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2010 Northern New Mexico

Golfing
Taos Country Club back
on course for locals
Area programs reaching
out to younger players

The Santa Fe New Mexican • www.santafenewmexican.com


Offering th e f res hes t m eats,
pou ltry , fis h, p ro duce
& dairy daily!

Alamagordo • Albuquerque • Belen • Chama • Clovis • Espanola • Eunice


Gallup • Jal • Las Cruces • Las Vegas • Santa Fe • Tucumcari • Tularosa
WESTERN MONEY
UNION TRANSFER
2010 Golfing - 3
A GRIPPING EXPERIENCE
Breathtaking. Challenging. Year-round Golf.
Photo © corriephoto.com

Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe


Offering 18 championship holes challenging all skill levels, an executive 9-hole executive
course for a quick game, friendly and knowledgeable staff, well-groomed fairways and
greens and a restaurant with snack bar. Open year-round, weather permitting.

Santa Fe’s Golf Course of Choice

Call for tee times 505.955.4400 205 Caja del Rio off HWY 599 linksdesantafe.com
4 - Golfing 2010
Published April 30, 2010
2010 Northern New Mexico

Golfing
Cover design
Jon Lechel

Editor and publisher


Robin Martin
Cover photo of
Associate publisher Pueblo de Cochiti
Ginny Sohn Golf Course by
The New Mexican
Managing editor
Rob Dean FOR MORE ABOUT GOLFING IN NEW MEXICO, VISIT ‘THE DOWNHILL LIE’ AT WWW.GOLFINGNM.COM
EDITORIAL
Magazine editor: Inez Russell

6
irussell@sfnewmexican.com COVER STORY The Taos Country Club is once again under
Magazine design: Jon Lechel local control after the departure of the national golf-man-
The bar and
Copy editing: Mike Cosgrove, agement company, American Golf.
Rosemary Jackson, Kristie Jones
Writing and consulting:
Dan Vukelich
Director of photography:
Clyde Mueller

ADVERTISING
Advertising director:
Joe Vigil, 986-3007
Marketing and design department
Manager: David Del Mauro
Layout: Yolanda Valdez
Designers: Elspeth Hilbert, Scott PAGE 8
Fowler, Dale Deforest, Bill Jacobi,
Enrique Figuerdo What’s new around Northern New Mexico

RETAIL ADVERTISING SALES PAGE 8


Michael Brendel, 995-3825 Looking out for deals around area courses
Gary Brouse, 995-3861
Cristina Iverson, 995-3830
Alex J. Martinez, 995-3837
PAGE 11
JON LECHEL
Jan Montoya, 995-3838 Area programs reaching out to junior golfers
Renee Siers, 995-3841 The par 3 fourth hole at Twin Warriors, page 22.
Art Trujillo, 995-3824 PAGE 24
Rick Wiegers, 995-3840
David Wilkinson, 995-3852
Updated map to courses around New Mexico
ON THE WEB Get course reviews from
ONLINE ADVERTISING SALES around New Mexico, interesting stories,
Jim Keyes, 995-3819 updates on how your favorite course is
playing and hear what other golfers are
SYSTEMS
Technology director:
saying from ‘The Downhill Lie’ at
Jeff Norris WWW.GOLFINGNM.COM.

PRODUCTION
Operations director: Al Waldron
Assistant production director:
Tim Cramer
Prepress manager: Dan Gomez
Press manager: Larry Quintana
Packaging manager: Brian Schultz

WEB
COURTESY PHOTO
Web editor: Henry M. Lopez
www.santafenewmexican.com The par 5 13th hole at Black Mesa
Golf Club, page 14.
ADDRESS
Office: 202 E. Marcy St.
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Monday-Friday
Advertising information:
505-986-3082
Delivery: 505-984-0363
or 1-800-873-3372 JON LECHEL

For copies of the magazine: The par 3 fourth hole at Towa Golf Resort, page 22.
505-490-0316

2010 Golfing - 5
COURTESY PHOTOS
Handicap ranked as the second hardest, Hole 14 at the Taos Country Club plays 535 yards from the back tees.

BACK IN THE SADDLE


Taos Country Club gets back under local control
By Dan Vukelich For The New Mexican the mid-1960s. TAOS RATES
And it’s where a local barista refused to serve
Taos Country Club is once again under local Donald Rumsfeld a cup of coffee a few years ago MAY 1 TO OCT. 15
control after the departure of the national golf- as a personal war protest. Monday-Thursday: $62
management company, American Golf. “We are a unique community up here,” said Friday-Sunday: $72
That’s good news for Northern New Mexico Tad Bourg, general manager and head golf pro- Twilight: $38
golfers, not only in terms of conditioning of the fessional at Taos Country Club. “What might Juniors: $16
turf at Taos, but for the soul of the place — its work elsewhere for a corporate golf-manage- Carts: $15 per person
feng shui, if you will. ment company might not work in Taos.”
It is a Taos golf course for Taoseños once With his son, Carville, Bourg now runs the AFTER OCT. 16
again. 18-hole layout in Ranchos de Taos that he and Monday-Thursday: $43
If that sounds wacky, don’t forget, Taos is several partners opened in 1992 as the center- Friday-Sunday: $48
— well — a different kind of place. piece of a real-estate development. Twilight: $28
Taos is where secret meetings were held to They resumed control when American Golf’s Juniors: $16
plot the ouster of the Spanish from New Mexico tenure ended in 2009. Carts: $15 per person
in 1680. It’s where the New Buffalo Commune, “Our whole mission statement is fun, fun, fun,”
granddaddy of hippie colonies, was organized in Bourg said. “And that means making it a personal
6 - Golfing 2010
‘Our whole mis-
sion statement
is fun, fun, fun,’
says Tad Bourg,
general manager
and head golf
professional.
‘And that means
making it a per-
sonal experience
and a personally
enjoyable
experience.’
RICK ROMANCITO

