Golf’s ground floor rising

Albuquerque, New Mexico. One of the virtues in covering golf is the need to travel on a constant basis to see up close how the sport is doing. Seeing firsthand how the game is evolving in the post pandemic time frame completes the questions needing answers.

My personal genesis in golf came through my father. Born in the Bronx, NY, he introduced me to the game via Van Cortlandt Park — the oldest public course (1895) in the United States.

When playing Van Cortlandt, you soon found out that grass grew by accident — not by design. One needed a literal hammer getting a tee into the ground. No exaggeration. The quality of the putting greens? Try a full shoulder turn in getting a six-foot putt to the hole.

Municipal golf at that time, to be kind, was bare bones in all senses.

The good news was that when you finally arrived at Van Cortlandt you were whisked away from the 24/7 commotion that existed just beyond the park. You came in contact with people who shared a real desire to enjoy golf and the camaraderie it provides.

Years have passed since my last visit there but the DNA of municipal golf lies within my soul.

For those needing a quick definition — municipal golf are facilities owned and operated by either a local, county or State jurisdiction. When Van Cortlandt first opened the concept of the government funding the building of golf courses was rarely executed. The sport was centered through the most affluent of people and the private playgrounds they created were for themselves. Only themselves.

Fast forward after World War II and the momentum started to build for golf’s growth. Enter into the picture a charismatic and dashing Arnold Palmer coupled with the explosion of television and the seeds for the future growth of municipal golf was off to the races for development.

However, an inordinate amount of attention remains in lionizing courses at the upper elite level. Names such as Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits, Pinehurst #2, TPC Sawgrass, come quickly to mind. If you want to ride the elevator to the penthouse to play any of these, then have no less than two credit cards to deal with the mind-numbing fees charged.

Golf’s ground floor level is the municipal level. That’s where the non-affiliated players, ones on fixed incomes, are introduced to the sport without bankrupting themselves in the process.

Plenty of communities now include golf on the menu of offerings provided to the public. Some have a deep roster of courses. Bethpage State Park on Long Island has no less than 90 holes on the property with the famed Black Course the headliner and host for the Ryder Cup matches next year.

Recently I returned to Albuquerque, NM in order to update myself on the golf provided by the State’s largest city. Albuquerque has a population just over half a million with 300 plus days of sunshine annually. With a few exceptions, one can play just about year-round.

The Land of Enchantment draws plenty of visitors and the annual balloon festival in Albuquerque is world renowned. The blending of colors in the high desert environment is utterly captivating.

The city operates several courses, and, while each is a bit different from one another, the opportunity to play is encouraged with a fee structure that’s very much budget friendly.

Affordable golf need not be pedestrian golf. Albuquerque’s 90-holes of golf and associated four driving ranges — provide a range of offerings for aspiring players to enjoy.

Keep firmly in mind the reality of economics — New Mexico is 45th in the USA based on per capita income. That mandates a clear commitment to providing rates in alignment with the day-to-day realities those in and around the greater Albuquerque area face. See the rate chart below.

If one does the math, consider a person with a regular annual pass who plays 100 times in a year – the cost per round is just under $16 per round. That’s amazing in today’s post pandemic inflation world. Go to any high-end resort or private club and you will spend that same amount simply by purchasing one sleeve of golf balls!

Best of all, anyone can purchase an annual pass even if not a resident of Albuquerque.

To be clear the range of the golf architecture is a mixed bag. The one that generates plenty of attention is Arroyo Del Oso. The rough translation is “dry stream of the bear.” The layout was designed by Dick Phelps and opened in 1965. Arroyo Del Oso received a boost when Golf Digest rated the course among the top 50 municipal courses in its March, 1981 issue.

The 18-hole course is impacted by a creek that weaves its way around the various holes. A few years back flooding occurred on the property and a number of holes were impacted. Fortunately, the course has returned to very playable conditions. The strategic decisions when playing are tested by devilishly small greens encountered throughout the round. The experience is bolstered by a property with terrain movement to keep players always on their toes.

Like many municipal courses – customers need to be a bit elastic in their understanding of the various ebbs and flows (no pun intended) that can happen. Government often takes time to fix any number of things and the right personnel / equipment can be a never-ending task to secure.

When arriving at Arroyo Del Oso I was struck by the clientele on hand. Far too often golf is falsely glamourized with the assumption all players are garbed in high-end clothing. At Arroyo Del Oso and the other Albuquerque-owned courses you encounter players wearing a mixed range of clothing from the noted brands to just basic shorts and a simple tee-shirt or polo.

The same applies to the type of vehicles parked on any of the properties. Yes, you’ll spot the occasional luxury cars such as Merecedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus. But, more often than not, pickups trucks and a range of economy cars dominate the landscape — ones with plenty of mileage included.

What’s apparent is the passion seen on the face of all the players. Albuquerque’s ground floor of municipal public course provides the critical connection – an oasis from daily life.

A renewal with past acquaintances and the forging of new friendships all through the game of golf.

Related: Masashi (Marcy) Kamoda interview

CEO & Co-Founder PROTOCONCEPT GOLF. Offering amateurs the opportunity to play with prototypes previously exclusive to golf professionals.

Other Albuquerque area courses worth checking out

For those wanting to play a mixture of courses when in the greater Albuquerque area – check out the following offerings. Just realize prices charged and overall availability will vary depending upon time of year.

Located just minutes from Albuquerque’s International Sunport airport is the University of New Mexico Championship Course. The 1967 layout is the handiwork of architect Red Larence and has hosted an array of key golf events over the years – most notably the 1992 NCAA golf championship where acclaimed golfer Phil Mickelson claimed the individual title. The course can stretch to over 7,500 yards and plays on a hillside that features an array of interesting holes.
University of New Mexico Golf Course

Just north of Albuquerque is the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo. The Gary Panks design Twin Warriors opened in 2001 and has been the venue for multiple PGA Professional Championships. The layout is routed in and around 20 ancient cultural sites of previous habitation and activity. The course can stretch to 7,700 yards.
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa

On the north side of Albuquerque is the Sandia Resort & Casino. The 18-hole layout opened in 2005 and was designed by Scott Miller. The layout beautifully uses the gently rolling terrain and can play to a max of 7,752 yards.
Sandia Golf Club

Located in the nearby Sandia Mountains is Paako-Ridge Golf Club. The 27-hole layout is set in a scenic wilderness with holes weaving in and around stately pine trees. Opened for play in 2000 and designed by Ken Dye, the facility is rated among the best public courses to play in the USA by Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golfweek.
Paako Ridge Golf Club