Anytime a journey is started on Turquoise Trail, it’s got to be a gem of a day. Driving south on Highway 14 from Santa Fe you experience New Mexico at its finest. If time permits, stop in Madrid (site of the movie Wild Hogs) and enjoy the uniqueness of this small village.
As you enter the Paako Ridge Golf Club development you are greeted by the color green. Those of you familiar with New Mexico know that this color is not common to the flora of this high desert mountainous terrain. So please take the time to enjoy the beauty of this 27-hole facility.
We played Holes #1 through #9 (we’ll save #10-#27 for another day) and tee’d them up from the green set of tees today. Ken Dye designed this course with five sets of tee boxes so all levels of golfers can enjoy this spectacular course – Black (7562 yards); Blue (7195); Green (6707 yards); Brown (6210 yards); and Gray (5702 yards).
Karen directed our cart to Hole #1 and all that green I had seen upon entering PaaKo Ridge suddenly turned to white. Fairway bunkers loom to the left and more sand brackets the green on this relatively straight opening hole. Hole #2 is a beautiful hole, that is if you are only taking pictures. Narrow Passage describes it perfectly as there is no place to land on either side of the fairway; there is not a flat lie on this par 4; bunkers are everywhere; and for good measure, you must carry an arroyo in front of the green.
After scraping around the third hole, I was introduced to Dye-abolical at Hole #4. The 151 yard par 3 has a rock-lined arroyo forced carry to a long (and I mean long) narrow green. Karen took her one shot of the day from the gray tee box and expertly carried the arroyo and landed safely on the putting surface. Nice job by my cart driver, caddie, and wife! As we rode the rollercoaster fifth fairway, the advertisement on the cart caught my eye. “Senior Special, Mon-Wed. Free hotdog with beverage purchase. PaaKo Ridge, the number one course in New Mexico loves seniors.” I’m not feelin’ the love as I play out of the trees at the dogleg on Hole #5.
Ken Dye likes his bunkers. Hole #6 has six of them guarding the green at this short par 4 that is aptly named Gambler. Hole #7 – Field House (someone will have to explain) is the number one handicap hole. A severe dogleg left with a blind tee shot (from the back tees) and natural vegetation to carry. Choose your club carefully as your tee shot can be driven through the fairway. The two-tiered green is difficult if you are on the wrong level. It’s very important to ask the starter for the pin placement sheet before your round.
Panorama (the Sandia Mountains) is the long 236 yard (from the Green tees) par 3 eighth hole. Deep bunkers surround the green and there is a big drop-off behind the green. Did I mention that I was not worried about being long because Hole #8 measures 236 yards form the Green tee boxes? Hole #9 has a wide-open tee shot and the water on the right side “shouldn’t” come into play – however on this day it somehow got in my way.
Ace: We spoke with Fred, a course marshal, after our round and he accurately summed up our own thoughts – “there is a reason PaaKo Ridge is the #1 rated course in New Mexico.” If time permits either before or after your round, relax on the shaded outdoor patio and watch the action on the course, while enjoying your favorite beverage (can you say margarita?). If you have an early round, take time to sample their excellent breakfast burrito before tackling this outstanding 27-hole track.
One Clubhouse Drive, Sandia Park, NM 87047; 505-281-6000; www.paakoridge.com
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