Many wonderful golf courses in Four Corners

Many wonderful golf courses in Four Corners

July 14, 2001

THESE GOLFERS are getting in some practice on the meticulous putting green located just in front of the clubhouse at Conquistador Golf Course in Cortez. The course, operated by the City of Cortez Parks and Recreation Department, is beautifully kept. It is one of the best public courses in the Four Corners area. Maintenance is certainly the key for this challenging course.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Quality of life. That’s part of the big draw about living in the Four Corners region. Certainly part of that is the quality of the municipal and/or public golf courses in the area.

Conquistador Golf Course in Cortez is an outstanding example of a municipal-run course which is open to public play.

One thing that makes Conquistador standout is the consistent good shape of the fairways, greens, sand traps, and border rough. Year after year, the course always has lush grass in the fairways. The greens are generally free of marks and cut short. The sand traps are well kept. The rough grass is trimmed before leading into the high desert fauna which surrounds the course.

Conquistador is a par 72, 6,637-yard (blue tees) 18-hole layout. It has a driving range and practice green. It opened in 1945 (architect unknown) and for many years it was only nine holes. A second nine was added. Green fees are very reasonable at $15 for 18 holes and $9.50 for nine holes with special rates for juniors. Powered golf carts are available to rent for $19 for 18 holes and $11 for nine.

The pro shop has driving range balls, electric powered carts, pull carts, club rentals, club repairs, locker rooms, food/beverages, and beer. Micah Rudosky, following in the footprints of his father and succeeding him, is the head Professional Golf Association pro.

Like Conquistador, Pinon Hills Golf Course in Farmington is a municipal. Pinon Hills Golf Course, operated by the City of Farmington, has received national honor after honor since it opened just over a decade ago.

For the ninth straight year, the city-run Pinon Hills Golf Course has received a national honor.

Golfweek Magazine has named Pinon Hills among its top 100 modern or post-1960 golf courses in the United States.

This year, Pinon Hills was ranked the No. 89 course in the nation in the modern category.

Pinon Hills, which opened in November 1989, has been ranked in the magazine's top 100 every year since 1992, city park officials said. It was designed by the firm of Finger, Dye, and Shirley of Houston.

About 50,000 rounds of golf are played at Pinon Hills each year.

Golfers living within a 100-mile radius of Farmington pay $9 for nine holes during the week, $11 for nine holes on the weekend, $13 for 18 holes during the week and $16 for 18 holes on the weekend.

Those living more than 100 miles outside of Farmington pay $15 for nine holes during the week, $17 for nine holes on the weekend, $20 for 18 holes during the week and $25 for 18 holes on the weekend.

The course is open year-round during daylight hours, weather permitting.

For more information, phone (505) 326-6066.

Beginning opening day, Nov. 3 1989, Pinon Hills has been raved about by both the golfers and golf publications. Over the years Pinon Hills has received the following recognition:1991-1996 Golf Digest...#1 course in New Mexico; Golf World said it is "one of the best new desert designs; 1994 Golf Digest... America's best golf bargain; and 2000 Five star rating-one of only 16 in the country.

Civitan Golf Course was Farmington’s first municipal course. Although San Juan Country Club had already been around since the late 1940s, Civitan was built in the early 1960s. It is a pitch and putt course (all nine holes are par 3s) that surrounds Farmington Municipal Lake. The architect is unknown. Although it is not very long in yardage, it certainly gives a golfer plenty of exercise because of the up-and-down terrain. It has lateral water hazards, sand traps, narrow fairways with out-of-bounds markers, undulating greens, and roughs. It is a very challenging course.

Green fees are very reasonable of $4.50 per round (Monday-Friday) and $5 (weekends). No carts. Limited pro shop and concessions.

Hillcrest Golf Course, located high above the city of Durango near the campus of Fort Lewis College, is another excellent public 18-hole layout. It has many challenging holes and is the open to several tournaments played annually, including the Navajo Trails Open. Hillcrest was Durango’s first and only golf course for many years.

At Kirtland, N.M., is a relatively new public course. Riverview Golf Course, located at Kirtland, N.M., has only within the past few years become a public course when El Paso Natural Gas Co. abandoned its camp and sold the course to San Juan College and Central Consolidated School District. Although not operated by a municipality, it is still a fine public course.

Within the past year and half or so, the course has grown from nine-holes (with two tee boxes to play like 18) to a full 18 holes. And in the planning stages is the addition of an executive nine.

The back nine was constructed several years ago and only opened within the past two years. It is now a challenging high desert course. Once a golfer gets into trouble, he is really in trouble — out in the tumble weeds, scrub cedar trees, and sandstone rocks. The back nine’s architect is the same as who designed Pinon Hills. Plans are under way to tear up the front nine, put in a new watering system, and then reconstruct most of the holes to make it look compatible with the new back nine.

Riverview, located just of U.S. Highway 64 in Kirtland (between Shiprock and Farmington) is open year-round. Rental clubs and carts available. Weekday green fees are $13 and only a $1 more for weekends and holidays.

Hidden Valley Golf Club is located just outside of Aztec, N.M.

The front nine is wide open, so you can bring out the big stick. And you're going to need it - the front nine measures 3,533 yards from the back tees. The back nine has been recently opened (this past April).

The back nine is as tight as the front nine is long. This gives the short knocker in the group a chance to catch up, measuring 3,134 yards. Whether you are long or short off the tee, the back nine requires pinpoint accuracy.

"Great design" is only part of the attraction of Hidden Valley Lake Golf Club. Meticulous maintenance is the other key ingredient.

Start your game by warming up on the redesigned driving range. Golfers can brush up on your short game on the putting green, practice bunker, and chipping area.

The Dalton Ranch Golf Club has been called "The Sparkling Jewel" of the Four Corners. The spectacular setting of the Animas River Valley provides a wonderful setting for a round of golf. The course plays from four different sets of tees, ranging in lengths from 5,500 to 7,000 yards. Slope and rating information is available on our scorecard page. The staff at Dalton Ranch is here to offer the utmost in customer service.

Dalton Ranch is a semi-private course welcoming daily fee play. The 2001 daily fees are: Cart fees are $10 per person for 18 holes, or $6 per person for 9 holes. Pull carts are available for $3 for 18 holes or $2 for 9 holes.

Dalton Ranch is a spikeless course and collared shirts are required for men. For more information, please call the Pro Shop at 970-247-8774.