If you’re an avid golfer, you have to experience both the challenging holes and scenic views of the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort Championship Golf Course.
The Championship Golf Course ranked No. 23 in Golf Digest’s “Top 40 Casino Golf Courses.”
The course, which spans 7,212 yards, sits directly behind the resort at 287 Carrizo Canyon Road in Mescalero, New Mexico, and is open most of the year. It is open during the spring, summer and fall seasons and then closes during winter. Last year, they rented golf carts for visitors to tour the course during winter to enjoy the views and roaming animals.
Golfers will find a challenging course with turtle-back greens, pine-tree-lined fairways and scenic water hazards in man-made lakes.
Of note is Hole 8, an elevated tee box par 3 that drops approximately 200 feet to a protected soft green. Golfers will need to choose their clubs wisely to accommodate the contouring course.
The last hole, which professional golfers may reach in 3 1/2 hours, is the toughest par 3 on the course, according to the resort. Players are forced to carry the ball over the water to a green protected by left and right bunkers.
PGA Head Golf Pro Anthony Romero, who is in charge of the course, said the beautiful scenery definitely has a positive impact on golfers. Driving the course and greeting other golfers as they make their way to each hole seems relaxing and therapeutic. Walking is not allowed on the course.
“You can look at other resorts up north, but they are not anything like this one. You got twin Sandia and Isleta in Albuquerque, but it’s unfortunately in Albuquerque still. Even though those courses are very beautiful, and their conditions are great, you’re still in Albuquerque. You’re not really isolated; you’re not really away from it.
“Here you just can’t really tell that Ruidoso is 10 miles away from you. All you see out there is the golf course and then the nature that we have out there. You can’t see that on any other golf course. We have deer, we have elk, we have turkey, we have wild horses out there. And in the wintertime, you will even see bald eagles. There’s so much wildlife out there that people can get pretty close to.”
Aside from the beautiful scenery, the golf course is generally quiet; there is no city noise pollution. But remember the animals around the course are wild. Give them space to avoid any chance of injury.
“In the mornings and the late afternoons at a certain time of year, you hear the elk bugling and it’s really cool to listen to that,” he said.
Golfers can book tee times up to a month in advance. Singles, twosomes, and threesomes should expect to be paired up.
Tee times range from $104 plus, depending on the time of day. Rates are subject to change.
To book a tee time, go to innofthemountaingods.com
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María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com, @EPTMaria on Twitter; eptmariacg on TikTok.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Inn of Mountain Gods Championship Golf Course offers scenic views
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