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Red or Green
by Dave Johnson
What's not to like about an annual 300 plus days of sunlight. Featuring low humidity and high elevation, New Mexico is high desert, with a four seasons temperature array of 70° average during the spring and autumn months, summer around 90° with winter time around 50°.
Unlike its southern neighbor, Mexico, you can and do want to keep hydrated and can drink the water!
For the art lover, certain theaters are decorated by swastikas which represent an ancient symbol used by the southwest Native Americans. An example is the KiMo Theater that features a unique cantilevered balcony which doesn't require support beams, allowing an almost panoramic view.
Although three-fourths of New Mexico's population resides in Albuquerque and Santa Fe (the oldest state capital in the U.S.) there are numerous locales to also explore. The famous Route 66 ("mother road") is a highway that originates in Chicago, bisects through Albuquerque and ends in Santa Monica, California, a distance of 2200 miles.
Make a point to visit the world famous Carlsbad Caverns and the White Sands Proving Grounds.
Although New Mexico is standing with one foot in the past, one foot in the present, its future has already happened. From its National Atomic Museum to high tech research facilities at the Sandia National Laboratory, Phillips Lab, it own University of New Mexico, another new feature is now on the horizon.
A revolutionary, imaginative, state of the art Aviation Eclipse Jet Factory was recently opened. It features the latest and greatest technology in the futuristic corporate jet market.
Bosques, which are groves of multi-colored cottonwood trees, normally green and more golden yellow during the fall, offer great coloring to a normal high desert region, sprinkled along the famous Rio Grande River. The Sandia Mountains, given the name watermelon because of its reflective pink-like hue during sunset, also offer a contrast to the high desert locales.
Other fascinating aspects of New Mexico are its 19 pueblos, dispersed throughout the state. Each is unique in its own culture and style, with not too subtle differences, being reflected by climate and terrain characteristics forged through centuries of development.
To complement these 19 pueblos, there are three reservations, two being the Jicarilla and Mescalero Apache in New Mexico. The third reservation, Navajo Nation, is also in parts of Arizona and Utah.
I got to stay and play on some of the Native American Pueblos that offer great hotels, very alluring casinos with customized retro fitted golf courses, each representing the individual pueblo of choice with their course adapted to its surrounding terrain. If no snowflake is truly the same, I can also translate this to each of the golf courses I played.
The majority of the signature par 5's from its back tees are in excess of 600 yards in length with one measuring 685 yards. One par five in particular brings back a parcel of mixed memories.
From the back tees, I had quite a climb just to scale to the top of this imposing hole. Having reached the top, the view was unbelievable, and then I looked down. The tees were placed less than two feet from its edge, approximately 500 feet to the ground below. I needed witnesses, so I summoned my three lady playing companions, one being a former pro, to have a look. Once they arrived at the top and nervously peeked over all I heard from them as "Oh, my gosh!!" I told them I had visions of swinging from my heels and more than likely my descent from the cliff would probably travel farther than my golf ball. I decided to move the markers 10 feet back, and once finished, never looked back.
Whack! To make a long story short, I felt quite lucky to just three-putt. This is probably the only time in my golfing experience that I had to pivot while putting.
My playing partner, who was still alive on the hole thanked me for being the guinea pig by showing him the direction and speed, managed a two putt from only 85 yards away. Tennis, anyone?
At Twin Warriors, I was paired up with golf assistant, Zack Holfel. A great course and an even greater person, he mentioned the very helpful duties of their golf ambassadors, the course layout, and mentioned each cart was equipped with a GPS system. I don't normally get intimidated, but Zack knows. I hit, for me, a manageable nice and "ladylike" tee ball to start which would develop into an unforgettable round. Zack teed off and it sounded like the crack of a bat. Mine was more like a nerf ball. After about eight holes of being out-distanced an average of 100 yards per tee ball, I asked Zack was the GPS for the course, or more to the point to measure his prodigious tee shots.
After the front nine was finished, Jack bemusedly excused himself for his other duties probably to allow what little ego I had left to finish up. The good news is that old adage of drive for show, putt for dough is really true. In spite of my yardage deficiency, I did tie with Zack on the front nine scoring 37. I salvaged a 74, so my tail was not completely between my legs.
While staying in New Mexico, remember to pack accordingly because high desert doesn't mean warm necessarily. One particular morning, at 0830, having arrived for a morning round in shorts and a light jacket, nothing prepared me for the next couple of hours. After 20 minutes on the driving range I got ready to tee off and realized I couldn't feel my body. The pro shop personnel rummaged through the cart shack and came out with, at least, something that somewhat helped. After six holes of complete frustration, I was ready to head for the 19th hole, but this time I could justify my growing brain freeze.
Each one of these courses has its own measure of uniqueness both guaranteed to match and better any courses Myrtle Beach and the like have to offer. The most women-friendly course we played, however, was Sandia, mainly because of their favorable tee box positioning.
Never order the hot dog from the Twin Warriors snack shop, the Atush Bar and Grill unless you're extremely hungry. I ordered just one loaded hot dog at the turn, and not only could both my wife and I not finish it, but it ruined my appetite six hours later for the seven-course meal I was so looking forward to. Only kidding, someone at this property really did their homework.
