new Mexico golf road trip

[rwill]

Me and a buddy are planning a road trip to new Mexico to hit up the courses. We are trying to put together a game plan and have some courses we are definitely playing (paako, twin warriors, cochiti, black mesa) but we are considering a couple others. We saw Inn of the gods online but didn't know if it's worth the out of the way drive down to it. Also was considering Angel fire and towa. Any thoughts on these courses or others in the ALB area that we shouldn't miss? Thanks

[Guia]

I would include Black Mesa, which is close to Santa Fe and Espanola.

[rwill]

Yeah we are doing black mesa on the way back towards Oklahoma. I saw towa up that way but haven't heard any talk about it.

[Guia]

The course in Truth-or-Consequences is nice, Santa Ana (down the road from Twin) is my home course and is a good layout. I didn't care for the Inn-of-the Mountain Gods, or Towa, if you are heading south on 25 then Sonora is a good layout. Extreme north in Farmington is Pinon Hills (several times voted a best public course in U.S.

[rwill]

Thanks. Pinon hills might get on the list if we have time. Honestly we were looking at Arizona or a myrtle beach trip but stumbled across a few of these courses and they looked pretty intriguing.

[fore_life]

As a AZ native and frequent visitor to New Mexico, you are getting both better golf and more value by playing in New Mexico. Paa Ko is my favorite, it smokes anything we have to offer out here.

[duffer987]

We played 36 a Paa-Ko last November and thought it was fantastic. Tough but fair and the topography was a cool change of pace.
UNM Championship Course was great too. Got 36 in there too - even with a frost delay. Just a straight up no nonsense traditional golfing challenge. Proper fairway, first cut, second cut, which I don't see much anymore with the public golf I play in California... oh and then scrub and hardpan, which I do see.

Black Mesa had some real quality holes. 1 fooking stupid hole and wasn't in the best of shape. Still glad we played it though. But it was definitely 3 of 3 for the courses we played that weekend.

Regardless of where you play, the quality per dollar ratio is pretty darn strong there compared to a lot of (most of) the other places you'd go to as a golfing destination.

[OspreyCI]

Just be careful..... Called the "The Land of Entrapment" for a reason. Don't break down, meet a girl you like, or go to jail there... You will NEVER get out!!! 15 worst years of my life in that state.

Pretty good golf for cheap, but THATS IT!

Be on guard there....

Fore,
I live in Chandler and still work in ABQ (because I can't get out) and have to kindly disagree about NM vs AZ golf.

[Guia]

[b] [color=#353535][url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/user/108024-ospreyci/"]OspreyCI[/url]: We make our own bad years. Its the "Land of Enchantment" and Good Golf.[/color][/b]

[OspreyCI]

[quote name='Guia' timestamp='1395949636' post='8963517']
[b] [color=#353535][url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/user/108024-ospreyci/"]OspreyCI[/url]: We make our own bad years. Its the "Land of Enchantment" and Good Golf.[/color][/b]
[/quote]
You must be from there and never been outside that state just like most people who live there.

Nothing Enchanting there except Paako Ridge GC.

[Guia]

Paako is a great course. However, if you read my Bio you will conclude that I have lived in many places, both in the U.S. and A Broad. We chose to retire in New Mexico because of the great weather and good golf. I have nothing against AZ and played golf there and have friends in Scottsdale and Chandler (of course both are too hot to live in for my taste).

[ronstelten]

During the summer I have a golf school at Taos Country Club and suggest that you include playing it on your trip. It is a wonderful layout carved out of the sage and is in great shape day in day out. Black Mesa is interesting and challenging but when I last played it the condition was poor. Towa is OK but not memorable. Near Albuquerque, Paa-Ko Ridge is very cool. Twin Warriors is expensive (for NM) but worth it. I played college golf at UNM and the Championship course is still great. If it is open play the few holes remaining at the UNM North course. Arnold Palmer won the NCAA Championship there in the 50"s.

[fore_life]

[quote name='OspreyCI' timestamp='1395947188' post='8963231']
Just be careful..... Called the "The Land of Entrapment" for a reason. Don't break down, meet a girl you like, or go to jail there... You will NEVER get out!!! 15 worst years of my life in that state.

Pretty good golf for cheap, but THATS IT!

Be on guard there....

Fore,
I live in Chandler and still work in ABQ (because I can't get out) and have to kindly disagree about NM vs AZ golf.
[/quote]

Maybe it's different living there, I'll give you that, but the top courses in ABQ are better IMO. Better conditions, better character, and better bang for the buck. Paa Ko, the best, tops out at $110 right? That's peak season prime time. Conditions are flawless every time I go there, and it's one of the few places I would pay rack rate and not feel robbed. ABQ has courses that fit the flow of the land, any elevation out here seems manufactured IMO. I will give you that NM doesn't seem to have any middle of the road quality golf, say a $20-40 round like we do out here. Arroyo Del Oso was cool and $25 to walk, but outside of that, it seems like the other muni's are really really short. And if you don't want to play those or UNM, it's a bit of a drive.

But wasn't 4 hills jr memberships under $200/month? That's a steal!!!

I can't think of a rotation out here in AZ that beats UNM Paa Ko and Twin Warriors and a cheapy round at arroyo, and those are the only 4 I've played in ABQ.

[Ezgolfer]

ABQ weather is definitely better than AZ ...
Week o pa are weak courses for money and quaity compared to Paako IMO . I live in So cal and ABQ both...
Socal is where it is if you can afford it ..
Arizona and ABQ are compromises . I will take a cheaper compromise any day ...

[OspreyCI]

Agreed that there is good golf on a couple courses at great prices....I am very happy for the visitors that enjoy it.

Just don't do anything that would make you stay too long.. Then the real ABQ (NM) shows it's true colors.

I live right down the road from Paako and my buddy lives on the 27th hole. Beautiful and a challenge, great combo at a great price (in comparison to AZ PRICES).

Sorry for my rant about the place earlier... Place just gets to me the way the culture and attitude is here.

[fore_life]

I understand Osprey, I can't imagine living there full time. ABq had the worst drivers ever haha