Inn of the Mountain Gods Course Review

As we continue traveling in New Mexico, we played the Inn of the Mountain Gods championship golf course. I have played this course several times over the years and have a love hate relationship with it. The course is plagued with overgrown mature pine tress in the middle of the fairways. Yes, trees, plural. If you can makes through holes 2-4 at less than one over, be happy. The front 9 has some really fun holes on it, with the back 9 being much more playable.

One of my big sticklers with this course is that I feel like it’s a poor value. For the standard rack rate of $125 you do not receive many amenities. Don’t expect to have towels or tees in the cart, or even range balls included in that price. You will find uneven tee boxes, some patchy fairways, and a range that maxes out at 150 yards. Luckily we played on a Sunday afternoon when they run a special for $55.

Check in is straight forward, with a good selection of merchandise. There is a decent grill below the pro shop, but on the day we went, they had no grab and go food. They have a good sized practice green, but like stated above, the range is only 150 yards long.

The front 9 starts with a straight forward par 5 that narrows closer to the green. There is a small creek so make sure you take the correct club off the tee to stay short. The approach is up hill, and I have gone for it many times but over time have learned to lay up. Hole 2 begins the 3 hole leg with trees in the fairways. Try to stay left of the trees, or slide underneath them to have a shot at the green. Short is better than long on your approach here. Hole 3 will take a good tee shot. You can hit a driver if you are consistent, but a hybrid will work as well. If you cut the ball try to cut it between the two closest tree and the one further. If you play a draw, keep it down the right hand side drawing it back behind the two closest trees. Hole 4 is the last of the tree holes. Keep your tee shot down the right to have a good look at the green. Holes 2-4 play a bit up hill so the altitude won’t affect the distance of your ball flight like it will the rest of the course. On hole 5 you will have your first par 3. It plays a little downhill so club down. I actually clubbed down two clubs so don’t be bashful about it (I am also not sure how to play from the back tees on this hole as there are two overgrown trees above the second tee box. Very small window and agreed we were happy we weren’t back there.). Hole 6 is a short up hill par 4. There are a few trees on the right hand side so drawers of the ball beware. The fairway flattens out at the top so make sure you take the right club with the altitude.

Hole 7 is another par 4 with trees that will affect your play. There are some overhanging trees on the right hand side of the green so keep your tee shot down the left. Hole 8 is an extremely downhill par 3. I enjoy this hole a lot. From the blue tees, a 7 or 8 iron is all you need. Don’t be afraid to be short, as anything short will kick hard forward onto the green from about 10 yards off. The last hole of the front 9 is a par 5 you can easily reach in two with a good tee shot. Be aggressive off the tee drawing it left. Most tee shots will kick hard and continue to roll down the fairway. Don’t be long on your approach as the back of the green drops down a good amount, although not at a steep angle. The start of the back 9 begins with a par 4 that you must hit to large island fairway, and then onto the green. Two good iron shots will be rewarded here. Hole 11 is a flat par 5 that can be reached in 2. Make sure you note where the pin is, as there is a shelf halfway through the green. The 12th hole is a frustrating par 3. With water in the front and left, you don’t want to leave it short. Behind the hole there is water as well, so anything rolling hard off the green will likely find the water as well. Both of our tee shots hit hard and rolled off the back.

Hole 13 is a flat par 4. Be careful of the creek that runs down the left hand side further down the fairway. The miss to the green is right, as the same creek is still there to the left. Hole 14 is the worst designed hole on the course. It is a skinny s shaped par 5. Put your driver away unless you are play the tips. A hybrid or long iron is all you need. As you lay up, keep it down the right hand side as everything will bounce and go left towards a creek. You do want to be on the left hand side of the fairway though as there is another large tree in the middle of the fairway. If you’re wondering if it has been trimmed in a while, it hasn’t. I stayed well back from it, 140 yards back to be exact and was able to get over it with a 9 iron. Take notice of the pin placement again as there is another shelf running halfway through the green. Hole 15 is a short par 4. Driver isn’t needed but it sure is fun. A hybrid or long iron just right of the trap is just fine. Be wary of the trap behind the green as it’s a tough up and down from there. The next two holes are some fun driving holes, especially hole 17. Hole 16 is fairly flat and then climbs up hill the last 50 yards. It’s straight forward but I prefer to be short of this green rather than long. Hole 17 is where you can unleash a bomb of a drive. Most drive will hit near the tree on the right and bounce hard forward leaving you inside 100 yards. If the wind is at your back, you can get it much closer. Hole 18 is a signature par 3. Playing 272 (actual distance is a bit shorter) from the tips, so it is no slouch of s hole. It is downhill so you won’t have to hit the actual number to get there. I was able to club down 2 clubs and put it on the front. Be just short or right with a miss as left is in the water and long left is a tough up and down.

Overall, Inn of the Mountain Gods is a good choice in the Ruidoso area, and one that everyone should play once. I don’t believe its a good value for what they offer but it is an interesting course and one any golfer would remember playing.