Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2021 - 18

Decision Point Interlude
Now: continue on a northern southwest route, through Utah,
or a southern southwest route through Colorado and New
Mexico? We'll use the latter for now, but you can take the other
reversed when homeward bound.
NE
CO
Neb. « Colo.:
Use interstates for the five-hour plus trip to
Colorado Springs, stopping in Denver at the Wynkoop
Brewing Co., which helped kickstart the craft brewing
movement in Colorado, not to mention the political career of John
Hickenlooper, first Denver's mayor, then a Presidential candidate,
and now a U.S. Senator.
Have the kids along? Take a free half-hour tour of the Hammond's
Candies factory, where sweet stuff has been manufactured for just
shy of 100 years.
Go high-end sweet in Colorado Springs at The Broadmoor, which
has surpassed a century of existence. Contemplate a stay of a couple
days to get in rounds at both the East and West courses, blends of
work by Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The East will add to
a hefty list of hosted tournaments with the U.S. Senior Open in 2025.
CO
NM
Colo. « N.M.:
Tackling three of New Mexico's top courses begins
about 4:30 from The Broadmoor. South of Raton
in New Mexico, take Route 64, part of what is called
the Enchanted Circle Driving Tour,
TAOS PUEBLO, N.M.
100 years times ten. (If open-the Pueblo has been closed due
to COVID-19.)
In Española, settle in for the pleasures of the Black Mesa Golf
toward Taos.
Ponder a wander in the charming town of Eagle Nest
(and what the heck, maybe a quick pint at the Comanche Creek
Brewing Co., too). Time for one sight in Taos? Make it the Taos
Pueblo, a Native American Community that has been around
Club, a Baxter Spann design from 2003 which seems timeless, and
about as close as a course can be to links-style when it's located in
the valley of the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez Mountain ranges.
A mere 90 minutes away, near Albuquerque, is the top-rated Paako
Ridge Golf Club, a Ken Dye design on the east side of the Sandia
Mountains so appealing they added an extra nine holes. Renovations
of all 1-18 tee boxes have just completed and 19-27 should be finished
around November 22. Your first right move here is picking the
correct tee; the slope rating for men can range from 129 to 148.
It's a straight shot, about 3:40, to Las Cruces, though a stop at
the 230,000-acre Sevillita National Wildlife Refuge is worth a slight
detour. The Visitor Center is closed, but trails are open to those hoping
to catch sight of pronghorn antelopes, mule deer or some 80
other mammal species, not to mention 250 bird species.
Birdies may be tough to come by at the Red Hawk Golf Club,
but it's clear that Ken Dye has done it again: a high desert course
of beauty and challenge, at the foothills of the Organ Mountains.
THE BROADMOOR EAST COURSE, COLO.
18
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2021
mngolf.org
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRAVELLER70/SHUTTERSTOCK; THE BROADMOOR, DICK DURRANCE II;
REFLECTION BAY GOLF CLUB; LODGE AT VENTANA CANYON; AUSTIN DIAMOND, VISIT UTAH
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2021

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