Paako Ridge Golf Course - 19 to 27 Nine Review

Paako Ridge Golf Course - 19 to 27 Nine Review

Review of Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club Holes 19 to 27

Wow, we have finally found and played our first perfect 10 for nine holes – the 10^ththru the 18^thholes at Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club!  The other nine holes were played are equally as impressive and about as close as you can get to a perfect 10.  In fact, Paa-Ko Ridge is what every other course should aspire to be – very scenic, excellent conditions, near perfect greens, fair but very challenging, lots of “wows” and Kodak moments, reasonable rates plus some real bargains, good amenities, and some unique, interesting, and memorable holes. 

And it’s not a surprise that Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club is one of only 23 courses in the nation to receive a 5 star rating and that it has received a number of awards and accolades, some of which include:

• Golf World’s “Top Public Golf Facilities in America - #3
• GolfWeek’s Top 100 Modern Courses in America - #23
• Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public course - #20
• Golf Magazine’s top 100 you can play in America - #28

Paa Ko Ridge Golf Club is on the eastern side of the Sandia Mountains about 40 minutes from Albuquerque and was designed by Ken Dye.  The first 18 opened in 2000 to rave reviews and the third nine opened in 2006.  The 27 holes play through a pristine alpine setting of pinon, juniper, and ponderosa pine, high desert colorful fauna, and majestic unmatched mountain vistas from every tee box.  Each of the nines is unique with its own personality and characteristics which are and a little different from the other nines, for example:

• 1^stto 9^this generally regarded as the easiest of the nines but it’s no walk in the park
• 10^thto 18^thplays up and down the pristine foothills of the Sandia Mountains and is hands down the most scenic of the nines and it’s home to the signature 17^thhole
• 19^thto 27^this the longest and the hardest with three beautiful but long par 3’s (228, 202, and 251 yards) and three very challenging par 5s plus some huge stunning homes dotting the hillsides

On our first visit to Paa-Ko Ridge in 2011, it started raining when were were getting ready to play holes 1 to 9.  We returned in 2013 and played 1 to 9 as well as 10 to 18 - wow, both remain as two of our top rated courses.  Here is a link to our review of 1 to 9 and our review of   Paa-Ko Ridge's 10^thto 18^th.

The 19^th to 27^th holes of Paa Ko Ridge are excellent and a pleasure to play.  This nine will throw a little bit of everything at you that will test your game – challenging green complexes, contoured fairways, lots of uphill and downhill shots, lots of forced carries, and plenty of bunkering.  What a fantastic layout that plays through the trees and hills of the Sandia Mountain foothills offering some stunning scenery of the mountains and valleys as well as some huge beautiful homes dotting the hillsides. 

This nine has three outstanding par 3s and 3 challenging par 5s and bunkers and forced carries clearly define what this nine is all about.  Every hole is a little bit different, unique, and a blast to play.  Each of the holes have a name which give you an idea of what to expect, like Descent, Postage Stamp, Waterloo, Ambush, or Muirfield, which thanks to 14 bunker should be called minefield. Some examples of great holes include:

• #19 is a 565 yard roller coaster ride to an uphill green with 7 bunkers waiting to catch your approach shot
• From the elevated tee box on the 228 yard par 3 22^nd hole the view is majestic with the Sandia Mountains as a backdrop to the green
• #23 is the #1 handicap and it can make or break your round – 625 yards uphill on a twisting fairway lined with a minefield of 15 bunkers ranging from small ovals to some huge steep and deep monsters
• #24 is appropriately called Postage Stamp – a big downhill 202 yard shot to a small green with 7 bunkers surrounding it
• The only water on this nine, #25, is a crystal clear blue lake waiting for your approach shot to the green, which also has 3 bunkers guarding it

Like the other nines, the fairways are perfect with roughs that can be challenging.  The landing zones and most of the fairways are ample but if you miss them and over shoot the rough, you’re most likely lost in the natural areas. 

The greens on the 19^th to 27^th nine were also perfect – fast, true, and in excellent condition.  Practice putting before you head out because the greens have plenty of contour, slope, and undulation.  In addition, all of the greens are well guarded and require precision on the approach – the good news is that the greens are above average size.

The bunkers were the only disappointment – hard gritty sand makes it hard to get under the ball.  Turns out that all of the New Mexico courses we played had similar hard sand - white thick sand tends to blow away.  This nine at Paa Ko Ridge has 45 bunkers that range in size from small pot bunkers to some huge monsters.

Wow, what a fun and enjoyable nine.  Can't wait to get back and play it again. 

Read all about this fun trip to Southern Colorado/Northern New Mexico where this is one of the courses we played.

Head Pro's Corner

Since we last played Paako Ridge, the course and facilities have undergone improvements that now include concierge service upon arrival and departure, new electric golf carts, an all-inclusive rate structure that includes all of your food and non-alcoholic beverages, and a new luxury clubhouse is under construction and scheduled for completion in Spring 2020.