Desert Lakes Golf Course Review

We decided to get in a quick afternoon round at Desert Lakes Golf Course in Alamogordo, NM. It is a municipal course with daily rates just over $30 per round. We got a twilight special that started at 5 for just $20, probably the main reason why we decided to play. We have played here several times as well and the course is always in decent shape. Keep the ball where you are suppose to and you will find plenty of grass. Put the ball where you are not suppose to, then you may find a pretty bad lie, and often times desert.

Desert Lakes has an ample driving range and putting green. there is a chipping green back behind the cart barn and next to the 9th green. The staff was very courteous and check in was quick. I decided to not hit any range balls but had to wait till 5 to tee if since I got the twilight rate. We saw and were able to pass a 3-some on the front, with the rest of the course being wide open. We were able to play in under 2 hours. Yes, we were playing fast because we wanted to make sure we got all 18 in.

Desert Lakes is a pretty straight forward golf course, with no holes being overly difficult. It is a perfect place to play a warm-up round or just a quick round with friends. The front 9 plays through houses in more of a parkland style design. Hole 1 is a dog leg right par 4. Aim over the traps for a short approach. Just keep it from going long and you will be just fine. Hole 2 is a straight forward par 4. Steer clear of the house on the left and all is well. Although there is plenty of room around the green, it is mounded to make sure you hit this one. Hole 3 is a longer par 5. Keep it from going left into the houses or range and you will have a shot to make the green in two. Short is the miss here, as the range is OB to the left and a bunker to the right. Hole 4 is a nice par 3 with water to the left. Steer clear of it and you should walk away with no worse than a par. Hole 5 is one of the few tougher holes on the course that dog legs right just a bit. Cut the corner and leave yourself with a short approach to help avoid the water to the left of the green. With the water left, and a bunker short right, this makes one of the tougher greens to hit. Long is the only decent missed but still not a fun up and down from there. Hole 6 is a drive-able par 4. I am not a long driver (270ish) and was able to put the ball just left of the green. Don’t worry, the golf gods let the drive only be the good shot of the hole as I missed the birdie putt! There are large bunker left and right so short or long is the preferred missed. Hole 7 is a another straight par 4, but keep the ball down the left as there are trees and a ditch on the right, as well as a large tree on the right hand side of the green. With the tree right and the bunker left, long is the best miss option, although the bunker isn’t a bad option. Hole 8 is a longer par 3, with a larger bunker running down the right hand side of the green. Anywhere else is a much easier up and down. Hole 9 is a par 5 that bends a little bit back to the left. You can make it in two, but I prefer to make this a three shot hole. Avoid the bunkers off the tee with a long iron and hit an easy layup to your desired distance in. There is water left, and the green is mounded so anything right has a chance to bounce OB. This is why I choose to make this a three shot hole.

The back 9 is less parkland and more desert style. Hole 10 is a straight par 5. Just don’t miss left off the tee and end up in the road and you can get there in two pretty easy. Keep it short or right and you’ll be fine. Hole 11 is a shorter par 4 and driver isn’t needed. Take a hybrid or long iron and play a draw aimed at the fairway sand trap, drawing back towards the fairway. Hole 12 is yet again another straight par 4, with long being your miss on your approach. Hole 13 is a nice par 3 over water. Long is better than short with the green extending further back on the right. Hole 14 is, well you guessed it, another straight forward par 4. The miss on the approach is to the right or short. Hole 15 is a short par 4. Take a club that will end up short of the bunker. Steer clear of the water on the right. The green is another mounded green so take dead aim. Avoid the bunker right and don’t be long. Hole 16 is a nice par 3 with water short right, right, and long. The only miss that is decent is obviously left. Aim for the left hand side of the green unless you’re hitting your irons better than ever. Hole 17 is a longer par 5 that is a bit tougher to get there in two. If you decide to do so, don’t be afraid of the bunkers as it’s not too tough of an up and down from there. Hole 18 can be a tough hole depending what you hit off the tee. I prefer driver taking it down the far left of the fairway avoiding the water on the right. You can also hit something just short of the bunker on the left. The green runs almost perpendicular to the fairway, so a well placed shot is needed. Long is better than short where there are 2 bunkers that will be tough to get up and down from.

Overall Desert Lakes is a good course with good greens and pretty good fairways. It’s a great place to get a quick round in, especially if you’re a higher handicap player. Stop by and check it out, at $34 it’s a good value.