experience and a personally enjoyable “He may be a carefree spirit, but he’s sure on the aquifer, improper use can kill
experience.” meticulous in making Taos Country a golf course quickly through the build-
Part hippie, part surfer dude, part Club one of the better golf courses up of salinity in the soil.
yoga master, Bourg is about as un-golf in the state. I bet he played every hole “We were green before it was cool to
as a golf pro can get. Among his more on that golf course 100 times, on dirt, be green,” Bourg said. “We need to be
strait-laced brethren, he’s known as long before a single blade of grass was aware of the planet and what we’re doing
“Taos Tad.” planted.” to it.”
Physically, he bears more resemblance Another fellow pro, Ross Nettles, head Bourg is an iconoclast in other ways.
to an alumnus of the New Buffalo than to professional at Marty Sanchez Links de Instead of mowing greens with riding
a blazer-wearing member of the Profes- Santa Fe said, “I wish I could meet every mowers, he insists they be mowed by
sional Golfers Association of America. day head-on and as mellow as Tad Bourg hand “to bring the course back to cham-
Although PGA rules require a member does.” pionship caliber,” he said. Bourg is also
to attend PGA meetings wearing a sports Now that he’s back running things at ordering all sand bunkers at Taos Coun-
coat, nothing in the rules, in Bourg’s Taos Country Club, part of Bourg’s job try Club rebuilt.
mind, requires shoes. “I wear sandals involves reaching out to local players Upon his return to operational control,
everywhere, with slacks and with shorts, who cut their affiliation with the course one of the first things Bourg did was
and if I could get away always wearing during the American Golf years. announce the rebirth of the Taos Ama-
shorts, too, I would,” he said. “This is nothing against American teur Championship.
He recalls a pro-am tournament Golf, but under their tenure, the golf Held each fall, the event that once
in Socorro a few years ago. It was 110 course lost a little of that community drew top players from across the South-
degrees as he stepped up to the registra- spirit, and now we’re seeing people come west became dormant under American
tion table wearing slacks. “ ‘Pro or ama- back who had drifted away,” Bourg said. Golf.
teur?’ ” the lady asked me. “I said, ‘Pro. Some are returning because of Heading into summer, Bourg is mar-
Who else would be wearing slacks in improved course conditioning under keting Taos Country Club as an indoor-
this kind of weather?’ ” its superintendent, Mike Furgeson, who outdoor wedding venue to take advan-
Dan Koesters, director of golf at New had once worked at Taos Country Club tage of terrific views of Mount Wheeler
Mexico State University, who met Bourg under Bourg and has been brought back at sunset.
12 years ago, says Bourg follows his own to upgrade course conditions. The bar and grill and patio now offer
music. “He’s a 1960s hippie trapped in Furgeson had pervious experience irri- extended hours, which Bourg hopes will
2010,” Koesters said. gating Taos Country Club with treated herald their return as a gathering place
“Every day’s a good day for Tad, and effluent water, which is a tricky task. for folks living south of town.
he makes the best of it,” Koesters said. While effluent irrigation reduces pres- And, yes, sandals are welcome.
2010 Golfing - 7
LOOK OUT
FOR DEALS
The funny thing
about the golf industry
is no one likes to use
the word “discounting,”
but if you read between
the lines, there is plenty
of discounting going
on.
Returning this year
are player loyalty
cards offering free
rounds, plus continu-
ing discounts and tee-
time booking priority
through the year.
A good example
is the Marty Sanchez
Links de Santa Fe Play-
COURTESY PHOTO ers Card, which costs
Taos Country Club, no longer run by American Golf, is under new management. $125 for the year.
Cardholders get
a free round, a free
WHAT’S NEW? officials have built an 18-hole disc golf course
in the native areas of the real golf course.
bucket of range balls;
10 percent off food and
Holes vary from 40 to 163 yards in length. Cost: beverages in Marty’s
Taos isn’t the only Northern New Mexico $4 for adults, $2 for juniors and students.
golf spot with a few new wrinkles. Here’s what Back Nine Grill; and
pro shop discounts of
else is happening in norteño golf.
Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe 15 percent to 25 percent.
Angel Fire Trimming of low-hanging piñon and juniper Most importantly,
branches in the non-turfed desert area contin- presenting the card can
A new clubhouse opens May 21. The two-
ues. Translation: Shots that miss the groomed save up to $8.75 on
story stone and stucco building encloses
areas won’t necessarily lead to a lost-ball pen- 18-hole weekend
27,000 square feet, including a restaurant, golf
alty. There is a fleet of new riding carts and rounds, with no limit
shop, lounge and indoor swimming pool. The
new maintenance equipment. A record on the card’s uses.
interior features hand-hewn beams, vaulted
93-day closure because of snow cover prom- New for 2010 are
ceilings and a rock fireplace. Book one room at
ises great conditions at Marty in 2010, said online specials being
Angel Fire Resort and get a second room free.
Director of Golf Ross Nettles, but be fore- offered by courses that
Guests in the promotion enjoy twilight rates at
warned: “We have a new superintendent who have gotten Internet
the Angel Fire course during morning play.
plans on speeding up our greens,” Nettles said. savvy. Like airlines
Black Mesa seeking to fill last-min-
The Santa Clara Hotel Casino, once known as Towa Golf Club ute seats, courses are
posting last-minute spe-
the Big Rock Casino, opened in January about For two days only, June 5-6, all three of cials on their Web sites.
five minutes north of the golf course on U.S. Towa’s nines will be open for play. The Piñon Most notable is Santa
84/285. The hotel has 106 rooms and 18 suites Nine closes for extensive maintenance June 7, Ana Golf Club, which
and offers golf packages. Black Mesa continues leaving the Valley Nine and the recently reno- updates its online rates
to reap accolades from the national golf media. vated Boulder Nine available for play through almost daily.
The April issue of GOLF magazine declared the summer. Towa offers the Towa Card for Also new are e-mail
Black Mesa the best golf course in the state. $149, which offers three rounds free and grants blasts offering last-min-
the holder unlimited play for $49 a round. ute tee times or golf
Gene Torres NMHU Golf Course Every ninth round is free. and lunch or golf and
The clubhouse used to be a single cavernous “This is our year for reputation repair, where dinner specials. If your
log cabin room. The space was subdivided to we can tell players at Towa they will see a e-mail inbox can handle
create a separate dining area, La Piedra Grill, quality product,” said Linda Howell, Towa’s the load, sign up for
and a new 900-square-foot golf shop. In mem- director of golf, the first woman to hold that weekly e-mail updates
ory of the former director of golf, Steve Wat- position. Lots of snow helped Towa. “You can’t and save some money.
son, who died unexpectedly last October, course argue with a lot of winter moisture,” she said.
8 - Golfing 2010
2010 Golfing - 9
10 - Golfing 2010
GETTING ON THE BALL
Area courses reaching out to younger players
By Dennis Latta
and Dan Vukelich
For The New Mexican

