Doak to design new couse at Black Mesa

[Mike Mosely]

Eddie Peck, Principal of Black Mesa Golf Club today announced that Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design, Inc. has been hired to design a new course at the daily fee club that sits on the Santa Clara Pueblo in La Mesilla, NM. The new course will sit to the south of the current layout and be the first phase in a planned comprehensive development designed to make Black Mesa one of the finest golf resorts in the country.

 

Located 30 minutes north of Santa Fe, Black Mesa Golf Club is a high desert links style layout designed by Baxter Spann of Finger, Dye, Spann. The course opened in the spring of 2003 and was selected as one of the Best New Courses by GOLF Magazine and Golf Digest and has appeared on several Top 100 public course lists since its debut.

 

“I’m very excited to be working with Tom and his team on this project,” said Peck.  “I admire his design philosophy and think he’ll design a world class layout that will be unique, yet complement the original course.”

 

Doak, the principal designer of Renaissance Golf Design, Inc. a Michigan-based firm, has designed 31 courses around the world including four in GOLF Magazine’s “Top 100 Courses in the World:” Pacific Dunes Golf Course in Bandon, Oregon, Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links in Bridport, Tasmania, Australia, Cape Kidnappers Resort in Napier, New Zealand and Ballyneal in Holyoke, Colorado.

 

“We decided to take on this project because we liked the piece of land and that the course will be open to the public,” said Doak. “In contrast with the original layout, the property is open and rolling and the lows and desert washes will come more into play.”

 

Doak has been an admirer of Black Mesa selecting it as one of the most “Beautiful Courses in the United States” in a Forbes Traveler article.

 

"Black Mesa features the kind of scenery you might find in an old western movie," said Tom Doak. "It's a difficult test of golf for good players, but everyone will enjoy the fact that they've kept it affordable and accessible. I think it's the best course in New Mexico."


I saw this on Jay Flemma's website:

http://jayflemma.thegolfspace.com/?p=1054

[Jay Flemma]

Sheesh, Mike, you're faster than I am.  I didn't even get a chance to post it!

See you this weekend in Boston.  We can drink a Bushmill's Black to our Red Sox.

[Kalen Braley]

Ahhh man,

I have a feeling there will be battle royale threads over this one.  At least its still a couple of years away. 

[Mike Mosely]

I don't think so.  A great natural setting with one great course already teaming up with Tom D?

I think it'll be a rousing success.

Jay, I still say you should punt Bushmill's and drink Jameson's instead.

[Jay Flemma]

Mike, there will more announcements with more details coming in a few days.  Till then, just sit tight.  But I agree, this is wonderful news for all involved, especially public golfers.

Jameson's = I dunno.  I like my brand.  We'll see how I feel Saturday.

[Kyle Henderson]

That is F^@king awesome news!!!



-Mark Twain

[Jay Flemma]

Glad you're not extremely neutral in this matter, Kyle:)  Good to see you on a vine.

[George Pazin]

Can someone describe where this course will reside? Is it the land beyond 13, that you see when you step up to the tee? Or is it somewhere else?

[Jim Nugent]

Bet it turns out like Bandon did.  Already one fantastic course there, then Tom comes in and trumps it...

[Kyle Henderson]

Glad you're not extremely neutral in this matter, Kyle:)  Good to see you on a vine.

I snuck in and out of Mesilla for a quick round on a cross-country trip a few years ago. I never thought a return would be in the cards, despite my love of the course, but a second course (which is bound to be sublime) will no doubt make Black Mesa a worthy stand-alone destination.

[Pete Lavallee]

Bet it turns out like Bandon did.  Already one fantastic course there, then Tom comes in and trumps it...

...or, no one will want to play BM anymore with a less frustrating alternative nearby.

[Adam Clayman]

George, There's a lot of land there to the right of 13. I went over the site with Pat many years ago and there was plenty of room and lots of subtle natural features & movement. One of the reason it can't get too close to the original layout is some sort of water storage structure that's just south of the hill near the driving range.
I'd speculate that if the course goes where I think it will go (not having talked to Ed Pat or Tom) I think the opportunity for intimacy will be great, on at least one nine. Ala The Downs, High pointe, and Kingsley's. It would require a separate clubhouse, so I may be wrong. Leave it to team Tom to find a creative way around those restrictions.

[Brad Swanson]

I think Matt Ward may require some alone time after reading this.

[Anthony Gray]

  The next "must play".

[Bill_McBride]

Bet it turns out like Bandon did.  Already one fantastic course there, then Tom comes in and trumps it...

...or, no one will want to play BM anymore with a less frustrating alternative nearby.

