Mr Mrs Golf Playing Golf in New Mexico
For us, golf is more than a game; it’s an adventure, a shared passion that has taken us across the United States. As “Mr. & Mrs. Golf,” we’re on a mission to play golf together in all 50 states. Our eighth stop on this incredible journey brought us to playing golf in New Mexico and its breathtaking landscapes. Welcome to the “Land of Enchantment.”
Golfing in the Land of Enchantment
Our destination was Farmington, New Mexico, home to Piñon Hills Golf Course, a gem in the world of municipal golf. Ranked as the #4 municipal golf course in the United States, Piñon Hills offered us an unforgettable experience on and off the course.
Upon our arrival, we were greeted warmly by Randy in the pro shop. His friendly demeanor set the tone for our day as he shared insights about the course. One highlight he mentioned was the signature hole—#6, a stunning par-3 surrounded by arroyos and framed by majestic boulders behind the green. With that description, we couldn’t wait to see it for ourselves.
Highlights of the Round
Piñon Hills did not disappoint. The course, nestled in the rugged beauty of New Mexico’s high desert, offered challenging play coupled with spectacular views. As we made our way to the signature 6th hole, the anticipation grew. And what a hole it was!
The Mrs. had a moment of glory here, shooting par with a skillful chip shot over the back boulder. It was a tricky play, but she handled it with grace and precision. The Mr. had his own shining moments during the round, scoring two birdies. Though he’s modest about his accomplishments, those shots were definitely worth celebrating.
Challenges and Rewards
One of the unique challenges of playing Piñon Hills was contending with the high winds that swept across the course that day. The gusts added an extra layer of difficulty, but they also made the game even more exciting. Golf, after all, is about adapting to the elements, and this was a chance to test our skills in new ways.
Despite the windy conditions, the course’s beauty was undeniable. From the rugged terrain to the panoramic views, Piñon Hills truly lived up to New Mexico’s nickname, the “Land of Enchantment.” Each hole was a masterpiece, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings. It’s no wonder this course has earned such high praise.
A Memorable Stop on Our Journey
Our time at Piñon Hills was a perfect blend of challenge, beauty, and fun. From Randy’s warm welcome to the thrill of playing a top-ranked municipal course, every moment was special. Golfing together in New Mexico added another cherished memory to our 50-state journey.
We’re incredibly grateful to Piñon Hills for providing such a fantastic experience. The course not only tested our skills but also reminded us why we love this journey so much. Golf is about more than the game itself; it’s about the connections we make, the places we explore, and the memories we create together.
Looking Ahead
As we continue our mission to golf in all 50 states, New Mexico will always hold a special place in our hearts. Piñon Hills embodied everything we love about this adventure: the beauty of the game, the thrill of new challenges, and the joy of sharing it all as a couple.
If you’re ever in Farmington, New Mexico, we highly recommend teeing it up at Piñon Hills Golf Course. You’ll find stunning scenery, a welcoming atmosphere, and a course that lives up to its stellar reputation. Thank you, Piñon Hills, for an unforgettable day on the greens.
Next up we’re headed to Colorado for state #9 and the adventures ahead. Fore!
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At Piñon Hills Golf Course…
Piñon Hills is a legend in the desert golf landscape. What makes us legendary? Simply, we are affordable, friendly, fun to play, and hassle free…plus it’s easy to make a tee time and find a place to stay in Farmington, New Mexico. We could not have imagined when we set out to build a golf course for our community it would become known as one of America’s greats. We are rated by Golfweek Magazine as one the best municipal golf courses in the United States year in and year out – for over 25 years!!!
So, make the trip to Farmington in northern New Mexico’s “land of enchantment,” and play the #4 Municipal Golf Course in the United States!!! You won’t be disappointed.
History of Piñon Hills
Piñon Hills is Born
“I knew it was a good site. It was a big piece of property… the thing that made it exciting to work on was that there were no restrictions as to where to build it within the perimeter of the 1,000 acres. Half of the 1,000 acres weren’t usable because it was too steep. The city told us to ‘put the course where you think it fits best.’ We focused on the 300 acres on the northern portion near San Juan Community college.”
