Golf Course Review by: Billy Satterfield
The Takeaway: Formerly regarded as one of the best municipal courses in the country, Pinon Hills is a unique design with plenty of elevation changes and risk/reward opportunities. Certainly one of the best courses in New Mexico, but has justifiably been removed from most Top 100 Public courses in America lists. Grade B-
Quick Facts
Designer: Ken Dye 1989
Cost: $48 - $70 (cart included) Click for current rates
Phone Number: 505-326-6066
Course Website: Official Website - Visit Pinon Hills Golf Course's official website by clicking on the link provided.
Directions: Get here! - 2101 Sunrise Parkway, Farmington, New Mexico 87402 – UNITED STATES
Photos: See additional photos of Pinon Hills Golf Course
Similar Courses:
What to Expect: Tucked away in the northwest corner of New Mexico is the Ken Dye designed Pinon Hills; a municipal course owned by the city of Farmington. The course is routed through juniper trees on high desert terrain where ravines often come into play and where some good risk/reward hole designs have been implemented. The 1,000 acre site had less than half that much usable space due to the severe terrain that had to be left natural when laying out the course. Throughout the round players will enjoy expansive views at times and highly undulated greens virtually all the time. Yes, Pinon Hills will definitely test your skill with the flatstick where you'll find straight putts are rare and you can be assured everyone in your foursome will three-putt at some point during their round. The par threes and fours standout more than the fives do, with the one-shotters taking a slight edge as the most appealing group of pars on the course with a strong variety and visual appeal. In 2022 the course was closed while undergoing a full replacement of the irrigation system; unfortunately the conditioning is still quite a ways away from being where it needs to be and stands as the biggest detraction to the track. Pinon Hills has often been touted among the best municipalities in the country and it found its way onto several Top 100 Public Courses list shortly after opening, but over time the hype has come back into check; and rightfully so. That being said, it stands as an exceptional value and is certainly a Top 10 course in the Land of Enchantment.
By the Numbers
| Tees | Par | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 72 | 7198 | 74.3 | 139 |
| Blue | 72 | 6746 | 72.3 | 132 |
| White | 72 | 6204 | 69.8 | 126 |
| Silver | 72 | 5560 | 67.8 | 122 |
| Red (Ladies) | 72 | 5428 | 70.8 | 123 |
Individual Hole Analysis
Signature Hole: 6th Hole – 229 Yard Par 3 – A beautiful one-shotter that shows off northwest New Mexico's native desert terrain, the 6th plays a club downhill to a bunkerless green with some prominent boulders behind the green. The hole plays as a virtual island green with the putting surface surrounded by sandy desert and asking players to hit a well-struck tee shot or you will be staring at bogey in the face.
Best Par 3: 4th Hole – 199 Yards – A nice downhill one-shotter, the 4th green features three distinct sections with the front featuring a sloping leading edge, the center being the largest and most accessible, and the back portion being the smallest and most challenging to access. A bunny ears bunker sits left of the front portion of the green and features fairly steep edges to navigate when trying to get up and down from it. The series of hillocks around the green can give some crazy kicks, so it is best to take aim at the center of the green no matter where the flag is.
Best Par 4: 5th Hole – 355 Yards – A shorter par four that doesn't really require driver, in fact, the fairway terminates into a ravine 80 shy of the center of the green. The hole plays slightly downhill before bending to the right and requiring a shot over the ravine to a green wrapped on the right and across the back with sand. When the pin is in the front third, players can use the tier in the green to spin the ball back off its face towards the hole.
Best Par 5: 9th Hole – 589 Yards – The second of back to back par fives, the 9th plays well downhill to a fairway that bends to the right before ascending uphill to the green. A full length cross bunker may be out of range for many players, but longer hitters certainly have to consider it when hitting their tee shot. The uniquely shaped green is about three times longer than it is wide with a greenside bunker at the front right corner while a larger bunker is short and left of the green and there just to punish poor approaches. The downhill tee shot followed by the uphill trek to the green is a classic course design feature that never gets old.
Birdie Time: 14th Hole – 343 Yard Par 4 – Descending nearly 50 feet in elevation from tee to green, the 14th hole begs players to grip it and rip it in an effort to get down as close to the green as possible. Staying just inside the bunkers on the right is the ideal line to take and helps remove the water from play that is found left of the green; especially since the fairway slopes towards it. A successful tee shot will put a wedge in your hands and an opportunity to go pinseeking and yield a great birdie opportunity. A tee shot that stays 50 yards short of the green will keep the water out of play and can be a wise consideration rather than going for as much length as possible.
Bogey Beware: 18th Hole – 469 Yard Par 4 – Pinon Hills' final hole is its most testing, a par four that plays slightly downhill off the tee before ascending back uphill to the greensite. The fairway bends to the right but features bunkers protecting the inside of the corner in an effort to discourage players from cutting yards off the hole. A series of juniper trees sets the backdrop for the green that features a single bunker at the front right corner to avoid. Perhaps more challenging are the hillocks on the right side that can cause havoc with approach shots that come in on that line. Finding a green in regulation here will take two quality shots and is a solid test to finish on.