Interesting - you found Black Mesa frustrating?  I found it to be difficult but endlessly entertaining, on the two trips I've made there.  

It's important to remember the advice of Dirty Harry when playing there - "A man has got to know his limitations."

Every time you try to get aggressive at Black Mesa, you pay the price.  I'm sure Doak will build a solid course there but the original Black Mesa will always be a treat.  Love the box canyon holes.  Only #15 and #16 were a bit awkward, and wouldn't you hate to walk #16?  

[Kyle Henderson]

Bet it turns out like Bandon did.  Already one fantastic course there, then Tom comes in and trumps it...

...or, no one will want to play BM anymore with a less frustrating alternative nearby.

Interesting - you found Black Mesa frustrating?  I found it to be difficult but endlessly entertaining, on the two trips I've made there.  

It's important to remember the advice of Dirty Harry when playing there - "A man has got to know his limitations."

Every time you try to get aggressive at Black Mesa, you pay the price.  I'm sure Doak will build a solid course there but the original Black Mesa will always be a treat.  Love the box canyon holes.  Only #15 and #16 were a bit awkward, and wouldn't you hate to walk #16?  

I was playing on absolute peak form, so my agression was rewarded several times during my only round there (birdies on 6, 7, 14, and 16... as a 15 handicapper at the time). You post nearly compels me to never return, lest I discover that the course is much tougher than I remember.

[Jay Flemma]

Here's where some of the new course will go:



Guys, I have no trouble walking Black Mesa.  I have more trouble walking Conklin Players Club and Lakota canyon.

God, Lakota, toughest walk I've ever loved.  Anyway, enjoy this pic of the new site.  I'll have more soon.

[Pete Lavallee]

Bill,

I only played BM once; they had some real Sunday pins set, was there a GCA Event just prior to my arrival? It was not the demands of the shotmaking or the totality of the place that bugged me. It was the fact that to some hole locations you just couldn't get anywhere close to the hole; I know I retried several putts as many as 10 times and just couldn't get to within 15 feet of the hole. I would like another crack at BM to see if some more benign pin locations would soften my view.

[Bill_McBride]

Bet it turns out like Bandon did.  Already one fantastic course there, then Tom comes in and trumps it...

...or, no one will want to play BM anymore with a less frustrating alternative nearby.

Interesting - you found Black Mesa frustrating?  I found it to be difficult but endlessly entertaining, on the two trips I've made there.  

It's important to remember the advice of Dirty Harry when playing there - "A man has got to know his limitations."

Every time you try to get aggressive at Black Mesa, you pay the price.  I'm sure Doak will build a solid course there but the original Black Mesa will always be a treat.  Love the box canyon holes.  Only #15 and #16 were a bit awkward, and wouldn't you hate to walk #16?  

I was playing on absolute peak form, so my agression was rewarded several times during my only round there (birdies on 6, 7, 14, and 16... as a 15 handicapper at the time). You post nearly compels me to never return, lest I discover that the course is much tougher than I remember.

Kyle, keep in mind that I was talking about my game, not yours!  You have a lot of distance in your swing while mine is all in my memory    so that makes a lot of difference.

Even with my current skill level I had a 79 with 3 birdies but from the middle tees.  As usual that is the key to enjoying a demanding golf course.

The most fun shot was a 2-iron hybrid to 6" on #5!  That was a keeper!  The shot was a run up from 215 yards that landed out in front and ran left to right the full length of the green to a back pin.  The Kirk rule in effect. 

[Pete_Pittock]

Over the last few years I have looked at retirement locations. Done.

[Bill_McBride]

Over the last few years I have looked at retirement locations. Done.

The season in Santa Fe might actually be longer than Portland!

[Steve_ Shaffer]

When does construction start and when is completion expected?

[John Kirk]

Congratulations to Tom and his crew for landing another exciting new job.  I met Eddie Peck and Pat Brockwell at Ballyneal one day.  Good guys.

[Bill_McBride]

Congratulations to Tom and his crew for landing another exciting new job.  I met Eddie Peck and Pat Brockwell at Ballyneal one day.  Good guys.

I visited with Pat at Black Mesa in May and he tipped me off then to the Doak plan.  It's taken quite a while for an official announcement.  I'm sure there were some very talented architects in competition for this work.  Pat has done a great job maintaining Black Mesa, the transitions up into the rocky rough are difficult but well kept.

[Mike Mosely]

Over the last few years I have looked at retirement locations. Done.

Hear hear!  When my ship comes in.   Nice tag line by the way...I tell my caddy that all the time.

Hey Bill McB!  Nice to see you.  I checked in from time to time on the Dixie Cup.  Nice job down there boys.