New Mexico Golf trip questions

[Mike_Young]

Hey I just realized that I did not need a passport to go to New Mexico....us red necks can get confused and I just found out it was a state....anyway..if I was plaing 3-4 days there and wanted to play ...what do you guys say do....have you heard of Mescalaro  and another place Ruidoso....I would appreciate the help.....Mike

[Patrick Kiser]

Just did Paa-Ko, Black Mesa, and UNM in that order.

I would suggest the same ... but don't bother if conditions are crazy like at the beginning of April. 

[Tom_Doak]

Mike:

When are you going?  Don't know if we are going to be building the new course at Black Mesa sooner instead of later ... but you could at least get Pat Brockwell to walk you around the routing if you get out there.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Mike,

John LaFoy finished a course in Ruidoso last year with some kind of a horse name, I think.  Almost 20 years ago, I designed the Links of Sierra Blanca in Ruidoso and despite some back and forth because it was the old muni airport, it has some nice holes, esepcially on the back nine where there were a few trees.  Ruidoso is in the southern part of the state - you would fly to El Paso and it would be closer than from ABQ. 

I'll secpnd the Ken Dye trail if you are going to ABQ - Black Mesa, Paako Ridge are both good.  There are some other casino courses, but I haven't played them and can't recommend them.

[Wayne Freeman]

I'm also planning on a trip to N.M. prompted by meeting a member of Albuquerque CC.  Does anyone think that course is worth playing and aren't there 2 courses at the U.N.M.? Also I assume anytime June-Sept is good for golf there.

[Andy Troeger]

I'm going to do the Ruidoso trip this summer and try to see Outlaw (the LaFoy course mentioned), Rainmakers, and Inn of the Mountain Gods. If time permits I'd like to see Sierra Blanca again, but it will probably be three rounds in two days as it is.

If you fly into Albuquerque, Paa-Ko Ridge and Black Mesa are the two must see courses. If access works out, the Las Campanas courses are nice too, but not close to the top two. UNM Championship is very good, their other course is a little nine holer that continues to be squeezed by the university. Its a fun little nine to play, but wouldn't be a top recommendation.

Weather-wise--September/October is prime season generally. May--July is nice as long as you don't mind it getting hot, but its not like Phoenix. Temps depend on elevation, in Albuquerque we get a lot of days in the 90's. Ruidoso and Santa Fe are both at elevation as well. As Patrick discovered, April is NOT necessarily the month to visit--this week has been wonderful with 80 degree sunny days, but the winds kick up about 40% of the days and these are not golf-friendly winds.

EDIT: Oh yeah--forgot about August. That's the monsoon season. Great in the mornings, thunderstorms start around 2-4 p.m. pretty much every day, then nice evenings most of the time with a few lingering storms. Not a bad time to visit if you're a morning person.

In terms of other courses--Pinon Hills in Farmington is worth playing but well away from all the other courses mentioned. I like Pueblo de Cochiti as a shorter track that still captures some great New Mexico scenery. Some of the casino courses are fun--Santa Ana, Twin Warriors, and Sandia are all nice. I don't care for Isleta or Sonoma Ranch.

I've not played Albuquerque Country Club--its an older club by NM standards. Four Hills seems to be the best private club course in Albuquerque. ABQ CC is really short and tree-lined, but I've only seen it from the road.

[Jason McNamara]

Mike -

UNM Championship should be your arrival or departure day course, as it's immediately next to the airport.

I'll defer to Andy on weather, though we hit a glorious day in mid-March when it was sunny and 60 @ Paa-Ko.  Freeze delay that am, but I wore shorts.

ps.  There's a reason they write New Mexico USA on their license plates!

[Gene Greco]

Mike:

     No golf but used to ski at Ruidoso regularly and usually stayed at the Inn of the Mountain Gods. Believe they have a golf course as well. The one time I was there when it wasn't ski season I remember going to the horseraces (Ruidoso Downs?) and returning to the Inn for some tequila. My recollection gets foggy after that...

        Gene

[Andy Troeger]

Mike -

UNM Championship should be your arrival or departure day course, as it's immediately next to the airport.

I'll defer to Andy on weather, though we hit a glorious day in mid-March when it was sunny and 60 @ Paa-Ko.  Freeze delay that am, but I wore shorts.

ps.  There's a reason they write New Mexico USA on their license plates!

You can get wonderful days here every month of the year. I played in mid-November at Black Mesa a couple years ago and it was 70 and sunny--absolutely perfect. Late February and early March have a lot of good days too. Late March and April is the windy season where you're taking your chances.

When I moved here from Indiana, 80% of my friends thought I was really moving to Arizona, 15% of the rest thought I was moving to Mexico and wondered why I would leave the country, and the other 5% had heard of Albuquerque.

[Thomas Patterson]

My wife and I will be going to Santa Fe with another couple June 5-7.  My buddy and I were planning on playing 36 at Black Mesa on Saturday and then another 18 somewhere on Sunday.  We were also contemplating on taking our dogs out with us for a late evening 9 at Black Mesa.
It's great to hear all the comments to help decide our Sunday round.  I am hoping we get a chance to meet Mr. Brockwell during our visit as well.  This will be my first trip to Santa Fe since I was a young kid and I'm very much looking forward to it. 

Cheers

[Matt_Ward]

Inn of the Mtn Gods is vastly overrated -- given all the hype I was hoping for such much better.