Black Mesa Golf Club


Director of Golf Tom Velarde
believes that kids who pick
up golf early in life later turn
into dedicated golfers, so he
starts them young — as early
as 7 years old.
Velarde is one of the forces
behind the First Tee of Santa
Fe, which reaches into the
Santa Fe Public Schools
during the school year then
moves to Black Mesa and
Santa Fe Country Club once
school lets out for the sum-
mer.
“I’d say that 80 percent
of what we do is outreach,”
Velarde said.
Most golf courses in
Northern New Mexico offer
summer golf programs for
juniors, but Black Mesa has
taken the lead in offering
such programs year-round,
especially among Native
American children.
His introductory program
uses oversized plastic clubs
and balls slightly smaller than
a tennis ball to help new play-
ers get the hang of the golf
swing. “We can do it indoors
or outdoors,” Velarde said.
During the school year,
golf is introduced during
physical-education classes.
Once school lets out, a more
structured twice-a-week
program begins. In addition
to basic golf instruction and
caps, water bottles and shirts,
participants also get a heavy COURTESY PHOTO
dose of the national First Tee Alexia Heist of El Paso, who was one of the top competitors during the 2009 Sun Country Junior
program’s nine core values Tour, follows through on her drive.
— integrity, sportsman-
ship, honesty, responsibility, cations officer for the Sun — giving kids a structured a lot of kids on the couch,
respect, perseverance, cour- Country Section PGA, the activity during summer — in front of the TV or the
tesy, confidence and judg- professional association for getting them into golf offers Playstation, if your goal is for
ment. golf pros in New Mexico, said more long-term benefits. your child to be active and
Dana Lehner, communi- that aside from the obvious “In a world where we have social, golf is one of the best
2010 Golfing - 11
vehicles to do that,” Lehner

JUNIOR
said.
“Over the course of four
or five hours in the fresh air
with friends or new friends,”
Lehner said, “your child will
PROGRAMS
be active, exercising and Black Mesa Golf Club
working on his or her social Phone: 747-8946
skills.” Director: Tom Velarde
The Sun Country Section Schedule: Six to eight
administers a summer-long two-week sessions
series of junior tournaments Times: Starting at 1 p.m.
for children, grouped by age. Ages: 5 to 8 years old,
Children can enter as few or 9-11, 12-14, 15 and up
many as they like. Cost: $60 for two weeks
This year, events are sched- thefirstteeofsantafe.org;
uled at Quail Run Country blackmesagolfclub.com
Club, Marty Sanchez Links
de Santa Fe, Santa Fe Country Marty Sanchez
Club and Los Alamos Golf Links de Santa Fe
Course, all in late June. Phone: 955-4400
The Rocky Mountain Junior Director: Tom Watts
Tour, by contrast, is a series of Schedule: Two five-week
competitions for elite junior sessions
players held throughout the Times: 11 a.m.-noon and
Rocky Mountain region dur- 12:15-1:15 p.m.
ing the summer. Ages: 7-16
The tour is a showcase for Cost: $82 for five weeks
top-ranked teenagers seeking www.linksdesantafe.com
to catch the attention of col-
lege golf coaches. Five events Pojoaque Boys & Girls
will be held in New Mexico Club Junior Program
in 2010, including one at Phone: 819-2087
Angel Fire in late June. COURTESY PHOTO Director: Steve Moreno
More typical is the begin- For children who don’t have or can’t afford golf clubs, most Schedule: 10 weeks
ner summer program offered junior golf programs supply clubs for use in their summer Times: 10-11 a.m.
by Santa Fe Country Club, programs — with many relying on donations. Cost: $10 per session
which is open to children of buffalothunderresort.com
all skill levels. moving along, I plan to take Tom Watts runs the summer Santa Fe Country Club
“The balls and clubs are some of them out on the program at Marty Sanchez
included if they need them,” course to play some holes,” Links de Santa Fe. The 5-year- Phone: 471-0601
said Kirk Mackie, an assis- Moreno said. old program comprises two Director: Kirk Mackie
tant professional at Santa “We start from the ground five-week sessions for kids 7 Schedule: Tuesdays and
Fe Country Club. As their up, and if kids haven’t been to 16 years old on Mondays Thursdays
skill levels progress, Mackie exposed to golf, that’s OK and Wednesdays or Tuesdays Times: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
moves his flock of would- because we let them progress and Fridays. Ages: 6-16
be Tigers from the practice at their own pace,” Moreno “It is a beginner program Cost: $30 per week
range to the golf course to said. and we provide clubs if thefirstteeofsantafe.org;
play actual golf holes, he said. “Our ultimate goal, needed,” Watts said. santafecountryclub.com
Steve Moreno, head pro- especially with the 12- and
Sun Country Junior Tour
fessional at Towa Golf Club, 13-year-olds who can physi- Dennis Latta is a veteran
runs the Pojoaque Boys cally master the golf swing, is sports journalist and former Phone: 897-0864
and Girls Club junior golf to turn them into golfers who director of the New Mexico Director: Theresa Sloan
program, which is open to will stick with the game into Sports Authority. Schedule: Weekly
anyone. “We cover all aspects high school and make it a life- Dan Vukelich is editor Locations: Throughout
from putting to the driver, long sport.” of Sun Country Golf, a New Mexico and El Paso
and if there are kids who are Assistant golf professional statewide golf magazine. Ages: 7-18
Cost: $35 for the
enrollment in the summer
“The balls and clubs are included if they need them.” series, $25 per event
KIRK MACKIE, ASSISTANT PROFESSIONAL AT SANTA FE COUNTRY CLUB suncountry.pga.com

