Golf - Public Course · 9 Holes · Par 36
Albuquerque, NM
Isleta Pueblo, which is centrally located in the Río Grande Valley about 13 miles south of Albuquerque owns and operates the Isleta Eagle Golf Course which is home to three very good nine hole courses - Arroyo, Lakes, and Mesa. The course opened in 1996 and has received a four-star rating from Golf Digest and s rated it “Best Places to Play."
Each of the nines is a little different from the others - the Lakes course has plenty of water, the Arroyo has several arroyos that can cause you a problem, and on the Mesa nine you'll encounter forced carries and natural areas crossing the fairways. Each of the nines is a modified Parkland course, meaning they have an open links feel, a scattering of trees, natural areas that can result in extra strokes, and contoured and rolling fairways.
Although each nine has its own characteristics and personality, but common to all three of the Isleta Eagle Golf Courses are:
To learn more, read our review of Isleta Eagle Arroyo Course and the Mesa Course.
The Lakes Course as the name implies plays around some lakes which brings water into play on 6 of nine holes. The Lakes Course at Isleta Eagle Golf Course is very fair and the middle of the road course in terms of yardage and difficulty. In addition to water, what makes this nine both fun and challenging are the elevation changes, rolling and contoured fairways, and thick roughs.
The fairways are ample, but when we played the rough was cut very thick and had a tendency to devour our golf balls. It was very challenging for us to have a decent recovery shot from the rough - which put a premium on accuracy and staying in the fairway. The fairways also have plenty of slope, contour, and undulation which can cause several uneven lies and unusual bounces, some of which may not be in your favor.
The bent grass greens were in near perfect condition when we played. They were fast, rolled smooth and true, but were very testy thanks to lots of slope, undulation, and some tiers. Pin placement can be very challenging. Try to stay below the pin if you want to two putt.
The Lakes Course has several fun holes and some good variety, for example:
The Lakes Course is a fun and challenging nine that you'll want to play again.
The slope and rating are based on playing the Lakes and Arroyo nines together. Playing the Mesa and Lakes nines is longer by 300 yards or so and a few strokes harder.
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Albuquerque is across the freeway from Islelta Eagle and it is also owned and operated by the Pueblo. You can read our review of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Albuquerque to learn more. They also have some good stay and play packages.
Tee Box | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|
Blue | 3,426 | 70.9 | 127 |
White | 3,127 | 68.0 | 122 |
Gold | 3,745 | 73.7 | 130 |
Red | 2,806 | 64.8 | 106 |
Approximate Weekend
Rates: $30.00 to $65.00
Service is ok, the pro shop is well stocked, and the grill has everything from dogs to Philly Cheesesteaks. The range and putting green are adequate.
Here's How Texas Outside Determines the Scorecard RatingThe Texas Outside rating scale ranges from 1 to 10 – a perfect 10 course would be something like this: links along a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean and bordered by tall trees; lush fairways on rolling hills with lots of natural hazards; water (which is crystal clear) on most of the holes; immaculate greens (but they are undulating and tough); lots of variety and character (each hole is completely different and includes blind shots, elevation changes, doglegs, and significant challenges); perfectly manicured traps with the whitest and prettiest sand you’ve ever seen; a nice club house with great food and a 19th hole; a GPS; plenty of beverage carts or your own cooler and ice; and it only costs $40 bucks! What this means is that you probably won’t find any 10s in Texas – try Cabo San Lucas, Pebble Beach, or some of the Hawaii courses!
All of the above determines the overall score for the golf course. In other words, we like courses that are pretty, fun, very challenging with a lot of variety, and fairways and greens in excellent condition – all for $40. We also tend to play the courses that are affordable for the masses, which means in the $30 to $80 range. We rate hard and we haven’t found a 10 in Texas yet – don’t worry we haven’t given up and we’re still looking.
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