Head down to Cochiti just further south and that’s a great itinerary and at a great price.
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Played Red Hawk on my way down to a tournament in El Paso. Unfortunately we had to play the back 9 twice but what a tough and fun course! It wasn’t in the best shape but its worth the trip.
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Why was the front closed?
Ah, I meant to ask you how Redhawk/EPCC were. Sorry to hear you only got to play the back 9. I feel like the front is a bit better than the back.
I did go play the Links at Sierra Blanca in Ruidoso after I left ABQ. Man, now that was a fun course. Has some quirky holes, especially in the front but overall, a really fun course that I’d recommend people play if they find themselves in Ruidoso.
I think they were punching fairways and greens
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With a little more money Redhawk could be an amazing championship course. EPCC is an old school parkland style. Greens were good but everything else was meh. They have water problems like everyone else down there. The clubhouse is pretty damn fancy but the course itself has Muni vibes.
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This is just my observation and from talking to a few people associated with Red Hawk and Sonoma Ranch, which is another course in town and my home course. I don’t think it’s a money issue. I think it’s more a personnel issue.
Red Hawk bought Sonoma Ranch two or three years ago. At the time, Sonoma Ranch’s food and beverage and hospitality were probably the best in Las Cruces (very well might still be) and Red Hawk was the best course in town (NMSU is probably the best maintained but it is also pretty boring imo). When RH bought Sonoma, they swapped the hospitality people and the superintendents at the courses. RH’s food and beverage was pretty bad and Sonoma needed some TLC, which has worked. The course at Sonoma is getting better every season but RH has seen a little bit of a decline in conditions.
It also doesn’t help that both courses use cool season grasses and they got absolutely scorched last summer. I think that also hurt RH because last summer was the first I’d seen the fairways there damaged like that.
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This makes sense. I first played RH a few years back and I thought it was in prime shape. However, last time I played it, I believe last September, condition wasn’t as good as I had remembered but I did have a delicious breakfast burrito.
I feel like the whole area has taken a bit of a hit.
Last week in El Paso, I played Horizon and Butterfield in El Paso and both had some rough fairways, wonder if eveything has gotten scorched. Butterfieild was so hard, at times it felt like hitting off a mat, but man do I like that layout.
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From what I’ve heard, even Coronado has had some issues. But I’ve never played there so that’s only, “a guy told me”.
One of my bf growing up has traveled pretty extensively for work and used to say Butterfield was his favorite course he’d ever played. I don’t even think it was open when we moved to LC in 2020. Hopefully in time they’ll get it back to where it used to be.
Not sure if anyone in here as people or property in Ruidoso, but if so, I hope your people are safe and my wife and I are thinking of you.
If you haven’t heard, there’s two fires burning in and around the village right now both at 0% contain and it isn’t looking good for survival of the village. There was a forced evacuation yesterday evening.
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Long time/first time…
Wife and I are likely spending a weekend in Albuquerque/Santa Fe in November. I’ve gotten the green light to bring the sticks.
Seeing as I’ve never played golf in the area before, and I don’t know when I’ll ever get back, I was hoping some kind Nesticle might have a suggestion – or even an in, should you be so generous – for 1 course I should definitely play in the area.
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Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe would get my vote if you are a walker. It’s a fantastic muni set between mountains. A more spectacular course is Black Mesa but it’s unwalkable. Both of these could get early season snow so keep an eye on the forecasts. In Albuquerque I think Sandia is the top option but it’s a cart resort style course. If that’s not your thing, Santa Ana or UNM Championship are the next top options. UNM North is elite as an extra nine.
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Those are great recommendations. I was just reading about Sandia on Top 100. Looks like a good course. Not opposed to riding, but I do prefer to walk.
What are the chances Las Campanas would believe we are looking into moving to the area and they might let me play a preview round on Sunset? 
I wouldn’t know but if you’re coming to NM to play a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course then we might be on different wavelengths 
I have very mixed feeling about Sandia. The first 8 holes are really cool and then there are some real head scratchers mixed in the rest of the way. Conditions are elite but it feels inauthentic (because they have a huge water budget). Whereas at Marty you can walk, the surroundings are a lot more natural, and there isn’t a below average hole on the course. Here’s a write up I did on a stretch of holes there:
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See, I know nothing about the golf in the area, so was just looking at the rankings on Top 100 for NM…
Open to whatever though. Marty Sanchez sounds like the Lions Muny of the area, if that’s an apropos analogy …
John is your guy here on recs but I’ll throw in that I played both Sandia and Twin Warriors the last time I was in ABQ, and tbh I preferred Twin Warriors. However the wind was blowing everything off the planet the day I played Sandia so could have shaded my opinion. Neither was really a good walking course though.
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@RolandOfGilead how is the U of NM Championship Course? That looks like an option, and it’s walkable (at least it allows it)
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It’s a strong test and conditions are good. Being a university course it has a PGA Tour Lite feel. Definitely a walking course. Buts it’s definitely a notch below Marty Sanchez and Black Mesa in terms of enjoyment and being memorable.
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We are staying at La Fonda in Santa Fe, so I think those two courses, Marty Snachez and Black Mesa, are the play. If anyone is around, would love to have you join the round(s).
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Beautiful hotel and two beautiful courses!
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