12 - Golfing 2010
2010 Golfing - 13
2010 GOLF COURSE LISTINGS
Picturesque layouts highlight Northern New Mexico’s courses
ANGEL FIRE COUNTRY CLUB
Acting PGA head
professional: Jon Jaress
Layout: 18 holes, mountain
Classification: Resort, public
City: Angel Fire
Phone: 575-377-6401 or
1-800-633-7463
Address: 100 Country Club
Drive, Angel Fire, N.M.
Web site: angelfireresort.com
E-mail: countryclub@
angelfireresort.com
Course hours: Vary by season
and available daylight.
Advance tee times: Seven days
Walking allowed: Yes
Credit cards accepted: All
major cards
Course designer: Paul Ortiz
Grass: Greens, bentgrass;
fairways, bluegrass
Date opened: 1961
Other services: Separate
putting and pitching greens,
practice sand bunker, driving
range, instruction
Club rental: 18 holes, $38;
nine holes, $22
Food availability: Snack
bar and on-course food and
beverage cart
Signature hole: No. 6. This par COURTESY PHOTO
3 offers a dramatic 200-foot The Angel Fire Country Club, which opened in 1961, boasts 16 holes surrounded by water.
drop from tee to green
Course opens: May 21-Oct. 17 Red: 5,390 yards 70.3 135 City: Española Grass: Greens, bentgrass;
18-hole rates (including Gold: 5,208 yards, 65.1 124 Phone: 505-747-8946 fairways, Kentucky bluegrass
range balls, golf cart) vary by Course tips: This challenging Address: 115 N.M. 399 (U.S. Year opened: 2003
season (see below) course has water on 16 holes. 84/285 toward Taos from Santa
Shoulder season: May 21- Other services: Teeing area,
The course rewards accuracy Fe, then take N.M. 399 west.)
June 17, Sept. 7- Oct. 17 target greens, instruction and
off the tee and accurate Web site:
Shoulder, any week day: practice facility. Practice range,
approach shots to small greens. www.blackmesagolfclub.com
$65, $59 resort, includes cart all-grass driving range, free
Mountainous: 8,100 feet above E-mail: info@
In-season, any day of the practice chipping and putting
sea level, tough to walk. blackmesagolfclub.com
week: June 18-Sept. 6 area
Summer season: $85, $77 Open: Daily, dawn to dusk,
BLACK MESA GOLF CLUB Club rental: TaylorMade, $55 a
resort weather permitting
set, includes golf tees
Twilight: $45 shoulder Director: Tom Velarde Advance tee times: 14 days
Assistant professional: Walking allowed: Yes Food availability: Short-order
and $53
Yardage, rating and slope: Heath Wade Credit cards accepted: food, full bar
Blue: 6,660 yards 71.1 137 Layout: 18 holes, desert links All major credit cards Signature hole: No. 16
White: 6,319 yards 69.6 133 Classification: Public, resort Course designer: Baxter Spann 18-hole rates (cart included):
14 - Golfing 2010
PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN ADAMS
Shown here is Hole 8’s green on the Gene Torres New Mexico Highlands University Golf Course, which is surrounded by tall,
native grasses that line the fairways.

Weekends and holidays: $87 Clubhouse manager: Wayne Ueckert instruction


Weekdays: $82 Layout: Modified parkland/desert links Club rental: TaylorMade, $30
Black Mesa Golf Association members save Classification: Public Food availability: La Piedra Grill
about $25 per round in return for $100 City: Las Vegas, N.M. Signature hole: No. 8; par 5, requires
annual membership Phone: 505-425-7711 an angled approach between two large
Yardage, rating and slope: Address: Country Club Drive, Las Vegas, mounds to the green.
Black: 7,300 yards 73.9 141 NM 87701: Mailing address: P.O. Box 9000, 9-hole rates (cart not included)
Blue: 6,700 yards 70.5 136 Las Vegas, N.M. 87701 Seven days a week: $15
White: 6,300 yards 68.6 130 Web site: www.nmhu.edu Seniors (60 and older): $12
Green: 5,800 yards 71.2 125 Open: March 1-Nov. 30, weather Juniors (17 and under): $7
Gold: 5,200 yards 66.9 125 permitting 18-hole rate (cart not included)
Course tips: Bring your short game for this Advance tee times: 14 days, walk-ins Seven days a week: $25
golf course, rated as the Best New Course welcome Seniors (60 and older): $20
to Open in the United States in 2003, and Walking allowed: Yes Juniors (17 and under): $12
still among Golf Digest’s top 100 public Credit cards accepted: All major Twilight all days at applicable nine-hole
courses in the United States. Be prepared credit cards rate
for some wild putting. Course designer: Jeffrey Brauer Cart fees: 18 holes, $14 per person;
Grass: greens, Bentgrass; fairways, nine holes/twilight: $8
GENE TORRES NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS Kentucky bluegrass; rough, fine fescue Yardage, rating and slope:
UNIVERSITY GOLF COURSE Year opened: 2008 (after redesign) Men: Par 72 (play nine-hole course twice)
General manager/director of golf: Other services: Putting and pitching Black: 7,080 yards 71.4 125
David Kurtz greens, driving range, club rental, pro shop, Gold: 6,772 yards 70.2 122
2010 Golfing - 15
2010 GOLF COURSE LISTINGS
Blue: 6,380 yards 68.2 119
White: 6,036 yards 66.6 114
Women: Par 72
White: 6,036 yards 72.0 127
Red: 5,218 yards 67.2 121
Course tips: This links course
with tall, native grasses off the
fairways places a premium on
shot placement and driving
accuracy and the ability to
adapt to changing winds,
especially in the spring.

