Right now, my most likely four are:

• Paa-ko Ridge
• Black Mesa
• Cochiti
• Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe

[James Brown]

I played Black Mesa this time last year and it was in rough shape, although very playable and still a great track.  As interesting as desert golf gets.  Taos Country Club is a very nice hidden gem about 75 miles north of you have the time. 

[astavrides]

Right now, my most likely four are:

• Paa-ko Ridge
• Black Mesa
• Cochiti
• Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe

That sounds pretty good. Cochiti is nice for its quiet and solitude. UNM South is a better course though.

[Cob Carlson]

I happen to love playing in New Mexico. The University of New Mexico championship course where NCAA's have been played is superb. Cochiti is spectacular for its natural canyon beauty. Watch out for rattlesnakes in the cactus areas. Taos is sweet, with spectacular vistas in the distance. And I've heard GREAT things about Black Mesa...

[Chris Pearson]

Thanks to your recommendations, things are coalescing. The UNM Championship Course is definitely on my radar, but at 67 miles from where I'm staying, it's a stretch with the relatively attractive Santa Ana courses being about 25 miles closer.

[mike_beene]

We used to play Santa Fe CC over by the race track. Was not great but the greens were good and the walk in the high dessert refreshing. Easy to get on, but haven't been there in 10 years.

[Criss Titschinger]

I played both Black Mesa and Paa-Ko Ridge back in 2010 while my wife was at a conference in Albuquerque. Guess who had more fun?
 
I can't speak for current course conditions at Black Mesa, but the layout itself is fantastic. If you're going to be stationed in Santa Fe, I would say it's worth a play as long as you lower expectations a bit.

Note with Paa-Ko that they designate one set of holes for the 18 hole play. 1-18 is the original 18 and is by far the preferred play. 19-27, the third 9, is fine, if a bit repetitive and not as good as the original 18. When I played, I had to play 10-27 first, then play 1-9.

If you're really restricted to an hour, UNM might be just out of your reach, but I would say it's worth the play. There are a couple of resort/casino courses north of ABQ I've heard are okay (Sandia, Twin Warriors), but they're a bit pricier.

[Jason Topp]

I played both Black Mesa and Paa-Ko Ridge back in 2010 while my wife was at a conference in Albuquerque. Guess who had more fun?
 
I can't speak for current course conditions at Black Mesa, but the layout itself is fantastic. If you're going to be stationed in Santa Fe, I would say it's worth a play as long as you lower expectations a bit.

Note with Paa-Ko that they designate one set of holes for the 18 hole play. 1-18 is the original 18 and is by far the preferred play. 19-27, the third 9, is fine, if a bit repetitive and not as good as the original 18. When I played, I had to play 10-27 first, then play 1-9.

If you're really restricted to an hour, UNM might be just out of your reach, but I would say it's worth the play. There are a couple of resort/casino courses north of ABQ I've heard are okay (Sandia, Twin Warriors), but they're a bit pricier.

Good advice.  I would recommend Twin Warriors, Sandia and Santa Ana in that order of the alternatives.  I think the original 18 at Santa Ana is pretty solid but they chopped it up to make 27 holes and the new holes are resort goofy.

[Stephen Davis]

Play Black Mesa despite the bad conditions. The course is really a treat and very well and uniquely routed. Paa-Ko Ridge is a bit out of the way from Santa Fe, but very fun. Las Campanas is private and actually enjoyable (I am not a big Nicklaus design fan). The two courses are different enough to keep your interest and are routed over very beautiful land. The service there is top notch, if that is your thing.

[Kalen Braley]

I played 36 holes of Black Mesa back in 2011 and the course was in good shape.  Its got some really out of the box stuff and a few stunners...

Holes like #1, 4, 7, 14, 16, and 18 are fairly unique with some interesting decisions to be made.

[Brad Fleischer]

Black Mesa . Here's a link to my pics posted on Gca. I last played in 2011 so I'm not sure on current conditions but till this day it's one of my favorites all time.


Been out of the loop so I'm not sure why it seems conditions Etc have gone downhill but if it's open I'd take a chance and give it a go. At one time if memory serves me right Doak was in the beginning phases of designing a second course there. Now that would have been awesome.


http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,35418.msg716460.html#msg716460

[Keith Buntrock]

Twin Warriors is cool. No houses, just desert and undulating nature. Santa Ana is fine if you can avoid the "Star" nine and is probably the least expensive. I played the NM Open there last year. Sandia isn't bad. Some of the holes routed on the front around the casino parking lot aren't an awesome setting, but the back nine is more scenic and away from the parking lots on the other side of the hotel. 

Black Mesa should probably be played regardless of condition of you are stationed in Santa Fe though.

[James Brown]

Thanks to your recommendations, things are coalescing. The UNM Championship Course is definitely on my radar, but at 67 miles from where I'm staying, it's a stretch with the relatively attractive Santa Ana courses being about 25 miles closer.

The Santa Anna Pueblo Courses re very nice as well.