Black Mesa in January?

[lytham]

I have tried to put this question directly to Black Mesa GC, but have not received an answer. Therefore I hope somebody here can give me an answer.

I live in Stockholm, Sweden and normally go the Orlando PGA show in late January. From what I have seen here, I have become truly fascinated with the Black Mesa and would like to make a "detour" to NM to play it. What do you think of golf in that region thay time of year?

Thanks in advance.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Average high in the middle of January:  44, avg low:  14.   If the course is even open in January, I recommend the afternoon.  

Call them to see if they're even open in winter:  505-747-8946, although  can see calling from Sweden being a problem.

[Jim Sweeney]

Unlikely. It is near 7500 ft. elevation. Usually snow covered and cold. It could be open if the weather is unusually warm, but I would advise against planning a golf trip to Santa Fe that time of year.

[A_Clay_Man]

lytham- It is a bit of a crap shoot, this year, for your intented trip. I am not sure about Black Mesa specifically, but as long as there hasn't been any recent snow storm, most of the courses here, are playable in January. The elevation at BM is similar to Farmington (5300 ft.) I think (?) If it is, and the moisture hasn't fallen, the course should be fine. Since this will be my third winter in the land of, and it being an el nino year, I suspect your chances are low for golf. Again, that's speculation. You may want to keep your options (plane tickets) open or just commit and if it is closed, there are other venues to golf. Not as good as BM, but Pinon is only 3 hours away. The same analysis of the weather applies. One other option would be to drive the four hours from ABQ to Lubbock, (Highly recommended)

[Scott_Burroughs]

Adam,

With an average low of 14, I can't really see how the ground ever unfreezes long enough for golf to even be played.  Only in a warm front can I see golf being possible.

[A_Clay_Man]

Scott- The teeing ground (top inch) gradually unfreezes by about 11;30 a.m.(generally) We play shotguns every weekend starting at 10 am. So, for an hour and a half you need to use a little used device in golf, a pencil sharpener, to ease ones tee into the tundra.

The elevation of BM is an important factor. I know it's not in Santa Fe, so Jesp's numbers might be mis-leading. With the sun shinning temps of 40 degrees F, are not bad, unless the wind be a howl'lin.

Once again, the important factor is if there has been snowfall within a few weeks. The north faces of any and every slope, takes a long time to melt, and at BM that will clearly be an issue most critical being liability.

[Doug Wright]

Lytham,

Welcome to GCA.

I'd strongly recommend against it. There are many other playable venues in the US worth seeing vs northern NM in January, which is VERY likely to be under snow or frost (talk about firm and fast...).


Best,

[Scott_Burroughs]

Being in Florida, you could go to play TPC @ Sawgrass or WW Pine Barrens.

I hear the Monterey Peninsula has some good courses, too.

For guaranteed warmth, go play Casa de Campo in the Domincan Republic, and Dye has a new course there as well called "Dye Fore".

[lytham]

Thanks for all the input. I guess Black Mesa in January is too much of a risk. Having been to the Orlando show for many years I have played several of the better accesible courses as recommended by John Conley and other Floridians like WW, Sawgrass etc.

Would there be anything vaguely similar to BM in the Southeast, worth a detour? True Blue? Tobaco Road?

[A_Clay_Man]

lytham- Having just spent valuable time with Baxter Spann at BM, when asked for his influences for BM, he responded that seeing Tobbaco road was significant in his ability to gauge "size" for the BM project.

[RBSpann]

lytham-  I appreciate your interest in Black Mesa.  Most of the above posts have good info, though the course is at an average elevation of about 5400 ft. (in the Rio Grande Valley only about a mile from the river).  I would have to agree though, that its a big gamble that time of year on the weather.  Last year there were golfing days in January, and I have never seen snow stick there for very long.  If you happen to get out there and weather doesn't permit play, Santa Fe is a pretty neat place to hang out for a day or two anytime!  I would agree with Adam that Tobacco Road is a must see, but North Carolina can be nasty in January also.  Florida is a much safer bet, but I would have to defer to others with more knowledge of that area for recommendations on places to play.  Hope you have a great trip wherever you end up deciding to go!

[Ken_Cotner]

lytham,

If you are already in Orlando in January, the Pinehurst/Southern Pines area is an easy flight (probably 8-10 hours driving).  You could play the interesting extremes of Tobacco Road and classic Ross courses (Pinehurst, Mid Pines, Pine Needles, Southern Pines GC).

Not worth committing to in advance as the weather can be dicey, but you probably have a 75% chance of having golfable weather.  The range is from snow and ice to warm and sunny.

Enjoy,
Ken

[Mike Nuzzo]

Lytham,
Where were you last month?
Team east could have used you.
Hope you get there some time soon.
Go Yanks!
Mike

[lytham]

I am sorry Mike, but you should be happy I wasn´t there. The way I was playing last month in Stockholm, as well as in Scotland wouldn´t have helped Team East much!

Back to Black Mesa. Having looked at their web site once again, I sure would like to try to give it a shot, come snow or ice. Do you think the same (roughly of course) weather conditions apply to Twin Warriors, Pinon Hills and Paa-Ko Ridge?

One last question: I remember reading some months ago about an interesting layout on Tribal land that unfortunately at the time was in absolutely appalling condition. Have forgotten the name, though. Apache Stronghold?

Thanks again for all your help.  

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I would stay in the Orlando area that time of the year. Only Arizona and California have consistant weather then. that is another long trip and the wrong direction from Sweden.

[A_Clay_Man]

lytham- Since you asked... I highly recommend that you keep your options open. Understanding full and well that IF you are a serious type A (for anal) person and cannot make this type of trip without having each and every detailed planned, you should opt for more gauranteed weather conditions. But if you'll have access to a computer, monitoring the weather and using last minute plane ticket purchasing websites, getting a flight to ABQ shouldn't be prohibitive.

As for the other courses in the region, if Blk Mesa is snowed out the likelyhood is everything you mentioned will be also except for Apache Stronghold which is closer to Phoenix in Globe Az. It is a marvelous study in Herr Doak's use of natural features and if you were to combine it with a side trip to Lubbock you then could see what someone with insight can do when moving tons and tons of dirt. I recommend seeing them all.

Just curious, what is it that has caught your attention re: Blck Mesa. The pictures? the style? the write ups?

[Mike Nuzzo]

Lytham,
a little assistance...

http://www.weather.com/weather/climatology/daily/USNM0105?climoMonth=1

You inspired Black Mesa to add the historical data to their web site.  It should be updated soon, so until then check the above link.

Go Yanks!

[Pat Brockwell]

about the January prospects at Black Mesa, If you bring your skis you are bound to have the bases covered.  AM skiing at Taos Ski Valley or Santa Fe ski Area and a mid day tee time could set you up for an unforgettable day.  January can be cold, but most days afford a nice window to tee it up.  Last winter January had better weather than March.  I guess it all goes back to risk reward.