New Mexico- Santa Ana Pueplo?

duffer987 · November 13, 2013

Returned from New Mexico last night after an enjoyable long weekend
Played 36 at Paa-Ko Ridge, 18 at Black Mesa, and 36 at UNM Championship Course. $185 for 5 rounds of golf?! Yes we will be coming back!

Paa-Ko - as challenging the first time playing it as people said. With the afternoon round, when we adapted the - if you're unsure off the tee hit a hybrid strategy - the scores dropped. Still both rounds were great fun. Unfortunately we did not get to play it in its standard 1-18 sequence (we played 19-27/1-9 and 10-18/1-9), which much like listening to an album out of sequence means you have not experienced it as the artist/designer intended. That said, each hole had at least one element of interest and none of them felt like a throwaway. The par 3s as a group, must have been the longest we've encountered on our trips this year, even accounting for the altitude help, we hit more club into them than anywhere else. There can be no doubt this is a Top 100 selection and should remain one.

Black Mesa - this is a real interesting course. I have not played a course that has been routed in a desertscape such as this. The combination of the routing of the holes and the less than good maintenance, created the sense of the holes really sprouting out of the ground, as opposed to being manufactured in any way. The greens weren't nearly as silly as some of the reviews found around the interweb would lead you to believe; however, it isn't in the best of shape. We also got the sense it really is just ticking over. The grill wasn't open on a Sunday and there was no water on the course, the fridge in the pro shop looked like it'd been looted, and I doubt the whole facility had more than 5 people working on the day. We were happy we drove up to play it, but we left asking the question: how long can this course survive?

UNM - what an absolute cracking golf course. Of the three we played, this would be the one we'd choose to be a member at. While not super old, it still had that great traditional feel to it that the other two lacked. Quick greens, proper rough, and a smattering of trees really accentuated that feel. That you can also go from the course to returning your car hire in 3 mins didn't hurt either.

La Cumbre brewery made for a great Friday night, and managed to sample some other local microbrews as well. If the lads are looking for a place to go and play top notch golf, drink and eat, and not break the bank. This is a great part of North America to visit

fore_life · November 13, 2013

I'm surprised more people don't visit NM for golf, the quality of golf there really is outstanding, and while some options can be a little pricey, it doesn't come close to some other options around the country. For example, I think as a resident of AZ with the wekopass, I think Wekopa is $85? Paako maxes out at $115, and IMO paa Ko is so much better. I think replay/all you can play is $30 more. When I played it at twilight (2pm) it was $55 or $65 and I would've easily had time to finish 36.

What other breweries did you try? La Cumbre was my favorite overall, marble is solid, and sante Fe was ok too. If you ever go back, chec out the alberquerque trolley company and their brewery tour, beers are included and you hit most of them.

Ninja · November 16, 2013

[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1384353080' post='8142318']IMO paa Ko is so much better.[/quote]

This concerns me....just played Paa-Ko Ridge for $40 a couple weeks ago and now booked for We-Ko-Pa paying full rack rate. :swoon2:

duffer987 · November 16, 2013

[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1384353080' post='8142318']
I'm surprised more people don't visit NM for golf, the quality of golf there really is outstanding, and while some options can be a little pricey, it doesn't come close to some other options around the country. For example, I think as a resident of AZ with the wekopass, I think Wekopa is $85? Paako maxes out at $115, and IMO paa Ko is so much better. I think replay/all you can play is $30 more. When I played it at twilight (2pm) it was $55 or $65 and I would've easily had time to finish 36.

What other breweries did you try? La Cumbre was my favorite overall, marble is solid, and sante Fe was ok too. If you ever go back, chec out the alberquerque trolley company and their brewery tour, beers are included and you hit most of them.
[/quote]

Ya the value is great. You can hack and not think, great I just payed $200/round to fill a scorecard with bogeys like in a lot of other places.
La Cumbre is great, just the right size tasting room, good selection (they even had a cask ale on ) and a food truck. What's not to like.
Along with Marble, also since we were staying Uptown we went to this ABQ pub, which served all of Rio Grande & Sierra Blanca's offerings on tap. The place was what you'd expect for a 'brew pub' in a strip mall, but they did flights, so it made it easy to get through a good amount without getting buckled.

tesuquegolfer · November 20, 2013

Glad to hear a good time was had. I consider myself fortunate to have such great affordable courses within an hour of my home in SF. I played PaaKo on Friday a couple of weeks ago at 12:30 twilight and paid about ~$45 including a free burger and soda. The course was still in great shape and PaaKo is always a treat. I also played Twin Warriors north of ABQ about 15 minutes and it too was in good shape. I played for free there as part of the rewards program I signed up for yielding a couple fo free rounds. Also played Sandia which is my home course. Some say it is a typical resort type course and isn't as challenging as Twin, PaaKo, or Black Mesa but I find enough challenge and it doesn't beat the crap out of you like the others can. I have played just as well over the years at all of them as a 4.2 index (?). So, to each their own but I can tell you that few are disappointed with the ones mention based on value.

I get over to Phoenix and play in the winter and it pains me greatly to have to pay $150 plus. I usually play WeKoPa or Eagle Mountain as they give me a great reciprocal rate with Sandia as they are managed by OB Sports and I join the Sandia club each year. I have saved $300 for 4 rounds of golf in Phoenix by having that card. It is hard for me to play anywhere other than OB courses based on the savings.