LOS ALAMOS GOLF COURSE


Head professional:
Donnie Torres
Golf course manager:
Steve Lickliss
Assistant professionals:
Michael Phillips, Kenny Walker
Layout: Mountain
Classification: Public
City: Los Alamos
Phone: 505-662-8139
Address: 4250 Diamond Drive
Web site:
www.losalamosgolfcourse.com
E-mail:
donald.torres@lacnm.us
Open: Daily, call for hours
of service COURTESY PHOTO
Advance tee times: One day Scenic Hole 13 at Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe, a par 5 that seems to play longer than the
in advance for weekday times. 550 yards from the back tees, is ranked as the sixth hardest on the course.
Tuesday, beginning at 7 p.m.
before the weekend you wish 18 holes, weekdays (Monday- White: 5,500 yards 64.7 108 Classification: Public
to play Thursday) $31.50 weekends: Women’s white: 5,500 yards City: Santa Fe
Walking allowed: Yes $33.50 69.0 123 Phone: 505-955-4400
Credit cards accepted: Nine holes weekdays $19; Red: 5,200 yards 67.1 120 Address: 205 Caja del Rio Road
Visa and MasterCard only weekends: $20 Course tips: This is not your (near N.M. 599 and Caja del Rio
Course designer: Seniors rates: Mon.-Thurs., typical mountain course. Road — one mile north of the
William Tucker 10 a.m.-1 p.m. only There’s lots of room. The Santa Fe Animal Shelter)
Grass: Greens, bentgrass; 18 holes: $34.50 (includes Jemez Mountains and the Valle Web site: www.linksdesantafe.
fairways, Kentucky bluegrass cart), Nine holes: $20 (includes Caldera serve as backdrops. com
Year opened: 1947 cart) Small greens are hard to hit but Open: Daily, dawn to dusk,
Other services: Lessons for 18 holes: $24 (without cart), easy to one-putt. Like so much weather permitting
adults, junior groups and Nine holes: $14 (without cart) about Los Alamos, this golf Advance tee times: seven days
private. Tournaments and Children (under 18): 18 holes course has remained a well- Walking allowed: Yes
special events weekdays, $14.70, weekends, kept secret. Credit cards accepted: All
Club rental: 18 holes, $26.25; $15.75; Nine holes: $9.45 any major cards
nine holes, $19 day MARTY SANCHEZ Course designer:
Pull-cart rental: 18 holes, $6; Cart fees: 18 holes $14.75 per LINKS DE SANTA FE Baxter Spann
9 holes, $3 player; nine holes, $8.50 per Head professional: Ross Nettles Grass: Greens, bentgrass;
Food availability: Full-service player Assistant professionals: fairways, bluegrass and fescue
snack bar Practice range: $7, $3.50, $1.75 Tom Watts Year opened: 1998
Signature hole: No. 17 Yardage, rating and slope: Layout: Championship 18, Other services: Two putting
18-hole and nine-hole rates, Men’s gold: 6,700 yards 71.2 124 modified desert links; par-3 and pitching greens, practice
(cart not included): Blue: 6,500 yards 69.7 120 nine-hole course, parkland. and sand bunker, driving
16 - Golfing 2010
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2010 Golfing - 17
2010 GOLF COURSE LISTINGS

COURTESY PHOTO
Hole 21 (the Wreckage) at Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club, is a par 4 that plays 448 yards from the black tees, the furthest back of the
10 boxes to tee off.