Sierra Blanca is a nice alternative but anyone leaving the greater Albuquerque area to play those two courses is making a long car ride for really nothing of real consequence.

If you miss Black Mesa then your NM golf card is incomplete. Ditto the time you can spend at UNM and Paa-Ko Ridge. I like Cochiti but it's more eye-candy design highlighting the countryside than real excitment from the course itself in my mind.

[Brad Fleischer]

Two words Black Mesa. After that than paa ko. MY humble opinion. It's a wasted trip golf wise if you don't seek out those two first. Ok that's pushing it as playing golf is never a waste but you get the point

[Matt MacIver]

BM is worth two rounds, as there are some angles and slopes you can't see nor appreciate from the tee, and with no caddy nor yardage book  you'll get a lot of pleasure out of that second round. 

I loved BM and really enjoyed Paa-Ko, but I thought the par 5s were the weakest part.  Enjoy.

[Adam Clayman]

Mike. Much has been covered already. Las cruces cc is new and ready for play. Alan Salter is the gcs and would be receptive to contact. Taos cc isn't horrible and has an interesting back story plus its relatively close to Black Mesa. IMO pinion hills is worth the 3 hour drive and is better than paa ko ridge. 

[Andy Troeger]

Adam,
Good call on Taos--forgot about that one. Sierra del Rio in Elephant Butte is also pretty decent. I'd put both of those in the group with Sandia, Santa Ana, etc.

[Mike Nuzzo]

I'll secpnd the Ken Dye trail if you are going to ABQ - Black Mesa, Paako Ridge are both good. 

Baxter designed Black Mesa

The Ken trail ends up north at Pinon Hills

[Bill_McBride]

BM is worth two rounds, as there are some angles and slopes you can't see nor appreciate from the tee, and with no caddy nor yardage book  you'll get a lot of pleasure out of that second round. 

I loved BM and really enjoyed Paa-Ko, but I thought the par 5s were the weakest part.  Enjoy.

Matt, are you saying the par 5s were weak at Black Mesa?  I don't think you are, those are really good strategic holes.  I love the second in particular with all that broken ground out in front.

Personally I'd play 3 rounds at Black Mesa and one at Paa-Ko (1st and 2nd nines only, please), but that's just me and I haven't played several of the other courses.  Cochiti I considered a ho hum phoned in design.

[Matt_Ward]

Mike:

You play Taos only because you have to play golf right away. It's nothing more than adequate.

Agree with Adam on Pinon but you need to make a conscious effort to get there from the greater Albuquerque area. Still, a first rate effort from Ken Dye and has the goods to be matched up against his other work -- Paa-Ko Ridge.

Bill:

Agree with you on the par-5's at Paa-Ko -- really like the 15th on the original 18. The issue for me is that Ken Dye ran roughshod over the native countryside -- the course -- while good -- looks super-imposed and the bunkers stand-out -- rather than blend in to the terrain. Interesting to see the differences between Paa-Ko and BM.

[Matt MacIver]

BM is worth two rounds, as there are some angles and slopes you can't see nor appreciate from the tee, and with no caddy nor yardage book  you'll get a lot of pleasure out of that second round. 

I loved BM and really enjoyed Paa-Ko, but I thought the par 5s were the weakest part.  Enjoy.

Matt, are you saying the par 5s were weak at Black Mesa?  I don't think you are, those are really good strategic holes.  I love the second in particular with all that broken ground out in front.

Personally I'd play 3 rounds at Black Mesa and one at Paa-Ko (1st and 2nd nines only, please), but that's just me and I haven't played several of the other courses.  Cochiti I considered a ho hum phoned in design.

No sorry my comments on the par 5s were for Paa-Ko - I thought there was no strategy as the second shot was too risky to go for, so all I was doing was laying up to 100 yards.  Take that with a grain of salt from one round. 

Liked BM #2 although I think the r-r option is not balanced enough.  Really enjoyed the other par 5 on the front (#7?) and the long up-hill on the back (#15?) was cool because it was different.  Thought #11(?) was flat and average. 

Agree I would play BM vs. PR 3-1 if I ever make it back.  Add a new course to BM and that place will ROCK.   

[Andy Troeger]

I agree with Bill in that its definitely worth trying to play the 1st and 2nd nines at Paa-Ko Ridge. The third nine has more homes and less interesting holes--pretty big gap there.

I disagree that the par fives aren't interesting. There are speed slots on the 5th and 15th that allow a precise drive to get extra length and make for risk/reward opportunities. I wouldn't be surprised if people who only play the course once and miss the slots don't realize they are there. The 3rd is pretty dull off the tee but the dip in the fairway creates some interest. The 12th is rather straightforward if you can stop gawking at the view which is one of the best on a course full of them.

The five pars on the third nine aren't my favorites--the serpentine 5th is too narrow and the 7th with the pond at the end also discourages anything but a layup. I would agree if those were the ones being referred to.

PS: The par fives at Black Mesa are #3, 6, 13, and 16. A good and varied set, as already mentioned.

[Mike_Young]

Gee..thanks for all the info.....will figure it out and let you know.....definitely have to play JB's course.....how far is Taos from Sante Fe?

[Matt_Ward]

Mike:

Likely depending upon how heavy your right foot is -- about 75-90 minutes.