I am so confused! This is even after I have played the golf course. As a senior golfer quickly approaching his mid-seventies, is my mind slowly fading into a 30 handicap? While researching this course as part of the “Grabbing my Sticks and Golfing Route 66” tour, these are a few of the questions I had before playing: 1) The name – Tres Lagunas Golf Course or Santa Rosa Golf Course? 2) Open or closed? 3) Owned by the city of Santa Rosa or part of the Santa Rosa Campground? One month after playing, questions still linger…
Driving down Old Route 66 in Santa Rosa, I spot a sign that directs me down a small road to a “golf course” – hmm, still not much help. I spot a building and a small, desolate parking area that looks as if it could be a golf course – still dubious at this point. After exiting my car, the first sign I encounter reads, “Caution Rattlesnake Sightings”. Not a big deal as I’ve seen many of these during my years in Colorado and New Mexico – signs not snakes! But…is this course open or closed? I had seen one internet article that stated the course was closed.
Question #2 is answered – the course is OPEN! A man wearing a City of Santa Rosa work shirt greeted me in this small, barren “clubhouse”. The cost to play 9 was $15 (with cart) however his computer was down and he could only accept cash. The only combination I had for payment was a $50 bill and I asked if he could make change. He gladly took the bill and walked out the door to his truck. Hopefully Question #3 was answered and I would soon see him again. He returned with a strong box retrieved from the city truck and handed me my change and off I went to Hole #1.
The tee marker at this hole stated Tres Lagunas Golf Course. Question #1 answered but…sometime it’s referred to as Santa Rosa Golf Course. This par 4 opening hole showed men’s tees (blue and white) and women’s (red). No GPS was available so I had to play by feel today. To complicate things a little more, the scorecard only shows blue/red yardages and they don’t match up very well to the tee markers. So off we go at this dogleg right hole. You can cut the corner (on purpose or by mistake), but you will probably not have a decent lie.
Hole #2 is a dogleg left par 4. I’m using the blue yardage from the scorecard, so this is 343 yards. The fairway is wet and spotty, but the recent rain was much needed for this part of the country. The first two greens were in excellent shape, as was my putting as I started the day par/birdie! Hole #3 is a straight, long, wide-open par 5 with more room to miss left than right. Hole #4 bends a little to the left, but everything is in clear view. There aren’t many trees on the course to offer shade or hazard issues. The last few fairways were a little patchy, so you are not going to find a pristine layout here.
I arrived at the fifth hole and noticed there are now four sets of tee boxes – gold has been added to the mix with no yardage on the tee markers. You will have a risk/reward tee shot at this big dogleg right hole. A large outcropping might cause an issue for a low ball flight, but I got lucky and recorded my second birdie of the day. If you want to encounter a rattler, these rocks would be a good place to find one enjoying the afternoon sun. Hole #6 is a par 3 that was playing to a temporary green as this hole was in a very unwelcoming state. The seventh hole was straight, long, and soggy. Carts were only allowed on the cart path, so there was a lot of walking, which is something I try to do most of the time. However if you are “walking-challenged”, there are two paths that parallel each hole which diminish the legwork.
Hole #8 is a par 3 of 180 yards up to an elevated green. There are no bunkers on the course but you will find a few “sandy” waste areas around the fairways. Hole #9 is an unassuming par 4 unless you shank one off the tee box!
Rating – Par (37 out of 60): Basically the course was okay. I like the design but the conditioning was sub-standard. I was the only one on the course which meant I completed the round in just over one hour. By the time I returned, the “clubhouse” was locked and nobody was home – must have been lunch time. There is a lockbox outside the door which states a round is $15; however, if no one is around you will be walking the course since no carts would be available.
The journey of Grabbing my Sticks and Golfing Route 66 (Part 1) is nearing it’s completion. While in town, make sure to visit the Route 66 Museum which is right down the street from the course.
Another attraction to visit in Santa Rosa is the Blue Hole. This is a very “cool” spot. However if you use their website to read about Tres Legunas GC, here is how it describes the course:
1) The main attraction at Tres Lagunas GC is the 9-hole golf course – Huh?
2) The well-manicured putting green gives it a professional feel as you put(t) – huh?
3) Golf professionals aren’t the only ones visiting Tres Lagunas GC – say what?
4) Instructors are available onsite to practice with you – where?
5) Tres Lagunas has a pro shop for renting and buying equipment – again, where?
6) Pick up some branded merchandise to show that you’ve been to the course in Santa Rosa – maybe I just missed the “real” pro shop!
Tres Lagunas GC is a small town course with very few amenities. Of the above statements, the only one I agree with is #1 – it’s a 9-hole golf course!
1127 Chuck N Dale Lane, Santa Rosa, NM 88435; 575-472-4653; www.santarosacampground.com
