Don’t go away, it’s time to play Truth or Consequences (Golf Course). Here’s the star of our course – Bob (Par)ker. Earlier he was in the clubhouse and picked this golfer for today’s game. Sir, what is your name? Always Time for 9. Well, that’s quite unusual. Where are you from, Always? Oh, here, there and everywhere. Hmmm, maybe it’s time to find someone who is not in the witness protection program! You know how the game is played – You get the truth in the allotted time or you pay (or in this case “play”) the consequences.
Beware my presence, though I’m not seen,
I’m the golfer’s challenge, not mean but keen.
I lurk where you least expect,
But with skill, you’ll avoid my effect.
I’m sorry I hear Beulah the Buzzer, your time is up. The correct answer is The Wind. Since you didn’t get the truth, you will now suffer the consequence. Today you will play our fine course with only four clubs! Off you go and we will check in with you later. Good Luck!
Game on! For this challenge, my choice of clubs: Driver, 7-iron, pitching wedge, and putter. Playing with only four clubs today, this senior (or señor) golfer is going to shorten the course and play from the gold tees. Hole #1 is a straight par 4 of 398 yards with a fairway and green that looks as if it hadn’t been watered in weeks. Please remember this is the southwest and water is at a premium – I’d rather drink it, then pour it into irrigation!
The first time playing this course can be a little confusing. Because it is a 9-hole track, they set up different teeing areas for 18-hole play. So sometimes you have to hunt for the correct tee box. That was my baffling experience on the second hole. I couldn’t find the gold tee marker, so I played from the blues. Men play blue on the first 9; white on the second 9. Women/seniors play from the gold, then the red. Hole #2 is played from one area and hole #11 is played from another. Understand? Once I decided from which box to hit, a straight 303 yard par 4 was in my field of vision.
Hole #3 continues the straight, par 4 theme going so far. Each of these holes has a ditch to carry, that on this day were devoid of water. Hole #4 breaks the monotony with a par 3 of 130 yards. Any wild shot to the right will find a large crater that will swallow your ball as well as you if you are not careful. At the fifth hole, we return to straight, long, barren, and boring.
Low and behold, we finally have some bend in the fairway at Hole #6. A par 5 of 363 yards from the gold tees, but considerably longer (523 yards) from the blue tees. There are a few advantages of being an old man! Also with the four club challenge, the gold tees made this a much easier hole. The seventh hole has a nice view of the mountains in the distance and the most green color on the fairway. That being said, the green was the worst one, and there were indentations around the putting surface that looked as if they once contained sand.
Hole #8 is a par 3 of 132 yards with plenty of room to miss on the left. If the flag is situated on the right side of the green, your tee shot may need to get some elevation to clear a few dead trees guarding that side. Hole #9 is a par 4 dogleg right hole, even though the tee marker shows it going to the left. The fairway is reminiscent of target golf as the small patches of green are dwarfed by expansive sandy areas. Architecturally, this is the best hole on the course. Be careful with your second shot because any wild shot to the left may find your ball crashing into the windshield of an oncoming car.
Let’s check back with Mr. Always Time for 9 and see how he did with the four club challenge. So Mr. Always, what did you think of our course? x%&*#$*@!^%$. Please watch your language, this is live national TV. Sorry Bob, I just thought the tee boxes, fairways, and greens weren’t in very good shape, but I understand the watering restrictions in New Mexico. Well thanks for being a good sport. How was your game with only four clubs? Not bad – from the gold tees, I shot fairly close to my 16 handicap. Thanks so much for playing, and as a parting gift, you’ll receive a gift certificate to Truth or Consequences Brewing Company. Enjoy (I did).
Rating – Par (30 out of 60): The main reason it snuck in with a par was because of the wonderful way the clubhouse woman welcomed me to the course. The course was in rough shape, but as noted, water conditions are always an issue in the southwest. It is what it is. A place for the local people to get to play this great game. It’s located right off I-25, and a spot for a quick round if traveling between Santa Fe/Albuquerque and Las Cruses/El Paso.
For those of you who are not Baby Boomers, Truth or Consequences was an American Game Show televised from 1950 to 1978. The main hosts were Ralph Edwards and Bob Barker. The premise of the show was to mix the original quiz element of the game show with wacky stunts.
So how did this town become Truth or Consequences, NM? The city changed it’s name from Hot Springs to Truth or Consequences as a result of a radio show contest. In March 1950, Ralph Edwards, the host of the NBC Radio quiz show Truth or Consequences, announced that he would air the program on its 10th anniversary from the first town that renamed itself after the show. Hot Springs officially changed its name on March 31, 1950, and the program was broadcast from there the following evening. Edwards visited the town during May for the next 50 years and the event became know as Fiesta.
P.S. I did play with only four clubs!
601-699 Marie St., Truth or Consequences, NM 87901; 575-894-2603; www.torcgolf.org
