Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club Course Review – All 27 Holes

So our main goal of going to Albuquerque was to play New Mexico’s #1 course, Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club. A wonderful Ken Dye design, it’s a must play.  We were not let down, and Paa-Ko Ridge is definitely worth playing. I was a bit surprised to find out that under the new management there are no longer any twilight rates, but that was fine. At $135 for 18 holes, it is not the cheapest place, but if you have played any top level courses, you will understand this isn’t overly high. In fact, I think the value is still good. They also have a 27 hole rate at $160, which is an outstanding value. We opted to play all 27 holes.

Paa-Ko Ridge was in immaculate condition. Exactly what you would think from a top 100 public course in the country.

Clubhouse

The clubhouse at Pa-Ko Ridge is very nice, with an open patio between the pro shop and restaurant. The pro shop was decent sized, and had plenty of apparel. The one thing that I would like to mention is that the apparel here is not overpriced. Many times when you visit a resort or top golf course, everything in the pro shop is more expensive than other places. Before we entered I was debating about buying a shirt, but after seeing the prices, it was obvious that I was going to get one.

We ate at the restaurant after our first 18 holes. They have a good selection of foods, and my club was very good. A perfect meal while golfing. We sat out on the open patio, where you can see both 9 and 18 greens and watched people play as we ate, which was enjoyable.

Practice Areas and Range

There is a nice range, with plenty of room to warm up. Range balls are included in the rate so you won’t have to worry about not having enough range balls. Like mist top courses, they have a separate shipping area with one bunker, and another practice putting green. I would highly recommend practicing on the putting green and dialing in the speeds. We were told they were running at an 11, and I believe that was correct. I’ve only played 2 other courses with faster greens. That being said, it’s always a good idea to leave your ball below the hole and avoid any downhill putts you can.

Holes 1-9

Hole 1 is a straightforward par 4 to get you going. Stay right of the fairway bunker on the left. The fairway does narrow a bit near the bunker. On your approach, make sure you are on the same level as the pin. Anything below the ridge will run back towards the front of the green. So if the pin is on the front then you can spin it back towards the hole. If the pin is in the back, then make sure you land it above the ridge.

Hole 2 is a shorter par that long hitters will need to lay up on. Keep your ball just right of the fairway bunker on the left. You may also choose to stay short of the bunker on the right as well. There is a large hill to the left of the green, and anything will come down from it as long as you’re not above it on the cart path. Avoid going right as golf balls will be lost or tough to find. Just short is fine as well.

Hole 3 is a par 5 that will take 3 shots. Stay right of the bunkers on the left with your tee shot. The lay up should be easy, just keep it out of the bunker on the left. The green has several different levels, so knowing where the pin is and hitting that area is important. Be careful of anything short, as it will run down off the green.

Hole 4 is a par 3 with a very long narrow green and 3 distinct levels. Keep your ball from going to the right as it will be gone in the woods. Make sure you hit the correct level. Of course, it’s better to to be on a lower tier than having to putt down to one.

Hole 5 is a fun par 5 that you may have a chance to get there in 2. Keep your drive down the left hand side as it will roll to the right after the hill. If you decide to go for it, don’t be short. The small hill on the back isn’t a bad spot. Neither is the bunker just left of the green in 2. If laying up, hit just behind the hill, keeping it down the left. With your approach, deep left is the miss.

Hole 6 is a drive-able hole to the long, accurate, hitters. There is plenty of trouble if you pull out that driver. I prefer to keep it short with a mid iron, down the right hand side of the fairway. With your approach, avoid the deep bunkers on the left. There is plenty of room deep right.

Hole 7 is one of, if not the toughest par 4’s on the course. You will be teeing up high above the fairway. Long hitters may run out of room on the tee shot unless the keep it down the left. The approach is down hill and tough to get the correct number. Short here is better than long.

Hole 8 is a long downhill par 3. Short is fine but avoid the bunkers on the left. The green isn’t as tough as other so take aim on this one.

Hole 9 is a nice par 4 that is one of the few holes on the course that has water. Keep your tee shot down the left hand side away from the water and fairway bunkers. With your approach, obviously keep it out of the water right. Deep left is a good miss and not overly tough to get up and down from.

Holes 10-18

Hole 10 is a short par 4 that you will need to lay up on. A long iron or hybrid will probably be all you need. Keep it somewhat down the left for a straight on approach. On that approach, keep it away from the bunkers on the right, and miss just left if necessary.

Hole 11 is a longer par 4 and a good drive is needed. Avoid the bunker on the left with your tee shot, keeping your drive down the left hand side if possible. There are a couple bunkers short of the green, so make sure you clear those with your approach.

