PAA-KO RIDGE G.C. PHOTOS ADDED

[BENNYSUPREME]

Has anyone played this course. Is it worth the 4.5 hour driver from El Paso. It is rated top 100 (41) public courses in America to play.

[puttnforthe8]

yes! and YES!!!

Plus, you can play Twin Warriors(or Sandia) and have a great trip!

[OspreyCI]

[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1369793231' post='7124738']
yes! and YES!!!

Plus, you can play Twin Warriors(or Sandia) and have a great trip!
[/quote]
Strongly 2nd that! MUST play Paako, then Twin, then Sandia...in that order...Or go reverse so the best isn't first!!

[fore_life]

+3 hell yes it is worth it


Also I'd pick UNM over Sandia IMO

[BENNYSUPREME]

Thanks for the help. UNM is a must for me while I'm here.

[fore_life]

Take some pictures please of Paa Ko!

[BENNYSUPREME]

Always, I'm not sure when I will make my way there. Heck, if any one live in the area also, maybe we could plan a day or something.

[Seattle_Maslow]

Check out Cochiti. It's a really fun layout.

[Neurotica]

Then eat dinner at Sadie's. Best NM food in ABQ IMHO.

[puttnforthe8]

Sadie's is not any more! Hate to tell ya.

[Guia]

There are a number of Sadie restaurants in Albuquerque, and going strong. Skip Sandia GC it is just a
tourist course. Instead go to Cochiti GC (about 30 miles from Albq) or Black Mesa in Espanola.

I personally don't like Paa-Ko, but only because it eats my lunch. Twin Warriors is a fine course, UNM
south is currently in sad condition (as of 3 weeks ago). I would play Santa Ana (same place as Twin
Warrior) before Sandia.

[Strategery]

Played Paa-Ko, all 3 nines, preferred 1-18. Not too windy that day. Absolutely loved it.
Played Twin Warrior, really good, but not quite up to Paa-Ko IMO.
Ate at Zacatecas in Albuquerque. This was fun.

[cruiz3030]

yes to paako

no to Sadies, its awful... especially since youre from el paso I think you would be especially unhappy with sadies

also I would recomend sierra del rio in T or C since its on your way, I love that course

[Guia]

Sierra del Rio is a hidden gem, right on I-25. Sadies is okay, but there are any number of better
Mexican restaurants around. Personally, I like Barrela's or the Original Garcia's on Rio Grande/Central.

[505]

[quote name='BENNYSUPREME' timestamp='1369915634' post='7133924']
Always, I'm not sure when I will make my way there. Heck, if any one live in the area also, maybe we could plan a day or something.
[/quote]

Definitely shoot me a PM when your plans are set.

[fore_life]

will be in town next week, planning on a paa ko twilight round for friday

[fore_life]

Played it today, so freaking awesome. Ran in to some nasty weather, but the course drained perfectly and was in fantastic shape. Played holes 10-27 today, think I preferred 1-18 better but still great golf. Managed a 75 fro the back tees, 7667 yards!

[Guia]

Outstanding round, your a player. Very tough course.

[fore_life]

You know, I've shot lower scores at other tracks, but that 75 is probably one of my all time best rounds. Club selection was difficult, and The greens there are crazy, and I dont think I've ever putted on faster surfaces. I cannot wait to come back.

[BENNYSUPREME]

Great score, I'm can't wait to get time off to go there and play.

[fore_life]

I wish I could play there more.. I paid $59 for a Friday twilight time, teed off at 240 after waiting 30 minutes on rain and electrical storms. It poured down but the course has fantastic drainage, greens were really receptive but absolutely not slow by any means. They are so tough to putt, I had 5 bogies, only two birdies. IMO the greens make this tough course even tougher.

I finished in just over 2.5 hrs, taking my time, and probably had time for another 18 ($30) but I was pretty beat, we left phoenix at 4 am, drove to ABQ, stopped and I went to the course.

Get out there as soon as you can dude, it rules. Pretty much my favorite course I've ever played.

[DeNinny]

[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1373856738' post='7455270']
Get out there as soon as you can dude, it rules. Pretty much my favorite course I've ever played.
[/quote]

Amen to that. While not my all time favorite, Paa Ko #1-18 is on my top 10 best courses played for sure and should be a priority for any self respecting golfer visiting the area. It is soo much fun and very challenging. A masterpiece by Ken Dye.

New Mexico golf in general is very affordable and there are hidden gems out there. I also like UNM and Cochiti a bunch too. Sandia to a lesser degree but still above average.

[fore_life]

I felt like the price for top teir courses there is still not cheap, but compared to AZ rates, a really good deal. The thing it lacks is good value courses in the $30 range. But Paa Ko is one of the courses I would actually pay full rate of $115 and not feel cheated, which if you've seen how frugal I am with golf, that's saying alot haha

Looking forward to trying out Black mesa and twin warriors, loved UNM too but hard to pass up Paa Ko!

[DeNinny]

[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1374120650' post='7479058']
I felt like the price for top teir courses there is still not cheap, but compared to AZ rates, a really good deal. The thing it lacks is good value courses in the $30 range. But Paa Ko is one of the courses I would actually pay full rate of $115 and not feel cheated, which if you've seen how frugal I am with golf, that's saying alot haha

Looking forward to trying out Black mesa and twin warriors, loved UNM too but hard to pass up Paa Ko!
[/quote]

If Paa Ko were in the Phoenix or Vegas areas, it would easily be double $115 at peak rate. I prefer to pay and play the first time there at the twilight rate. I, too, am a frugal golfer and totally agree about the $30 value courses. The only course that was barely worthy in that range was Desert Greens. Not much else. UNM for about $50 is a good deal. I heard good things about Black Mesa and Twin Warriors from the locals, but to me the best price point course is Cochiti...Like a poor man's Paa Ko and in a great isolated location.

[BENNYSUPREME]

I hope they come out ok. Enjoy, I tried to take photos of what hole I was playing then the tee shot and approach shot.

For so reason hole 11 stats photo will show.

They are

11
Par 4
Yellow: 331
Brown: 346
Green: 367
Blue: 426

[BENNYSUPREME]

Sorry some of the photos did not post in the order I put them.

#13 stats didn't post

They are:

13
Par 4
Yellow: 277
Brown: 315
Green: 339
Blue: 366

[scratchswinger]

Beautiful track.....

[BENNYSUPREME]

#17 didn't post

17
Par 4
Yellow: 340
Brown: 352
Green: 390
Blue: 405

[BENNYSUPREME]

Hole 21 as I was walking up to tee off a Falcon swooped down and snatched a dove out of mid air. I love playing golf in the mountains.

[BENNYSUPREME]

couple more to go!