range, professional shop, instruction 18-hole course: PGA professional: Bob Basham
Club rental: Cobra, $20 Gold: 7,415 yards 73.0 129 Layout: 27 holes, mountain, modified
Food availability: Beer and wine bar, grill Black: 6,735 yards 70.3 123 desert links
and on-course food cart Blue: 6,095 yards 67.5 117 Classification: Public
Signature hole: No. 18. When driving off White: 5,540 yards 70.7 136 City: Sandia Park
the tee, keep to the right of the fairway to Red: 5,045 yards 67.0 126 Phone: 505-281-6000
have a decent shot to water- and bunker- 9-hole course (not rated) Address: 1 Clubhouse Drive, half a mile
defended finishing hole Gold: 1,615 yards west of N.M. 14, nine miles north of
18-hole rate (carts not included): Black: 1,475 yards Interstate 40, 35 miles south of Santa Fe
Weekdays $32.75, weekends $35 Blue: 1,320 yards Web site: www.paakoridge.com
Players Club cardholders: Weekdays White: 1,200 yards E-mail: webinfo@paakoridge.com
$24.25, weekends $26.25 Red: 1,030 yards Open: Daily, March 1-Nov. 30, dawn to
Nine-hole rate for the “Great 28” par 3 Course tips: Santa Fe’s high elevation dusk, weather permitting
course: Weekdays $16, weekends $18.25 makes for longer drives than at sea Advance tee times: One month in
Seniors (60 and older): $25.50 walking, level. Stick to the fairways. Greens are advance (a month plus seven days for Paa-
$23 with cart weekdays (Mon.-Fri.); deceptively subtle. No. 18 is one of the Ko lot owners). Further in advance, with
weekends $35.25 with cart state’s great finishing holes. $10 pre-booking fee
Juniors: 18 holes, weekdays $12.75, Walking allowed: Yes
weekends $14.75 PAA-KO RIDGE GOLF CLUB Credit cards accepted: Major credit cards
Cart fees: 18 holes $16; nine holes $9 Superintendent/general manager: Course designer: Ken Dye
Yardage, rating and slope: Rob Murray Grass: Greens, bentgrass; fairways,
18 - Golfing 2010
Kentucky bluegrass
Year opened: 2000
Other services: Putting
greens, driving range, chipping
and pitching green, practice
bunker, instructions
Club rental: Premium Cobra,
$40
Food availability: Restaurant
(snack bar, full bar) and on-
course food cart.
Signature hole: No. 17. Drive
it between the two ponderosas
framing the fairway. There’s
room to the right for shorter
hitters to avoid the arroyo on
the left. The ideal line is toward
the right greenside bunker.
The green slopes away when
approached from the right
side. The left side offers the
better angle.
Green fees (carts and warm-
up range balls included)
18 hole rate: Mon.-Thurs. $89;
Fri.-Sun., holidays, $114
Nine-hole rate: Mon.-Thurs.,
$40
Seniors (60 and older): COURTESY PHOTO
Mon.-Thurs., $59 Hole 6 is one of the scenic holes at Pendaries Golf Course.
Twilight, after 2 p.m. every
day: $59 will enhance your enjoyment All major credit cards Red: 5,021 yards 67.1 121
Children (17 and under): of this scenic golf course, a Course designer: Don Burns Course tips: You must hit
$12; if with paying adult, one true New Mexico gem and one Grass: greens, bentgrass; the ball straight to have any
child plays free an hour before of just 26 in the nation given fairways, Kentucky bluegrass chance for par. Don’t get too
twilight with paying adult a 5-star rating by Golf Digest. Year opened: 1972 eager with your tee shots. Keep
Cart fees: 18 holes $20, nine The Zagat survey calls this golf Other services: Putting and the ball below the hole. And
holes $10 course “extraordinary.” pitching greens, driving range, enjoy the views.
Practice range per half-hour: club rental, professional shop,
$8 PENDARIES GOLF COURSE instruction PUEBLO DE COCHITI
Yardage, rating and slope: Head professional: Club rental: $15 GOLF COURSE
Original 18 holes (built in 2000) Larry Webb Food availability: Restaurant, Director of golf: Jude Suina
Black: 7,562 yards 75.2 137 Assistant professional: snack bar and full bar Layout: 18 holes, modified
Blue: 7,195 yards 73.1 134 Suzy Veylupek Signature hole: No. 1; desert, target-style
Green: 6,707 yards 70.7 130 Layout: 18 holes, mountain Requires a long approach shot Classification: Public
Brown: 6,210 yards 68.6 122 Classification: Resort, public to a tiny green. City: Pueblo de Cochiti
Gray: 5,702 yards 66.1 119 City: Rociada 18-hole rates (cart not Phone: 505-465-2239,
Third 9 holes (built in 2005) Phone: 505-425-3561 or included): Mon.-Thurs., $45; 465-2230
Black: 3,842 yards 1-800-733-5267 Fri.-Sun., $55 Address: 5200 Cochiti
Blue: 3,708 yards Address: 1 Golf Drive, N.M. 9-hole rates: Mon.-Thurs., $25; Highway (From south, take
Green: 3,492 yards 105, at the entrance to Fri.-Sun., $30; juniors, 17 and Interstate 25 north to Exit 259,
Brown: 3,256 yards Pendaries Village younger, all day $10 go west on N.M. 22 and follow
Gray: 3,020 yards Web site: www.pendaries.net Twilight rates (including signs to course. From north,
Course tips: Driver is not E-mail: pendaries@wildblue. cart): Mon.-Thurs., $40, take I-25 south to Exit 264, go
always the best option from net Fri.-Sun., $47 west on N.M. 16, turn right on
the tee. The course doesn’t Open: April 16-Oct. 15. Cart fees: 18 holes $15 per N.M. 22 and follow signs to
play as long as the yardages Advance tee times: All person; 9 holes $8 course).
indicate. Talk to the starter seasons Yardage, rating and slope: Web site: www.
about your tee choice. Playing Walking allowed: Yes Black: 6,550 yards 67.9 121 golfcochititoday.com
the right tees for your ability Credit cards accepted: White: 5,810 yards 66.4 116 Open: Open year-round;
2010 Golfing - 19
2010 GOLF COURSE LISTINGS

COURTESY PHOTO
The par 4 Hole 6, on the Cheena course at Santa Ana Golf Club, can be challenging at 375 yards, especially up around the green.

weather permitting, seven days a week Practice range, driving range, short-game Web site: www.santaanagolf.com
during summer. practice area, putting green, tournament E-mail: info@santaanagolf.com
Advance tee times: 14 days services Open: Daily, sunrise to sunset, year-round;
Walking allowed: Yes Yardage, rating and slope: closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
Credit cards accepted: Major cards Gold: 6,817 yards 71.0 132 Advance tee times: Seven days
Course designer: Robert Trent Jones Jr. Blue: 6,413 yards 68.6 128 Walking allowed: Yes
Grass: Greens, Penncross bentgrass; White: 5,841 yards 66.1 119 Credit cards accepted: Major credit cards
fairways, Kentucky bluegrass Red: 5,100 yards 68.3 113 Course designer: Ken Killian
Year opened: 1981 Course tips: Players on this course will Grass: Greens, bentgrass; fairways,
Other services: Putting and pitching benefit more from accuracy than length, Kentucky bluegrass
green, practice and driving range, and by being able to play on uneven lies. Year opened: 1991
professional instruction If you miss the turfed area you’ll probably Other services: Two putting and pitching
Club rental: Nike, $35. find your ball among sand, cactus, piñon greens, practice sand bunker, driving
Food availability: Restaurant, bar and grill, and small boulders, but you likely won’t range, club rental, Professional shop,
beverage cart. like the next shot. instructions
Signature hole: No. 9, a panoramic uphill Club rental: TaylorMade, $35
dogleg par 4. SANTA ANA GOLF CLUB Food availability: Restaurant and snack
Green fees (cart included): bar, grill
New Mexico residents: Mon.-Thurs., Head professional: Dave Brown Signature hole: Cheena, No. 6. Par 4, 375
$52, Weekends, $67; Senior rates: $35 Director: Roger Martinez yards, dogleg over water against dramatic
(weekdays only) Layout: 27 holes, modified desert links Sandia Mountain backdrop
Out-of-state residents: Add $5 to green Classification: Public Green fees (cart not included):
fees City: Santa Ana Pueblo 18 holes: Mon.-Thurs., $36; Fri.-Sun. and
Annual memberships available: Call for Phone: 505-867-9464 holidays, $46
details. Periodic specials: Call for details. Address: 288 Prairie Star Road Nine holes: Mon.-Thurs. $21; Fri.-Sun.,
20 - Golfing 2010
COURTESY PHOTO
Towa Golf Club has three nine-hole courses for your enjoyment; the Boulder 9, Piñon 9 and Valley 9.

