Golf in New Mexico

New Mexico Golf Courses

Golf may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of New Mexico, but once you tee off at one of our diverse courses around the state, you're apt to feel like you're on to a well-kept secret. Home to over 70 courses, from nine-holes of invigorating scenery to challenging university and world-class resort courses, an outstanding golf experience is a short drive away from virtually anywhere the state.

Known for having some of the best municipal courses in the country, New Mexico is increasingly catching the attention of golfers from around the globe, from juniors to seniors, amateurs to ProAms. New Mexico's Sun Country PGA of America is an active force in promoting exciting year-round tournaments and events, such as the New Mexico Open (www.nmopen.com), played annually since 1954 at courses around the state.

Our favorable year-round conditions, unique course variety and surprising convenience help ensure that your visit to New Mexico is filled with abundant and memorable play. And with greens fees well below those of some more touted destinations, you may feel inclined to keep your new secret to yourself.

Select a region below to find courses near you.

Northwestern New Mexico Golf

In this Four Corners region of New Mexico, golfers will find affordable greens fees and year-round play in the midst of spectacular natural attractions and Native American culture. The invigorating high-desert air and seemingly endless vistas have enticed and captivated modern visitors since the advent of the Santa Fe Railway in the late 1800s and the iconic glory days of Route 66. Today, Northwestern New Mexico is also recognized for its outstanding golf courses, like Piñon Hills Golf Course in Farmington, named by Golf Digest in 2002 as the best public course in America.

Nearby Attractions:
Near Aztec, visitors enjoy a historical exploration of the Aztec Ruins, dating back to the 1100s. This National Monument was established in 1923, and designated a World Heritage Site in 1987. Highlights include the dramatic West Ruin, a center of ancestral Pueblo society that once housed over 500 masonry rooms, and the reconstructed “Great Kiva,” once a place of worship, council, and social interaction.

An unusual attraction the whole family will enjoy is the Bandera Center and Ice Cave, a short drive from Grants. Situated on the Continental Divide amidst beautiful Juniper and Pine trees, an ancient lava trail takes visitors to an ice cave inside a collapsed lava tube of an erupted volcano, where the temperature never rises above 31 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park holds many fascinating examples of ancient Chacoan architecture, engineering and scientific advancements. A full day is required to leisurely explore the five major Chacoan sites, which are accessible via a 9-mile paved loop. Four back-country hiking trails access more remote sites and features, while biking the 9-mile paved loop through the awe-inspiring canyon is a great way to see the prehistoric sites and experience the canyon.

North Central New Mexico Golf

This region of New Mexico is the most visited section of the state for its nationally recognized art scene, varied indigenous cultures, rich history and scenic beauty. For serious golfers though, North Central New Mexico holds a special appeal. Home to Taos and Santa Fe, here you’ll find some of the most demanding and diverse courses in the state. From high desert mesas to mountain high meadows, numerous world-class resorts and country clubs in this region provide luxury amenities and challenging courses designed by well-known architects. For the serious golfer, and the golfer who’s looking to get serious, North Central New Mexico has much to offer.

Nearby Attractions:
Visitors to New Mexico should always keep a swimsuit on hand. Located in New Mexico's northern mountains just 17 miles southwest of Tierra Amarilla, El Vado Lake State Park offers plentiful ways to put your suit to good use, from fishing and boating to water-skiing. A scenic 5.5-mile trail along the Rio Chama connects El Vado with nearby Heron Lake.

Much of the vast Bandelier National Monument is designated wilderness area, allowing trekkers to explore remote archeological sites, view rare wildlife and enjoy an unhurried afternoon with Mother Nature. Located only an hour from Santa Fe, the main highlight here is the Alcove House, a dramatic alcove dwelling located 140 feet above the floor of Frijoles Canyon.

One of six New Mexico State Monuments, Jemez State Monument (43 miles north of Bernalillo) encapsulates much of New Mexico’s varied history in one setting. Here you will discover the stone ruins of a 500-year-old Indian village along with the colonial San José de los Jemez church, dating back to 1610.

Northeastern New Mexico Golf

The varied landscape in the northeastern region of New Mexico offers as much diversity in scenery as it does in golfing choices. Where the plains meet the mountains you will find municipal, university and resort courses for all skill levels. Small town hospitality, frontier history and geographic wonders unite to create a memorable golf experience, one that is uniquely New Mexico. As is the case throughout our beautiful state, wildlife abounds, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself sharing the greens with a visiting deer or wild turkey.

Nearby Attractions:
Originally established in 1851 as the guardian of the Santa Fe Trail, Fort Union consisted of three forts that were constructed over its forty-year history. Today, visitors to Fort Union National Monument can leisurely walk a 1.6-mile, self-guided trail that showcases the second fort and the large, impressive ruins of the third Fort Union. Also visible are the remains of the famed Santa Fe Trail. Expect to spend two hours on your exploration,
30 minutes outside Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Some visitors are surprised to find such an abundance of outdoor swimming, waterskiing and fishing in northeastern New Mexico. But around these parts, windsurfing, jet skiing and even scuba diving… are all just another day in the park. Certified divers will enjoy the astonishing clarity at Blue Hole, a local geological legend; 80 foot deep, with a constant water temperature of 64 degrees. Kids of all ages will have fun on the water around Santa Rosa, be it in a canoe, a pedal boat or at the Southwest's largest swimming pool, featuring a 32-foot waterslide.

