Best golf courses in New Mexico.

Sandia Park, NM

Paa-Ko Ridge in Sandia Park, New Mexico, opened in 2000 and was designed by Ken Dye. It sits in the foothills east of Albuquerque at roughly 6,500 feet, in pinon and juniper high desert rather than low sonoran terrain. Elevation change drives the golf. Tee shots frequently play from a ridge down to a fairway well below, arroyos cut across several holes, and the greens are large with severe internal movement. Thin air adds distance, which the yardages already account for. The course is walkable in stretches but plays long across the property, and it is open to public play with views toward the Sandia Mountains from most holes.

Española, NM

Black Mesa in La Mesilla, New Mexico, opened in 2003 and was designed by Baxter Spann. It sits on land of the Santa Clara Pueblo north of Santa Fe, in badlands terrain of ridges, arroyos and black volcanic rock. The routing works with the natural folds instead of flattening them. Fairways tumble between ridgelines, blind and semi-blind shots appear throughout the round, and the greens sit in natural hollows and shelves. At about 6,500 feet the ball carries, which helps on the longer holes. It is open to public play, priced well below comparable desert resort golf, and remains one of the more unusual pieces of ground in the state.

Albuquerque, NM

The University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course is located on the university's Albuquerque campus, close to the Sunport airport, spread over roughly 200 acres of high desert terrain. William Tucker designed the North Course portion of the property, and the Championship Course opened in 1967, carved into steep desert land with waste areas and native vegetation bordering the fairways. The course plays to a par of 72 across 18 holes and stretches to about 7,555 yards from the back tees, with wide fairways that rise and fall and greens guarded by uphill approaches and bunkering. It has hosted several NCAA championships and the annual William H. Tucker Invitational. The course is open to the public, with reduced rates for UNM students, faculty and staff. A driving range, short course, pro shop and event pavilion are available on site.

Bernalillo, NM

Gary Panks design at Santa Ana Pueblo with Sandia Mountain views

Farmington, NM

Piñon Hills Golf Course is a municipal course in Farmington, New Mexico, in the Four Corners region. It opened in 1989 and was designed by architect Ken Dye on a 1,000-acre site, with only about 300 acres used for the routing. The par-72 course measures 7,198 yards from the back tees and moves across sandstone outcroppings, arroyos, and desert scrub, with several par-3 holes that require carries over ravines or play to multi-tiered greens. Roughly 100,000 cubic yards of earth were moved during construction, since Dye largely let the natural terrain shape the layout. Piñon Hills is owned by the city of Farmington and operates as a public course.

Albuquerque, NM

Sandia Golf Club is a high-desert course north of downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, developed by the Pueblo of Sandia as part of the Sandia Resort and Casino. Architect Scott Miller designed the course, which opened in June 2005 and stretches to roughly 7,750 yards from the back tees, among the longest in the state. The routing winds through rugged desert terrain with 48 bunkers and green complexes set against views of the Sandia Mountains, the Rio Grande and greater Albuquerque. The course is largely treeless, so wind and elevation both affect club selection. Sandia operates as a resort course managed by OB Sports, open to the public with a Pueblo-style clubhouse, restaurant and full practice facilities adjoining the casino property.

Alto, NM

Rainmakers Resort and Club is in Alto, New Mexico. Robert Trent Jones II designed this 18-hole, par-72 course. His design emphasizes "shamanistic creativity," integrating the course with the natural high-desert environment. The course features significant elevation changes, including back-to-back par fives to start. The par-3 3rd hole has abundant elevation changes, and the 12th is called "Iron That Walks.

Santa Ana Pueblo, NM

Santa Ana Golf Club is a golf course on Santa Ana Pueblo land north of Albuquerque, New Mexico, situated along the Rio Grande beneath the Sandia Mountains. The course was designed by Ken Killian in collaboration with a former PGA Tour professional and is operated as part of the My New Mexico Golf collection, alongside the neighboring Twin Warriors Golf Club. The facility hosts tournaments including the Native American Open and features clubhouse dining and lodging amenities.