holidays, $23 Layout: 18 holes, mix of modified desert (summer), full bar for members, vending
Seniors: Mon.-Thurs., $29; Sat.-Sun., $39 links and parkland machines
Children, 17 and under: $20 Classification: Semi-private Signature hole: No. 12. This par 3 calls for
Cart fees: 18 holes $15 City: Santa Fe a mid- to long-iron uphill approach to a
Yardage, rating and slope: Because Phone: 505-471-0601 well-guarded, undulating green
Santa Ana has 27 holes, offering three Address: 4360 Country Club Road Rates (cart not included)
nine-hole combinations, the rating and Web site: www.santafecountryclub.com 18 holes: Weekdays $33, twilight $20;
slope of the combinations varies. Yardages E-mail: davidnowell@ weekends, $44, twilight $28
range from 4,936 yards to 7,298 yards. santafecountryclub.com Nine holes: Weekdays, $17, weekends, $23
The rating and slope range from 67.3 and Open: Tuesday-Sunday, dawn to dusk, Seniors: Weekdays, $24, weekends, $34
118 to 74.1 and 135. weather permitting Children: Junior rate $10
Course tips: Accuracy is more important Advance tee times: Seven days Cart fees: 18 holes $16, nine holes $10
than length on this layout with lots of Credit cards accepted: Major cards Practice range, driving range, short-game
native areas and some forced carries. Try to Course designer: Tom Bendalow practice area, putting green
stay below the hole on approach. Grass: Greens, bentgrass; fairways, Yardage, rating and slope:
Kentucky bluegrass Gold : 7,113 yards 72.0 126
SANTA FE COUNTRY CLUB Year opened: 1941 Blue: 6,832 yards 70.9 123
Head professional/manager: Other services: Driving range, short-game White: 6,321 yards 68.4 120
David Nowell practice area, putting green Black: 5,861 yards 66.4 114
Assistant professional: Kirk Mackie Food availability: Restaurant, snack bar Red: 5,498 yards 70.1 126
2010 Golfing - 21
2010 GOLF COURSE LISTINGS
Course tips: The course’s open
layout and small greens make
for a challenging game. Keep
to the fairways and avoid the
trees. It’s a traditional-style
course with quick, smooth
greens.

TAOS COUNTRY CLUB


Head professional: Tad Bourg
General manager: Tad Bourg
Layout: 18 holes, modified
desert links
Classification: Semi-private
City: Ranchos de Taos
Phone: 575-758-7300
Address: 54 Golf Course Drive,
Ranchos de Taos
Web site: www.
taoscountryclub.com
Open: Daily, dawn to dusk,
weather permitting
Advance tee times: Up to two
NEW MEXICAN FILE PHOTO
weeks with credit card
Walking allowed: Yes High elevation will help shorter hitters at the Taos Country Club.
Credit cards accepted:
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, instruction Advance tee times: Seven Blue: 3,088 yards 34.2 132
American Express Yardage, rating and slope: days. Call for tee time White: 2,678 yards 32.5 114
Course designer: Jep Willie Black: 7,302 yards 73.6 132 Walking allowed: Yes Red: 2,442 yards 34.4 124
Grass: Greens, bentgrass; Blue: 6,817 yards 71.4 131 Credit cards accepted: Major Piñon 9
fairways, bluegrass and rye; White: 6,123 yards 68.4 125 cards Gold: 3,585 yards 36.5 131
rough, fescue Green: 5,343 yards 64.5 114 Course designer: Hale Irwin Black: 3,364 yards 35.3 127
Course age: 18 years Course tip: High elevation and William Phillips Blue: 3,126 yards 34.1 123
Other services: Putting adds nearly 10 percent Grass: Greens, bentgrass; White: 2,849 yards 32.7 112
and pitching green, practice distance. Stay out of the knee- fairways, Kentucky bluegrass Red: 2,423 yards 32.6 113
sand bunker, driving range, deep sage forest off the turfed Course age: 8 years Valley 9
professional shop and PGA areas and you’ll score. Other services: Driving range Gold: 3,377 yards 35.0 123
instruction and short-game practice areas Black: 3,157 yards 33.8 122
Club rental: $30 TOWA GOLF RESORT Club rental: Nike, $45 Blue: 2,908 yards 32.7 117
Food availability: Restaurant, Golf director: Linda Howell Food availability: Restaurant, White: 2,714 yards 30.5 109
snack shop, full bar, on-course Head professional: full bar and on-course Red: 2,319 yards 32.3 112
food and beverage cart Steve Moreno beverage cart
Signature hole: No. 8 Layout: 27 holes, modified Signature hole: No. 4. Keep TWIN WARRIORS GOLF CLUB
Rates (cart not included): desert links your ball dry on the state’s only Head professional:
18 holes May 1-Oct. 15: Classification: Public/Resort true island green. Derek C. Gutierrez
Weekedays (Mon.-Thurs.) City: Santa Fe Course tips: Try to keep your Tournament director:
$62; weekends (Fri.-Sun.) $72 Phone: 505-455-9000; focus on the game, not scenery. Zach Hoefel
18 holes, fall season: $43, 877-465-3489 Green fees: $79 weekdays, $84 Assistant: Ron Ulibarri
weekday; weekends (Fri.-Sun.) Address: 40 Buffalo Thunder weekends Teaching professional:
$48 Trail, Santa Fe, about 12 miles Seniors rates available Sandy Lemon
Nine holes: vary by season, north of the Plaza off U.S. (60 and over): Mon.-Thurs. Director of golf:
time of day 85/284 Practice range, driving range, Roger Martinez
Cart fees: Weekdays and Web site: www.towagolf.com short game practice area Layout: 18 holes
weekends $15 per person E-mail: Linda.howell@hilton. Yardage, rating and slope: Classification: Resort, public
Practice range, putting and com Boulder 9 City: Santa Ana Pueblo
practice greens, practice sand Open: Daily, dawn to dusk, Gold: 3,558 yards 36.6 141 Phone: 505-771-6155
bunker, driving range, PGA weather permitting Black: 3,297 yards 35.2 136 Address: 1301 Tuyuna Trail,
22 - Golfing 2010
COURTESY PHOTO
Twin Warriors’ 16th hole has an up-and-down fairway that plays at 648 yards from the back tees. The large undulating green can be
difficult when the pin is placed in the front or back.

