Golf Courses: Black Mesa

30 miles from Santa Fe New Mexico lies the promised land: Black Mesa Golf Club.  Black Mesa sits on Santa Clara Pueblo Indian land, in the small town of La Mesilla.  Black Mesa is a desert style course which travels in, around, as well as up and down the surrounding mountains and plateaus. Design Baxter Spann is credited for designing this New Mexico masterpiece, rated the #1 course in the state.  Spann utilizes the natural terrain to create breathtaking views of the golf course and surroundings.  Spann takes advantage of the hills and mounding to shape holes which are visually stunning, challenging, yet fair. Tees Each hole at Black Mesa has multiple tee boxes, which are often situated on different angles of attack and at different levels of elevation to give the player a huge variance depending on tee selection.  Playing the course multiple times in a row from different tees will call for very different shots and strategies, great course design. Fairways Finding the fairways at Black Mesa is a brilliantly deceptive challenge.  Many fairways intersect at angles from the line of the tee, and many like #1 have blind carries.  One must pick the correct line, trust it and swing with confidence. Errant shots which don't find the fairway will find the New Mexico desert.  If you can find it, you can play it.  Just don't bother the rattle snake sunning itself four feet from your ball. Greens The greens at Black Mesa are generally large, with very dramatic undulations and slopes.  Finding a green in regulation is not necessarily a guaranteed two putt par.  If the wrong quadrant is found, getting the approach putt close to the hole, or sometimes just keeping it on the green is a challenge. To score well players must hit the appropriate section of the greens. Character From the spectacular course layout to the warm pro shop and cafe, Black Mesa oozes with character.  The staff at Black Mesa is the friendliest you'll find anywhere.  PGA Professional Tom Velarde has award winning teaching techniques to help golfers of all abilities improve their games. Topping it all off, the trademark Black Mesa windmill towers over the pro shop and practice green, squeaking and producing an eerie tune as it spins in the New Mexico wind. Awards Links Magazine Voted #4 in the top ten most spectacular courses in the world GOLF Magazine 2006 Top 100 You Can Play – No. 35 (2004 - No. 47) Top 100 Best Bang For Your Buck – No. 25 Top Thrifty 50 – No. 11 2003 Top Ten You Can Play Golfweek 2008 Top 100 Modern (post-1960) Courses – No. 73 (2007 – No. 85) 2008 Best Courses You Can Play – No. 2 in New Mexico Golf Digest 2007/08 America’s Greatest Public Golf Courses - No. 55 2007/08 Best in State – No. 3 Bet Places to Play – Four Stars (out of five) 2003 Best New Affordable Public Course Contact Black Mesa Golf Club 115 State Road 399 La Mesilla, New Mexico (505) 747-8946 http://www.blackmesagolfclub.com