This course sits at the foothills of the Jemez Mountains and is probably one of the most scenic courses in the Southwest It is a spectacular high desert design that is carved delicately into the natural landscape and surrounded by cedars pinyons and ponderosa pines No structures are built on the course and no homes or busy roads are nearby Elk are seen in the wintertime coming down from upper elevations to feed on the greens The front nine is walkable but the back nine is hilly and makes for a workout especially at the course s 6,000 foot elevation Thanks to the elevation however it is possible to reach hole 17 a 503 yard par 5 in two with a mid iron The downhill putts can be treacherous on the fast undulating greens Golf Digest rated this course as the 5th Best Public Course in the state for 1996 In addition Golf Digest rated this course 47th under the category of America s Top 75 Affordable Courses in their 1996 list of America s Best Golf Courses Everyone Can Play In the category of Top 75 Public Courses it was rated 4th for 1990 The same publication ranked it the 4th Best in State course for 1996 97 and the 7th best for 1997 98