It’s said that almost every room at the St. James Hotel in Cimarron is haunted by ghosts, but don’t let that scare you. If supernatural sightings aren’t your thing, simply stop by for lunch or dinner to take in the more earthly nostalgia. The town of Cimarron has plenty of other natural attractions and museums for the whole family, like the Old Mill Museum and the Villa Philmonte ranch home museum.

Central New Mexico Golf

In the "Heart of New Mexico" golfers of every level will find numerous ways and places to work on their game while enjoying the cultural and natural attractions around Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city. In addition to the top-tiered resorts and country clubs, players will also find numerous practice ranges, putting and chipping greens and even a lighted driving range. With such an abundance of courses and practice ranges, Central New Mexico offers a year-round opportunity to return home a better golfer.

Nearby Attractions:
Coronado State Monument, just minutes north of Albuquerque, is where Francisco Vásquez de Coronado entered the lush valley while looking for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold. Today, visitors can view prehistoric and historic Indian and Spanish colonial artifacts, a reconstructed kiva and some of the finest examples of Pre-Columbian mural art in the Untied States.

Hiking, mountain bike rentals, downhill skiing, picnicking or a simple scenic summer chairlift ride make for year-round fun atop Sandia Peak in the Cibola National Forest. Ride the Sandia Peak Tramway, the world’s longest aerial tramway and a short drive from downtown Albuquerque, to experience 10,000 feet of fun.

For some New Mexico nightlife the entire family will love, visit the University of New Mexico Campus Observatory. Located close to downtown Albuquerque, the stellar observatory is free to the public every Friday night during the Fall and Spring Semesters, weather permitting.

Southwestern New Mexico Golf

Southwestern New Mexico is “Old West Country,” a region loaded with history that ranges from violent to quirky. Billy the Kid, Confederate soldiers and even a 1950s game show host have all helped forge the modern personality of this unique golfer’s paradise. Split in half by the Great Continental Divide, this region of New Mexico has plenty to offer for all outdoor enthusiasts. For hikers and birders to anglers and bikers, there’s a lifetime of adventure waiting to be had. For the golf enthusiast there are established fairways and sparkling new courses, and a topography that ranges from otherworldly white-sand dunes, to mile-high mountainous year-round play.

Nearby Attractions:
It’s not near any golf course, but Very Large Array (50 miles west of Socorro) is very large, and very much worth a visit. Open every day of the year, the Visitor Center at VLA offers a short video presentation and exhibits to help the layman better understand radio astronomy. A self-guided walking tour takes you past the 230-ton antennas and leaves you atop an observation deck for a breathtaking view of the entire array.

The peculiar beauty of White Sands National Monument might make some golfers uneasy. The great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand that engulf 275-square miles of New Mexico desert have created the world's largest gypsum dune field, from which no golf ball could escape. An eight-mile scenic drive takes you through America’s version of the Sahara, where a surprising abundance of wildlife and flora are to be found. Multiple trails allow the more adventurous to experience this otherworldly natural creation, firsthand.

What’s the “truth and consequences” in visiting a small town formerly known as Hot Springs, New Mexico? The truth is that Truth or Consequences sits atop a huge mineral aquifer of hot spring waters. The consequences work in your favor, as numerous small inns and hotels offer private hot mineral tubs for soaking, either by the hour, or included in your suite. The result is a refreshing, relaxing and purportedly healing effect; sure to improve your handicap.

Southeastern New Mexico Golf

While visitors have been drawn to this region for such larger-than-life legends, myths and attractions as Smokey the Bear, Billy the Kid, Carlsbad Caverns and little green men, golf enthusiasts have been making this vast section of New Mexico famous for reasons a little more “down-to-earth.” Southeastern New Mexico has a surprising amount of diverse golfing opportunities, including one of the highest-elevation courses in the world, at over 9,000 feet. While an abundance of other sporting activities, such as boating, skiing and hiking, round out a yearlong calendar of reasons to visit, the “out-of-this-world” reputation of Southeastern New Mexico will surely continue to border on the eccentric, as much as it does Mexico.

Nearby Attractions:
Located only 17 miles north of Tularosa, Three Rivers Petroglyphs Site features over 20,000 petroglyphs dating from 900 CE. Along several rugged trails that take you through the site, visitors are afforded close viewings of these magnificent stone carvings. Also seen on the trails are the remains of Mogollon village, whose inhabitants were likely responsible for the petroglyphs. Three Rivers Campground and an entry point into the Lincoln National Forest are found nearby.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park contains 113 of the more than 300 known caves in the Chihuahuan Desert and Guadalupe Mountains; some of the largest caves in North America. Self-guided and guided tours of varying difficulties are available, and reservations are suggested. There are also opportunities for hiking and backcountry camping, as well as bat watching.

The 30-mile Guadalupe Backcountry Byway takes leisurely visitors from the Chihuahuan Desert, west of Carlsbad, up into the pines of the dramatic Guadalupe Escarpment. Expect to see a variety of songbirds and small mammals, maybe even some mule deer, antelope and gray fox. This scenic byway also provides a gateway for rural tourism, with access to excellent opportunities for hiking, primitive camping, caving, horseback riding, nature study and mountain biking.