Hole 12 is a fun par 5 that is pretty straight. Make sure to keep it to the left of the bunkers on the right, as it will hit the hill and bounce hard right. You can go for it in 2 if you want, but I think it narrows too much and isn’t worth it. A long lay up just short of the bunkers on the left is a much better play. You can also lay up just over the fairway bunker on the left if you want a full shot into the green. Again, just make sure you are long enough to get over the bunkers that are short of the green.

Hole 13 is a short par 4 that has a very similar tee shot as the 12th hole. Keep that tee shot left of the fairway bunker on the right or again it may hit the hill and bounce hard right. You don’t have to hit driver here. This green has a lot of trouble around so commit to your shot. Long and deep left are your best miss options, but you will be chipping downhill, which will be a tough up and down. You really need to hit the green on this hole.

Hole 14 is the longest par 3 on the course and not an easy one. It does play a bit downhill but still required a hybrid. There is room to land short of the green as anything too long is not good at all.

Hole 15 is a dun par 5 that will take 5 shots to make the green unless you’re a tour quality player. Keep your tee shot down the left hand side of the fairway, as this hole bends back to the right. Lay up towards the few trees that look like the end of the fairway that are actually on the left hand side. Stay short of them. The green is pretty easy to hit from here, just don’t be long.

Hole 16 is the only par 3 over water. It plays downhill and we had a tough time gauging the correct number. We both hit it over the green. My suggestion is to club down and aim for the right hand of the green.

Hole 17 is the signature hole at Paa-Ko Ridge. There are two sets of tee boxes, and one is higher up on top. Teeing off from here is something else. If your tees aren’t up there, I would highly suggest to walk up there and look at the view. While you can hit driver, I don’t think it is needed. Hit whichever metal you hit the best to be honest, as you will need to hit the fairway. It is back up hill to the green so it’s hard to go long. Just avoid the bunker on the right of the green, as it’s pretty steep back up to the green and you probably won’t have a flat lie.

Hole 18 is tough finishing hole if you’re only playing 18. Keep your tee shot left of the fairway bunkers down the right hand side. The approach here may be one of the, if not the toughest on the course. Only the long and deep right don’t have bunkers but it slopes of severely. The large bunker short left is your best miss option, as it will have a flatter lie than any of the others. The green is large and very hit-able, so take aim and commit.

Holes 19-27

Holes 19-27 were added later, and have a bit different layout. In my opinion, these 9 holes are fun, but not quite as good as 1-18. They are a good after lunch set of holes for sure though.

Hole 19 starts out with a pretty easy par 5 if you can hit the fairway. Hit your tee shot middle left as it will want to roll back to the right after the hill. If you decide to go for it, make sure you get on top of the green. A tough long is fine. Lay up down the hill, keeping short of the bunkers on the right. With your approach, make sure you are long enough to carry the bunker on the right. again, just a little long is better than being short.

Hole 20 is a tough par 4 that will have a long approach. A hybrid or long iron is all you need off the tee. I prefer the right hand side of the fairway as your ball will want to roll a little back to the left after the hill. The approach is long, but there are only 2 traps to the left of the green. Avoid those and you will be fine.

Hole 21 is a longer par that plays uphill slightly. Keep your tee shot in the fairway, as there are no bunkers there to worry about. With your approach, just avoid the bunker short right and you will walk away happy.

Hole 22 is the first of 3 downhill par 3’s on this 9 and has a fantastic view. Short is better than long, so club down. There are bunkers left and right. Just avoid the smaller ones to the right.

Hole 23 is another fun par 5. There are a lot of bunkers on this hole so keep it down the middle off the tee. You can hit a long lay up to the right of the bunkers and green or leave it shorter to the right of the bunkers. The miss on your approach is to the right off the green.

Hole 24 is the second downhill par 3. The green is elevated so do not be long. Club down and miss short if anything.

Hole 25 is the toughest par 5 on this last 9, and the fairway narrows the longer tee shot you have. Lay up down the fairway to your desired number. Just avoid going into the water left, and you will be happy after another hole.

Hole 26 is the last of the par 3’s. It is the longest of them and will require a good shot. Be short left if anything here, you just can’t be long.

Hole 27 is fun par 4 and fun to finish on. Keep it just left of the fairway bunker on the right. With your approach, just keep it long enough to clear the bunkers.

Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club is rated number 1 in New Mexico for a reason and it didn’t disappoint. The first 18 are a tremendous group of holes and are worth playing. Holes 19-27, or the 3rd nine, are different than the original 18, and I prefer to play them after as a fun 9. There are some really good courses in the area so it’s easy to turn it into a good golfing trip. If anyone in your group is a member of a private club, I would suggest playing The Canyon Club at Four Points.