Five Las Cruces-area golf courses to play at over the summer
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Framed by the rugged peaks of the Organ Mountains, the Las Cruces area has quietly established itself as a premier, high-value golf destination in the Southwest.
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The local landscape offers a striking variety in design, ranging from expansive, modern dune layouts to tight-fairway parkland challenges and the scenic fairways of Picacho Hills. The area provides public players and club members alike a diverse, year-round golfing experience.
Here are five golf courses in the area to try out this summer. The first four are in Las Cruces, while the fifth one listed is in Anthony.
NMSU Golf Course
The NMSU Golf Course, located at 3000 Herb Wimberly Drive, is an 18-hole course that is fully open to the public year-round. GolfPass ranked it as the seventh-best collegiate golf course in the country back in January.
For an 18-hole game, the course measures 7,040 yards for men and 5,858 yards for women, and is a par 72 course for men and 74 for women. It offers a wide variety of holes with good fairways and large greens. The course has hosted NCAA events in the past and, most recently, the New Mexico 5A state golf championship in May.
The course also has a shop with a large array of equipment and New Mexico State-branded apparel, a practice facility with a driving range, putting greens and a short-game practice area, and is the home of NMSU's PGA Golf Management program. The course also has an outdoor patio and The Player's Grill Restaurant, which can host special events.
An 18-hole fee is $37 on weekdays and $47 on weekends, while a nine-hole fee is $21 and $26, respectively. Golf carts cost $18 on weekends and $10 on weekdays.
Red Hawk Golf Club
This course, stretching 7,523 yards, provides a unique playing experience by blending a challenging links-style design with open prairie dune features. It recently hosted a U.S. Open local qualifying event in May.
The course's practice facility features a double-sided driving range, a dedicated 90-yard practice hole and multiple putting and chipping greens. You can also take lessons at the course and host events like weddings, parties and luncheons, among others.
Fees range from $20 to $80, depending on what day and time you're there and if you have a golf cart. The course is located at 502 Red Hawk Golf Road and is open from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Sonoma Ranch Golf Course
Located at 1274 Golf Club Road and open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, Sonoma Ranch Golf Course offers rolling bent-grass greens, strategic bunker placements and five tee boxes to accommodate varying skill levels.
The course features the Sunset Grill within the clubhouse, which can host up to 300 people, a driving range and a pro shop. It also offers lessons, junior golf camps in the summer and golf leagues.
Fees range from $15 to $80, depending on what day and time you're there, how many holes you play and if you want a golf cart.
Picacho Hills Country Club
This course is located on 6861 Via Campestre near Picacho Peak and is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
The course offers bluegrass fairways paired with bent-grass tees and greens, a pro shop, lessons, clubs to rent and personalized club fittings. The course also features tennis courts to play at, dining and the ability to host special events such as weddings.
Exact membership fees are kept proprietary, but you can choose a seasonal or monthly dues structure. There is no initiation fee and two tiers of membership, one for golf and one for just the club.
Anthony Country Club
Anthony Country Club is about a 30 to 40-minute drive from Las Cruces and is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Mondays.
The course is different from the ones in Las Cruces. It features three tee boxes, a traditional layout that contrasts with the expansive desert-style courses listed above and a parkland-style nine-hole course with narrow fairways, small greens, trees and foliage that prioritize accuracy over distance. You are allowed to play through the course twice for an 18-hole day.
The course also has a swimming pool active during the summer months, a pro shop and event-hosting capabilities. There are exclusive events for members, such as the upcoming Anthony Invitational from Aug. 6-9.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Five Las Cruces-area golf courses to visit this summer