New Mexico Golf Course Reviews
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course ReviewSandia Park, NM
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Paa-ko Ridge Golf Course Scorecard, as of the date of last review
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Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Overview: This golf course is located less than an hour outside of Albuquerque, up in the lower section of the Sandia mountain area. The design of the golf course is extremely solid with many of the holes being isolated from the others, where the golfer can feel they are in a remote area. There are not many trees, but the trouble surrounding most golf holes is an interesting mixture of desert-like floor with more mountain-like terrain. There is a great combination of challenge, with views and solid course architecture on pretty much every hole. The best golf holes are reviewed below:
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Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 1: The opening golf hole has one of the more tame drives of the day, but the approach is to a sloping green with heavy bunkering on either side of the front half of the surface. It also can teach the golfer a lesson in that it plays more uphill than it looks (towards Sandia Peak).
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 2: One of the shorter par fours on the course features a tight drive with bunkers on either side and junk beyond those. Laying too far back, however, is not a good idea, as the second shot is uphill over a creek-bed to an angled and very well-guarded green with deep bunkering.
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 3: The first par five of the day is uphill again (more than it looks) but the tee shot appears awfully tight from the back tees. There is actually a little more room right than is visible, but not too much. The ideal drive will stay close to the left-hand bunkers, though. The second shot should be played anywhere safe for a good length shot uphill to the angled green.
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 4 (right): This downhill par three has a 98 yard deep green. Suffice it to say that the player should check the pin placement, but to any pin, short or right are absolutely dead and left isn't too much better. There is a huge tier separating the front half and back half of the green, which adds to the fun. Long story short, hit a good tee shot.
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 5 (below): The first hole heading "down the mountain" actually has a pretty flat tee shot that is blind towards the end as it funnels down hill. The view from the drive is rewarding (especially from the fairway) and also daunting as the rest of the hole unfolds before the player. The fairway pinches in dangerously about 130 yards from the green, which is angled from left to right.
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 5 (below): The first hole heading "down the mountain" actually has a pretty flat tee shot that is blind towards the end as it funnels down hill. The view from the drive is rewarding (especially from the fairway) and also daunting as the rest of the hole unfolds before the player. The fairway pinches in dangerously about 130 yards from the green, which is angled from left to right.
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 7: This hole is daunting. Even though it is markedly downhill, it is still very long and features an elevate drive to a partially blind (and tight) landing area. There is trouble again on both sides and if the player doesn't hit it long enough, the second may also be blind over the corner of the dogleg/hazard. The green is deep and bunkered heavily to the left side.
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 8: Paa-Ko Ridge features two very long, downhill par threes and this one is more picturesque, with the whole surrounding area unfolded before the golfer's eyes However, there are bunkers on both sides, so a long, true golf shot must be hit.
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 9: One of only two real water hazards on the course can be found at the close of the front nine In play off the tee for only a mammoth drive, it's really much more in play on the approach, with back-right pin placements being scary from pretty much any angle..
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 10: Although driver can be hit as the hole is uphill, the fairway pinches in devilishly at about the 250 yard mark, so the player should be careful off the tee. The approach is to a green angled from left to right and surrounded by deep and nasty bunkers and mounding.
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 11: The first of two magnificent back to back holes, this par four has a slightly elevated tee shot so the player can see the shape of the hole and all the trouble surrounding it, but the approach will be uphill. Understated in number of bunkers, the hole looks like it was always meant to be right there.
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 12: Following a hole like the 11th is normally tough to do, but the 12th is a great par five equivalent, and it also might be the best scoring par five on the course, provided the drive finds the short grass. The "Lone Ponderosa" overlooking the green gives the hole its name and a little additional flavor, as do the 8 bunkers along the way. Enjoy the view from the tee box as it is a special one.
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 16: The par three with the water feature is on the left of the green (and short) for most of the tee boxes, except for the exhibition tee, which is very elevated and situated so the green is more directly behind the water (at least go up and see the view). There are also four bunkers around the green, so it's tough to miss the green anywhere and still make a par.
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Hole 17: The signature view on the course is from this tee box (actually the exhibition tee box) but it's only a few yards longer from there and quite a bit more fun. The tee shot needs to negotiate all the obvious problems but the second shot is actually more difficult due to the strategically placed bunker.