Ruidoso, NM

The Links at Sierra Blanca is a public golf course in Ruidoso, New Mexico, built on the site of the town's original airport. Designed in 1991 by Senior PGA Tour player Jim Colbert with architect Jeff Bauer, the par-72 course rises in the southern Rocky Mountains against Sierra Blanca peak. The front nine features rolling fairways and dramatic mounding reminiscent of Scottish links golf, while the back nine moves into denser pine forest for a more secluded, tree-lined test. Elevation and mountain views come into play throughout the round, distinguishing the course from typical desert Southwest layouts. The course is open to the public year-round, weather permitting, and includes a driving range plus chipping and putting greens. Annual and seasonal pass options are available alongside standard green fees.

Mescalero, NM

The Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort Championship Golf Course is an 18-hole course in Mescalero, New Mexico, located behind the Inn of the Mountain Gods casino resort in the Sierra Blanca mountains and owned by the Mescalero Apache Tribe. The course winds through pine-lined fairways along the shore of Lake Mescalero. From the back tees the course plays 7,212 yards to a par of 72, with turtle-back greens and water hazards created by man-made lakes. A signature par-4 hole offers golfers the choice of a long carry over water or a safer route around an island. The course is open primarily in spring, summer, and fall and closes for winter, though cart tours of the grounds are sometimes offered off-season. It functions as a resort course tied to the adjoining hotel and casino, with a pro shop, driving range, and putting greens.

Hobbs, NM

Rockwind Community Links in Hobbs, New Mexico, opened in 2015. Andy Staples designed the facility, which includes an 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole par-3 course. The championship course has five tee sets, measuring 7,100 yards down to 4,100 yards. It features tall trees and a stream, alongside native desert areas, bent greens, and bluegrass fairways. A surrounding trail system integrates the facility into the community.

Albuquerque, NM

Arroyo del Oso Golf Course occupies the Bear Canyon Arroyo in northeast Albuquerque, New Mexico, a City of Albuquerque municipal facility known for its varied topography. The original 18 holes were designed by architect Jack Snyder and opened in 1965; a nine-hole addition called the Dam 9, which crosses the arroyo three times, was built in 1987 to bring the facility to 27 holes. Arroyo del Oso is public and open daily from dawn to dusk except Christmas Day, with a pro shop and practice facilities on site.

Angel Fire, NM

Angel Fire Country Club is the golf course at Angel Fire Resort in Angel Fire, New Mexico, playing at roughly 8,600 feet in the southern Rocky Mountains. The 18-hole, par-72 layout stretches to about 6,670 yards and was designed by Lebus and Paul Ortiz, opening in 1961. The front nine winds through aspen- and pine-covered canyons, while the back nine takes on a links-style character with smaller greens and heavier bunkering. The course is part of the resort's Country Club facility, which is open seasonally from spring through fall.

Albuquerque, NM

The University of New Mexico North Course is a nine-hole public golf course in Albuquerque, New Mexico, built in 1942 by architect William H. Tucker. Originally laid out as 27 holes, it was noted as the first course in the region to reach substantial length for its era. Today the North Course plays to a par of 35 over 3,333 yards and operates alongside UNM's larger Championship Course under the university's golf program.

Gallup, NM

Gallup Country Club shares its home city, Gallup, New Mexico, with Fox Run Golf Course, the city's 18-hole public facility designed by Leon Howard and opened in 1965. Fox Run plays to 6,223 yards and a par of 70, with a course rating of 67.7 and a slope of 117 across Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and rye turf. It has also operated under the name Gallup Municipal Golf Course, reflecting its city ownership.

Clovis, NM

Clovis Country Club refers to golf at Clovis, New Mexico, a Curry County city also served by the 18-hole Colonial Park Golf Course, which traces its roots to a course originally opened in the area in the 1960s. Detailed, current information specific to a facility operating under the Clovis Country Club name could not be independently verified. Golf in Clovis has historically centered on courses built to serve the city and nearby Cannon Air Force Base.