Ladies (and men), all the golf courses, and New Mexico proper, have been meticulously laid out to provide whatever tickles your fancy. Because your golf usually takes approximately four hours to play, rest assured, assuming eight hours of sleep, the other 12 hours are there waiting to be used, amused and abused.
When planning your excursion to New Mexico, don't leave things to chance. The local or state convention bureaus are quite friendly and extremely helpful.
When traveling, or at least in my case, it's not all about me, rather who I get to know. Each area has its own cast of characters. New Mexico is no exception.
Perhaps you may run into the very knowledgeable "Bill Murray," or our multi-tasking tour guide, Sarah, whose head could swivel I swear 360° while driving mind you and lead foot mentality that knew only one speed. (I still don't feel she deserved that speeding ticket.)
Two gracious ladies from New England, Mary and Karen of Tee Time magazine, were a delight on the golf course.
New Mexico is a growing striving part of Americana. Last year 2006, marked the state's Tricentennial Celebration. This goes hand in hand with their state motto, "Crescit Eundo," it grows as it goes.
Hint - Ironically, the "burning" question on their lips is "Red or Green." The answer lies in your first or next visit to this multi-cultured, diversified, and prosperous progressive state, who are anxious and prepared for your arrival. Feel free to visit, however and whenever. I know I will again.
Come stay and play.
Best of all, you don't need a passport to visit.
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Even though New Mexico is considered the "Land of Enchantment," I believe this is truly a misnomer and a case of mistaken identity. Ideally it should be known as the destination of options and missed opportunity. Why missed? Well we were there a full week and although we shopped 'til we dropped, ate and drank to our hearts content, sightseed as much as possible and even golfed our little tushes off, once our adventure in the high desert was complete, we are anxious to return, because there was so much more to do, with so little time to accomplish this monumental magnificent labor of love.
New Mexico officially became the 47th state in 1912 and has blended itself in a state of the art 21st century destination with exquisite upscale affordable restaurants, points of interest like the legendary Georgia O'Keefe Museum, opera house, targeted entertainment like the Albuquerque Aquarium featuring their signature shark tank, International Hot Air Ballooning Festival ("to air is human"), white water rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, zoo, wineries, and a breathtaking ride on the Sandia Park Tramway. At 2.7 miles, it is the world's longest aerial tram. Highlighting breathtaking views, complemented with unbelievable refreshing crisp clean air, New Mexico offers an ambient environment and atmosphere sure to capture one's taste for adventure with a primal cultural uniqueness only indigenous to this magnificent vista of the great American southwest.
Each pueblo's way of life hasn't changed as each century passes, and even past cultures and traditions are still practiced today, much like the Amish with their horse and buggy lifestyle. Each pueblo is truly a reflective "mirror like" representation akin to déjà vu, a time standing still aura to be appreciated and learned from.
Having played four of the infamous Santa Fe Trail Tracts, Twin Warriors, Black Mesa, Sandia, and privately owned Paako Ridge, a brief synopsis should capsulize the essence of competition, with individual courses striving to outdistance neighboring pueblo golf properties for bragging rights. Obviously the winner is us, the golfing community.
Another Dye-abolical (its actual name) par three of 183 yards proved to be much tougher than two of its sister holes measuring 265 yards and 272 yards respectively. My two playing partners, one a Bill Murray look-a-like (he also acted the same), and a Freddie Couples duplicate (with a game to match) were co-conspirators in playing one of the most humbling holes one can imagine. Having trapping on adjacent sides of the green, heavy bushing from tee to green with only a walled barrier as separation, 40 mph wind in your face, with a double undulating green, that measured 100 yards from front to back and the flag placed on the top left of the upper tier as well as out of bounds behind the green.
"Bill Murray" started the adventure with a ball hooked so far "left" he lost both his ball, his "religion" and his politics. "Freddie" stepped up, and managed to hit the middle of the lower level, with what looked from the tee to be a better shot than it turned out. Up I stepped and I crushed a four iron that hit the oh so very top of the first level, hesitated, and then slowly rolled backwards down the slopes, past "Freddie's" ball and came to rest on the very front of the green. People, "I had a putt of one hundred YARDS! up two levels of green and slope.
My wife asked me to throw her a golf ball, and as I was throwing the ball, the sleeves literally stopped my arms in mid-thrust, and I practically hit myself in the head with the ball. Mystery solved, I was so restricted by this borrowed garb I would have made a mummy proud. So please, learn from my casual dress experience on what not to do.
Then there was the Native American standing in a downtown souvenir store, in full regalia, letting you have his picture taken with you. As I was walking away, I thought I was going to be scalped as he mock menacing approached me with those not so forgetful words of advice, "Hey buddy, I work for tips here!" Oops! Another case of mistaken identity were the seeming street vendors strewn along the avenues, who as I found out, were officially licensed and registered by the state. Their wares are truly authentic pieces of Native American culture and design. I think you get the point!
