Paako Ridge Golf Club
It’s called the Land of Enchantment for a reason. From the artsy community of Santa Fe and the mountains of both northern and southern part of the state, to the gypsum sands of White Sands National Monument and desert landscapes near Las Cruces, New Mexico offers all kinds of terrain and culture.
That diversity and beauty, of course, is reflected in its golf offerings, from the incredible Sandia Mountains course of Paa Ko Ridge to the classic desert layouts of courses like Twin Warriors in the mile-high city of Albuquerque.
Here’s a look at 10 of our favorite public golf experiences in New Mexico with a few more recommendations at the end. Some are at resorts, and some are terrific values. In any case, we highly recommend a New Mexico golf vacation whether you’ve been there before or not.
Paako Ridge Golf Club, Sandia Park
Consistently ranked as the best public golf course in New Mexico, Paako Ridge is as much an experience as it is a round of golf. Laid out at more than 6,500 feet in elevation, the 27 holes of Paako Ridge are carved through the Juniper Forest of the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque, with one stunning hole after another. Because of the elevation, you can expect the ball to fly as well, which is good, considering how long many of the holes are.
The original 18 holes were designed by Houston-area architect Ken Dye, of Finger-Dye-Spann. But if you can, you’ll certainly want to make a day of it and play all three nines. It’s peaceful, challenging, and incredibly gorgeous.
Paako Ridge
Black Mesa Golf Club, Espanola
Located just north of Santa Fe, Black Mesa runs through sandstone ridges and moon-like rock formations, with the namesake Black Mesa visible from much of the golf course. It’s full of elevation changes, including a couple of highly elevated tees, with no homes.
The course was designed by Baxter Spann, who was part of that team with Paa-Ko-Ridge designer Ken Dye and the late Joe Finger. Spann said it was probably the most dramatic landscape he has ever had as a canvas. The par 5s are particularly stunning. The 16th, named “Stairway to Seven,” is a great risk reward hole at 536 yards from the tips. But if you don’t make it and miss left, you can find yourself on the rocks – literally.
Black Mesa Golf Club
Pinon Hills Golf Course, Farmington
Still one of the best municipal golf courses in the country and at a bargain price, Pinon Hills is a real gem if you happen to find yourself in northwest New Mexico or even southwest Colorado, where it would definitely be worth the drive.
Ken Dye, who also did the original 18 holes at Paa-Ko Ridge, created it. It has incredible mountain views, great conditioning, one imaginative hole after another. Locals really get a bargain there, but even visitors who don’t live in the four-corners states can play this course – which would be $200-plus in many other parts of the country – for just $65. There are even nine-hole rates, but really, you’ll want to play all 18.
Pinon Hills Golf Course
Twin Warriors Golf Club, Santa Ana Pueblo
Named after the two warriors who led the Santa Ana people to settle along the bands of the Rio Grande, this Gary Panks design is a beautiful desert layout that pays homage to 20 ancient cultural sites along the course. The 7,700-yard course is routed along grassy knolls and ridges with plenty of Juniper and Pinon pine trees.
Many of the holes require carries over arroyos. The course also plays against the backdrop of a sacred butte known as Tuyuna, or “Snakehead,” against the backdrop of the Sandia Mountains.
Twin Warriors Golf Club
Championship Course at University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Home to the New Mexico Lobos men’s and women’s golf teams, of course, this classic layout, which measures more than 7,500 yards from the back tees, has played host to lots of prestigious tournaments. Those events included the William H. Tucker Invitational collegiate tournament, which has featured the top programs from around the country for the last 70 years and has been played on the Championship Course for decades.
As for the course, it was designed by Red Lawrence and debuted in 1967. It features generous fairways to highly undulating greens. The desert can definitely come into play on stray shots. Set on a ridge overlooking downtown Albuquerque, the views are magnificent.
Championship Course at University of New Mexico
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces
A terrific and very playable parkland course, the New Mexico State Golf Course has a nice variety of holes, some elevation change, and a variety of obstacles in a very pleasant environment. The course is flanked by the Organ Mountains to the east and the Mesilla Valley to the west,
Opened in 1963, the 7,040-yard Floyd Farley design has a storied history. It played host to three NCAA National Championship tournaments along with a number of USGA qualifiers. A number of improvements have been made in the last 20 years, including a new clubhouse, and renovations to the course, including revamping the bunkers, tee boxes, and practice facilities.
Sandia Golf Club, Albuquerque
Part of the Sandia Resort and Casino, Sandi Golf Club is a quality experience in every way. At 7,752 yards, it’s the longest course in New Mexico, but fortunately there are six sets of tees, so it’s playable by all. Opened in 2005, this Scott Miller design has one terrific hole after another through the high desert with dramatic views of the Sandia Mountains and the city of Albuquerque below.
While it’s a desert course, the immediate areas surrounding the grass are “groomed” desert, which means you’ll likely find your ball and be able to play it. Overall, it’s just a great resort experience with a great clubhouse, golf shop, restaurant and practice facilities.
Sandia Golf Club
Angel Fire (NM) Golf Resort
If you want to hit your longest drives possible, check out Angel Fire Resort Golf Course in the northeast part of the state. At an elevation of 8,700 feet, if you can launch it, the ball seems to never come down. Of course, you’ll have to reconfigure all your irons yardages, but you’ll have a blast doing it on this 6,645-yard par-72 layout.
There are some elevated tees, too, most notably, the 200-yard par-3 sixth hole, where the green is about 200 feet below the tee. As for the rest of the course, it runs through valleys and mountain meadows with water in play on 16 holes.
Angel Fire Golf Resort
Marty Sanchez Golf Links, Santa Fe
Another Baxter Spann design, this is a real under-the-radar golf course that anyone traveling in the Santa Fe area should consider. This 7,400-yard municipal layout is very playable, enjoyable, and has great views. The fairways are long and shaped to hold your ball, with manageable mid-sized greens.
The course was named in honor of marty Sanchez, a young accomplished golfer who tragically passed away from cancer at age 24 in 1991.
Rockwind Community Links, Hobbs
Another outstanding New Mexico municipal course, Rockwind Community Lakes is a tremendous value. If you find yourself in the Panhandle of Texas or in eastern New Mexico, it’s well worth the effort to get there.
Opened in 2015, Rockwind, which is located in the High Plains, was designed by architect Andy Staples. It can play more than 7,100 yards from the tips. The course has five par 3s, five par 5s, and generous fairways, and large greens. Rockwind also has a par-3 course, outstanding practice facilities, and a large clubhouse with a dining room and well-stocked golf shop.
Rockwind Community Links
Some other considerations
It’s always difficult to come up with a top 10 list, so here are a few others we considered and might be worth checking out.
Conchita Golf Club, which is in between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, is an interesting Robert Trent Jones Jr. design situated among the foothills of Jemez Mountains.
There are a couple of courses in the Las Cruces area worth consideration. Sonoma Ranch Golf Club and Red Hawk Golf Club both have fun layouts that will test you, especially from the back tees and when it’s windy.
Towa Golf Resort in northern New Mexico has three nine-hole layouts by Hale Irwin with dramatic elevation changes, elevated tees, and plenty of mountain scenery.