Silver City, NM

Silver City Country Club is associated with Scott Park Golf Links, a course in Silver City, New Mexico that opened as a nine-hole facility in 1963 and was expanded to a full 18 holes in 1988. The tree-lined, parkland-style layout serves as the home course for Western New Mexico University's golf teams. Ownership has shifted over the years, with the university stepping in to manage operations after a private management company ended its contract in 2016. The course remains open to public play in the Silver City area.

Taos, NM

Taos Country Club is a public golf course in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, designed by architect Jep Wille. The course measures 7,302 yards from the back tees and features New Mexico high-desert scenery, sagebrush, natural arroyos, and mountain views across four sets of tees. Its gently rolling terrain is intended to accommodate golfers of varying abilities while testing stronger players from the tips.

Rio Rancho, NM

Chamisa Hills Country Club is a private golf club in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, built in 1987. Its 18-hole course, sometimes referred to as the Trevino/Sarazen layout, was designed with input from Lee Trevino and Gene Sarazen alongside architect Desmond Muirhead. The club has operated as a private facility in the Rio Rancho Estates neighborhood, offering year-round play in the high desert landscape near Albuquerque.

Albuquerque, NM

Isleta Eagle Golf Course, also known as Isleta Golf Club, sits along the Rio Grande and the Bosque on the Isleta Pueblo south of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The facility offers 27 holes across a links-style and desert-influenced layout built around three lakes and the riverbanks. It is operated through Isleta Resort & Casino and hosts the Isleta Eagle Golf Association, which runs member tournaments throughout the year.

Eagle Nest, NM

Cimarron Golf Resort is located in Cathedral City, California, near Palm Springs, sited within a desert wash between Cathedral City and Palm Springs proper. The property offers views of the San Jacinto Mountains and has an open, exposed desert character. Both the 18-hole regulation course and a shorter par-3 course were designed by architect John Fought, with the courses spread through the wash channel to allow floodwater to pass during rare heavy rains. The regulation course opened in the early 2000s and features fairways that demand precision to avoid open desert waste areas. The resort is open for public and member play. The regulation course plays to a par of 71, measuring roughly 6,782 to 6,858 yards from the back tees depending on the tee configuration, with the shorter par-3 course offering a quicker round for golfers looking to work on their short game.

Pojoaque, NM

Towa Golf Resort is a 27-hole championship course north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Hale Irwin designed the course, which opened in 1999. It has three nine-hole layouts: Boulder, Pinon, and Valley. The design uses arroyos, rock outcroppings, and views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Jemez Mountains, and Rio Grande Valley. Fairways are Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass; greens and tees are bent grass.

Cochiti Lake, NM

Cochiti Golf Club sits in the foothills of the Jemez Mountains at Cochiti Lake, New Mexico, on land belonging to the Cochiti Pueblo. The course occupies a high desert plateau between roughly 5,300 and 6,800 feet in elevation, with juniper-covered hills and wide mountain views. Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed the course, which opened in 1981, and he returned in 2000 to renovate tees, bunkers and the irrigation system. The layout works with canyons, waste areas and ponds rather than reshaping the natural terrain, producing narrow fairways and well-bunkered greens. The course is open to the public and plays to about 6,817 yards from the longest tees, with three water holes and bunkering on every hole adding to the challenge. Its remote setting and consistent desert wind are part of what makes the round distinctive.

Raton, NM

Raton Country Club, known today as Raton Golf Course, is a public, city-associated golf facility in Raton, New Mexico, established in 1919. The nine-hole layout sits in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near the Vermejo Park Ranch and can be played as an 18-hole round using additional tee placements. Men's tees measure roughly 2,934 to 3,182 yards at a par of 35 or 36, reflecting the course's high-elevation, mountain-foothill setting.