Santa Ana Pueblo Rates, include cart and range balls: U.S. 64
Web site: www.mynewmexicogolf.com New Mexico residents, weekdays Open: Daily, dawn to dusk, May-October.
E-mail: derek@santaanagolf.com (Mon.-Thurs.) $69 Course opens May 15
Open: Hours vary throughout the year due New Mexico resident, weekends, Walking allowed: Yes
to seasonal changes. Contact the golf shop (Fri.-Sun.) $79 Credit cards accepted: Yes
for current hours of operation. Twilight after 2 p.m. $39 Course designer: Paulson
Advance tee times: seven days Practice range: Daily practice facility Grasses: Greens, bentgrass and poa annua;
Walking allowed: Yes pass $25 fairways, native grasses
Credit cards accepted: All major cards Yardage, rating and slope: Year opened: 1964
Course designer: Gary Panks Tour: 7,736 yards 75.0 130 Other services: Driving net, putting green
Grass: Greens, dominant bent SR 1019 Champ: 7,284 yards 73.0 134 Club rental: $5 a day
and SR 1020; fairways and tees, hybrid Back: 6,914 yards 71.5 131 Food availability: Snack bar, full bar
bluegrass; roughs, bluegrass/fescue mix Resort: 6,131 yards 68.2 123 Signature hole: No. 8; this 276-yard par
Year opened: 2001 Back: 6,131 yards 74.6 134 (Women) 4 is a downhill shot into prevailing winds
Other services: Putting greens, driving Forward: 5,100 yards 71.3 126 (Women) requires accuracy.
range, professional shop and instruction All-day rate (cart not included): $25;
Club rental: TaylorMade or Nike, $50 VALLE ESCONDIDO $10 for children under 12
Food availability: Restaurant and Head Professional/manager: Pull cart: $5, no motorized carts
beverage cart Baxter Laymance Yardage, rating and slope:
Signature hole: No. 4, a par 3 behind a Layout: Nine holes, mountain White: 2,795 yards 65.2 104
large lake flanked on the left by a series Classification: Semi-private Red: 2,329 yards 65.0 112
of ponds and waterfalls. A single bunker Nearest city: Taos Course tips: Nice family-oriented golf
off to the right will corral many balls. An Phone: 575-758-3475 course 12 miles east of the Taos Plaza
imaginative short game will come in handy. Address: Between Angel Fire and Taos on Note: The clubhouse opens in mid-May.
2010 Golfing - 23
Questa
38 Red River

Golf courses 18

Taos Country Club Taos


434
9 64
Ghost Ranch Angel Fire 18
Valle Escondido
Angel Fire Country
Counrty Club
Pilar
84

Embudo 68
Abiquiú

Española 442
18
18 La Cueva
Black Mesa
Los Alamos 18
Pojoaque 9
27
502 Pendaries
Whispering
GolfPines
Course 94
Los Alamos 84 Rociada
Towa Run
Quail Golf Resort
285
Tesuque Pendaries A4A
36
9 Sapello
Las Campanas
Quail Run
18 518
9 Santa Fe 18

18
Cochiti Lake Marty Sanchez
Santa Fe Country Club

Pueblo de Cochiti
Cochití
Pecos Las Vegas
16 25

14
27 25

18 Santa Ana Madrid

Twin Warriors

Bernalillo
Golden
18
27

PAA-KORidge
PAA-KO Ridge
Map not
to scale Sandia Park The New Mexican

24 - Golfing 2010
2010 Golfing - 25
26 - Golfing 2010
A golfer’s dream. . .
The most exciting resort in New Mexico offers an incredible Hilton golf experience you
won’t soon forget. Set against the breathtaking Santa Fe high mountain desert, the
lush course beckons. Designed by PGA legend Hale Irwin and master architect
Bill Phillips, the Towa Golf Club at Buffalo Thunder is the place to play.
This is Santa Fe’s Playground - come play with us!

7RZD*ROI&OXE
505.455.9000 | 800. H I LT O N S | B u ff a l o T h u n d e r R e s o r t . c o m
gaming | hotel | fine dining | spa | golf | nightclub
Located 15 minutes north of the Santa Fe Plaza on Highway 84/285

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