Paako Ridge Golf Club -1 to 9 Nine

Review of Paako Ridge Golf Club Holes 1 to 9

Wow, Paako o Ridge Golf Club is one of those must play courses and what every golf course should aspire to be when it grows up.  It was carved out of the rugged foothills of the eastern side of the Sandia Mountains and offers scenic vistas, serenity, lots of variety, elevation changes, and some outstanding holes – all at a very reasonable rate for such a quality course.  Paako Ridge is home to 27 holes, each of which has it's own unique personality and characteristics:

• Holes 1 to 9 have lots of forced carries and layups, elevation changes, severely sloping fairways, and very demanding greens – yet it's regarded as the easiest nine by most players
• Holes 10 to 18 play up and down the foothills and this nine is best known for breathtaking scenery, huge elevation changes, lots of bunkers, and the signature 17th hole
• Holes 19 to 27 are more open and forgiving but this nines is regarded as the toughest of the nines with three long par 3s and 3 very demanding par 5s

We've played a number of courses in the United State and we have given less than a handful a 10 – Paa-Ko Ridge 10 to 18 got a 10 and the other two nines area about as close as you can get to a perfect 10!  Read our review of Paako Ridge 10 to 18 and 19 to 27 to learn more about these two nines.  And after playing all 27 holes it is not surprising that Paako Ridge Golf Club is the most highly acclaimed course in New Mexico and it is well deserving of all of the awards, some of which include:

• National Top Ten Best Courses For The Money by Links Magazine
• Golf Digest #1 "Best New Course in America
• Travel & Leisure's Top 10 Desert Courses in America
• #20 in Golf Digest's America's 100 Greatest Public Course
• Golf Magazine's Top 100 You Can Play in America – #43

Holes 1 to 9 are a typical Ken Dye design and this nine is characterized by severe mounding, rolling and heavily contoured fairways, and very challenging green complexes.  In addition to all of that you'll encounter elevation changes that require you to club up as well as club down, scenic views, lots of forced carries some of which are very intimidating, several places where you can risk going for it or take the safer choice and layup, bunkers of all shapes and sizes, challenging green complexes, and peace and quiet except for a few swear words or shouts of "go in the hole" as well as golf balls ricocheting off rocks and trees. 

Every hole on 1 to 9 is different, fun, and will throw something at you to keep you focused on your game and not the scenic vistas.  All of the holes have names and some that we really liked included:

• Dye-abolical – a 183 yard par three with an elevated tee shot that is all carry over a gully and natural area to a 98 yard oblong and very skinny green with 4 sloping and rolling tiers – and of course the pin was at the top of the green and my drive was at the bottom – I felt like I was a mile away and of course I 4 putt!
• Santa Fe – from an elevated tee box you can see all the way to Santa Fe on this 562 yard par 5 with a wide landing zone off the tee, a dog right past 7 bunkers (most of which are steep and deep), and a sloping left to right fairway that can send your ball into the trees, dirt, rocks, and cactus
• Gambler – I lost the bet to see who could get closest to the pin on this short 327 yard par 4 with a raised green and 6 bunkers
• Anasazi Ruin – I don't know the significance of the name but I loved this excellent 477 yard finishing hole that dog legs right around a sparkling lake, has 3 huge bunkers waiting for errant shots, and has a beautiful backdrop of the clubhouse and mountains

New Mexico has been suffering from a multi-year drought and the lack of rain has impacted the conditions of the rough and fairway – what would normally by lush and plush and perfect was a little dry, thin, and had a few brown spots.  None of which impacted play and still the conditions were very good and we rated the fairways and rough a 8.75. 

Like most Dye courses, Paako Ridge's 1 to 9 fairways have lots of mounding, treacherous and numerous bunkers, slope, and undulation.  Dye did an excellent job of carving some very fun and scenic holes out of some rugged mountain terrain.  He leveraged the natural terrain to create fairways that are both a blast to play yet challenging with forced carries, elevation changes, slope, and plenty of contour – expect some uneven lies!

The greens on 1 to 9 at Paako Ridge were in near perfect condition – little to no damage, fast, true, and they held the ball well. The fringe was puttable and the majority of the greens were huge and a variety of shapes. Ken Dye also sculptured the greens with lots of slope, tiers, contour, and subtle breaks.  Make sure you practice putting before you head out.

The bunkers ranged is shape and size from some deep pot bunkers to some huge multi-fingered monsters.  The sand was a little disappointing because it was a little gritty and firm – which may be necessary to keep it from blowing out of the bunkers thanks to the wind.

Bottom line – all 3 nines at Paako Ridge are a must play – fun, demanding but fair, scenic, lots of variety, and an excellent value.

The slope and rating are based on playing the first nine and 10 through 18

Read all about this fun trip to Southern Colorado/Northern New Mexico where this is one of the courses we played.