Ken Dye, Piñon Hills Golf Course Architect
So it was in the small rural northern New Mexico town of Farmington in the late 1980s. Especially, when it came to civic and community projects to enhance the landscape and livability of this desert climate where three rivers meet. There were a number of citizen groups that were pressing for more recreational facilities. There were golfers, swimmers, wilderness enthusiasts, and youth soccer all requiring a place to get out and play. Jeff Bowman, the Director of Farmington’s Parks and Recreation Department recalls how all of them achieved their goals collectively and Piñon Hills was born. Below is his account of how things happened.
“In the early 80s, several task forces were formed because of requests from citizens (with a chairman from the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Commission) who wished to see additional recreation facilities built. There were soccer fields, golf courses, swimming pools, riverine, and wilderness park interest groups that met to discuss their individual projects. Is there a legitimate need, and if there is, where they could be built and how they could be financed? Each task force was charged with surveying the community, finding suitable locations, and determining approximate costs of construction for each of their projects. Each task force wrote a report outlining its findings and presented it to the Commission and the City Council. It was determined by the Director of the PRCA department that by joining forces each project stood a better chance of being funded through some sort of tax initiative rather than have each project try to meet the electorate’s approval on its own.”
“As important to me as a quality golf course architecture, designing a good golf course on a reasonable budget is a difficult challenge. We had to take advantage of every cost savings possible…from moving land, irrigation system, grasses selected, greens shape, overall contouring, cart paths, parking lot, and clubhouse. The city built the entire golf course and supporting facility with $2.7 million 20 years ago. $1.7 million for the golf course and the other $1 million went to everything else.”
Ken Dye, Piñon Hills Golf Course Architect
So, a committee was formed to combine the reports of each task force and determine a way to market these projects to the public. It was determined that since approximately 60% of all gross receipts tax revenue is received from non-residents and that many of our facilities are used by non-residents and tourists, it was suggested that a sales tax rather than a property tax implementation would be the prudent course of action. This new committee then set about marketing the concept to the public and an election was held in March of 1987 which passed by an approximate three to one margin. The Director and the Commission believed that a strong selling point to the public would be that this tax would be collected with the specific purpose of funding the five projects selected rather than have it go on indefinitely. It was decided that collecting the tax over five years would net enough money to build the projects and that five years would be quite palatable to the public. So a sunset clause was built into the initiative. The tax was 1/4 of one percent and was collected from July 1, 1987, to June 30, 1992. The soccer fields was the first of the projects to be completed because the building cost was the smallest and since this was a “pay as you go” tax–in other words, no bonds were involved–after a few months we had enough to begin and complete that project. The golf course was the next project and the Aquatic Center was the last. The golf course opened in November of 1989 while the pool opened in April of 1994.
“Working for the city we knew we didn’t have a huge budget. So we had to utilize the quality features that nature had presented us. The slope of the land was such that we didn’t need to move a lot of lands…maybe 100,000 cubic yards modest in comparison to course design by today’s standards. The terrain dictated the routing – designing this course because of budget and natural features made this a true exercise in routing. The tee sites, fairway landing areas, and greens were dictated by the rolling and undulating shape of the land, and natural desert features and formations.”
Ken Dye, Piñon Hills Golf Course Architect
The beauty of this method was that the golfers realized that if they wanted a golf course they would have to team up with the swimmers and soccer players, etc. to support all of the projects. Likewise, the swimmers, while they may not be interested in a golf course, knew that they needed to support it if they wanted to see their pool built. By combining all potential users we were able to amass enough voters to overcome those who were opposed to the tax.
Awards & Recognition
Since opening in 1989, Piñon Hills Golf Course has been consistently recognized as one of the best public golf courses in the United States. The peak of this recognition was in the early 1990s when Piñon Hills was voted the #1 Public Golf Course in the USA. Over the past 20 years, Piñon Hills has moved slightly up and down in different publications’ yearly rankings, but for the past 5 years, Golfweek has ranked us the #4 Municipal Golf Course in the United States.
Here are the most recent rankings:
- Top 7 Municipal Golf Courses in the USA 2011-2015, Golfweek Magazine
- #7 Golf Course in New Mexico 2012, Golf Digest Magazine
- #3 Golf Course in New Mexico 2012, Golfweek Magazine
