Rainmakers Resort and Club Course Review

Hole 1 Green

First off, wow, what a beautiful course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Rainmakers Club and Resort is one of the best courses I have played to date. I would no doubt put it in my top 3 that I have played. It is a tough course, and you must hit your spots. If you ever have a chance to play Rainmakers, don’t pass it up. If you ever do, hopefully this review will help you out.

Putting Green

Rainmakers Club and Resort is located in Southern New Mexico, just north of Ruidoso in Alto. It is a newer development, with the course opening in 2008. There are just a few homes on the course, and a really nice set of condos on hole 15 (maybe one day!). The clubhouse is very nice, with a smaller, but ample pro shop. Checking in was easy, and every member of the staff including the pro and superintendent were very friendly and helpful. You will find everything you expect from a top tier course, including towels, tees and a newer cart.

Driving Range

The driving range was very interesting as you hit down into the valley. While they do have distances posted, it is really hard to gauge how far you are actually hitting it. But do take note as Hole 3 is very similarly down hill. They have a very nice chipping area, as well as a large practice greens. Make sure you get the speed down, especially going down and up hill. Take notice of the small breaks as to which way they go as the course will repeat it.

Hole 10 Tee

One thing to mention before I start describing the holes, there are typically red stakes marking hazards along the sides of fairways that drop off sharply. Make sure you notice if there are red stakes before you hit a provisional. Also, remember that Rainmakers sits more than 7,000 feet above sea level, and the ball flies further than normal, especially if you are coming from somewhere near the coast. The greens are also very fast. The sign may say 11, but these were the fastest I have played. It might be because it has been very dry there as of late, but these were the fastest I have played.

Hole 1 Green

They have built a new set of tees for hole 1. It has previously played almost 700 yards from the tips (691 to be exact). I should have noticed when I saw the newly sodded tee box but it wasn’t after I found my drive, did I realize how far the tees were moved up. If the tees are in the back, it’s an easy decision to take driver. With the tees up, driver may be questionable, but a well placed drive will leave you getting to the green in 2 very easy on this par 5. The fairway slopes off hard to the right so anything close will be off into the hazard. There isn’t a great place to lay up, so going long down the fairway isn’t necessarily the best option. Atop the hill is the best spot to attack the green. Hole 2 is another par 5, but you can take driver off the tee without too much stress. Playing a bit longer, keep it down the left side as the fairway kicks to the right still, but not as much. Short and the left bunker are the 2 best misses into this green.

Hole 4 Tee

The next hole begins a 4 hole stretch that will make you have to think about what club is needed off the tee. Hole 3 is an extreme downhill par three. I played form the blues, and at 202 yards, I struggled with what club to hit. I eventually hit a 7 iron that hit just short right of the green. If I played it again, I’m not sure if I would have changed clubs, but I know after being on the green I would not want to be over. Hole 4 was the second toughest hole in my opinion, and you don’t need much off the tee as it plays downhill. Hit your spot on the left hand side of the fairway, as it drops off to the right. Don’t be long either as it does the same there. 6 iron did the trick for me (normally 185). On your approach the miss is right. Make sure you acknowledge the pin location as the green as a ridge in the middle turning left halfway up the green. It will be 3 putt heaven if you are in the opposite location than the pin. Hole 5 is very similar to hole 4, but without the dogleg to the right. It is not a long hole, so you don’t have to get it far down the fairway. 7 iron did the trick for me and left me under 150 to the hole, and before it starts going downhill. This is one of the smallest greens on the course, but has more miss options than most. Long left is really the only bad option and anything right is preferable.

Hole 6 Tee

Hole 6 is one I would like to play again. I found this one to be the toughest hole on the course. Try to hit a small draw at the tree on top of the hill. Anything that hits into the hill will kick left and run down into the fairway. There’s not much room to miss left or right here with your approach, so be short if anything here, as the back of the green slopes up sharply making it impossible to chip or putt back down and keep it on the top part of the green. Hole 7 is a down and up par 4. Hit a nice drive just right of the tree over the bunker to put yourself in good shape. You could take a fairway wood or hybrid and be just right of the bunker. Not much room to miss, but left may be the only decent option. A good drive will make it much easier to hit. Hole 8 is par 5 with an elevated tee shot. Aim for the right hand side as everything will want to run left down the fairway. With a good drive this green is easily reached in two (260-270 drive turned into 325 on this hole). The green is long with bunkers on the right, and a little room left, which would be the preferable miss.

Hole 11 Tee

Hole 9 is another par 3 with not much room for error. With bunkers long, and a steep hill in front, right is the only miss. Left is drastically downhill so avoid going there as well. As you make the turn, you will not go by the clubhouse. Hole 10 is a shorter par 4 that you will need to stay the right hand side of the fairway, as part it slopes extremely downhill to the left. I took driver down the right hand side to try to avoid it by flying over. A hybrid short right would work as well. Only advice on your approach here is don’t miss left.Hole 11 is an intimidating par 3 with a ditch running along the right hand side of the green. The miss is left or a little long left. The left side of the green is almost a bowl, so anything is this general are will move towards the middle left of the green.

Hole 12 Tee

Hole 12 is up and over the ridge and the next 3 holes are a bit flatter than many of the previous holes. Driver isn’t necessary but if you decide to gamble aim just right of the last far bunker. A hybrid or long iron is really all that is needed. There is plenty of room around the green but the best place to miss would be short. Hole 13 is a longer par 4, but again, driver isn’t necessary. A fairway wood or hybrid just right of the bunker on the left is perfect. Do not be long. Again, do not be long is it drops off sharply behind the green. This is a green you need to hit. Short middle is about the only decent spot to miss. Hole 14 is slightly uphill and plays the longest of all the par 5’s. There is plenty of room to miss on the tee shot but hitting the fairway is the only way to get to the green in two. Short right is the spot to miss when going for it in two. The bunker on the left is a little deep so try to avoid it.

Hole 15 Tee

Hole 15 is a par 3 over water, which runs against the right hand side of the green. The miss is obviously left, but beware of the bunkers. Depending on when you play, you may have an audience watching from the condos on the other side of the water. Hopefully they won’t boo you like the fans at the Waste Management Open on hole 16 if you miss the green. Hole 16 is another shorter par 4 that you will need to hit the left side of the fairway as it runs off to the right. Driver isn’t necessary, as fairway or hybrid would suffice. Hit whichever club you have the most confidence in. Hole 17 is the last of the terrifying par 3’s on the course. It drops of severely on the right hand side of the green, and a lot behind the green so don’t come to this hole tired. Eat a snack somewhere along the way! This is a little room left but hitting the green is the only real choice.

Hole 18 Tee

Hole 18, what a great finishing hole. There is a semi-blind tee shot. The best play here is a small cut aimed between the bunkers and small tree. There is plenty of room long if you pull it left, but you will not have a shot at the green. The best angle into the green is the area where the fairway begins to get skinny. You could go long left down the fairway, but you will have to gear down on your swing versus hitting a full shot. This is exactly what a finishing hole should look like and Robert Trent Jones, Jr. did not disappoint!

Hole 17 Tee

I appreciate Rainmakers Club and Resort allowing me to come out and play. It is by far the best course in the Ruidoso area. If you are looking to move to or retire in the area, take a look at Rainmakers. There aren’t many courses like it around, or in the country. You won’t be disappointed!