Inn of the Mountain Gods Golf Course, Mescalero, New Mexico - A Mountain Golf Course That Plays Long and Hard

The Inn of the Mountain Gods Golf Course is set at an elevation of approximately 7,200 feet above sea level, amid a canyon of tall pine trees and foothills beneath the Sierra Blanca Peak. A Ted Robinson design, the course features wide-open fairways that tend to narrow as golfers approach the greens, where trouble is most likely to be found.

The course also features rolling terrain and several water hazards come into play throughout the layout. There's even an island fairway, and pinyou, cottonwood, aspen and pine trees border the course and also come into play. Golfers should also not be surprised to encounter deer or elk crossing the fairways.

The front nine is the more narrow and features a number of forced carries over water, while the back nine features one of the best holes in the state - the par-5 No. 14. The greens are said to be both beautiful and "fast-breaking,'' and players are asked to remember that the primary slope is always away from the overlooking mountain.

The 18-hole, par-72 course, which opened in 1975, plays to 6,834 from the longest tees, with a USGA rating of 72.1 and a slope rating of 132 on Blue grass fairways and Bent grass greens.

Some of the most noteworthy holes include No. 10, one of the most unique par-4s golfers are likely to encounter. Most "island'' holes tend to be of the par-3 variety, but the island on this hole is its fairway, which is quite literally a round landing area surrounded by water.

Another noteworthy hole is No. 14, a par-5 that has been acclaimed as one of the best holes in the state. This long hole is fairly straightforward and level, but it's the tight, tree-lined fairways and large, solitary trees on the fairway that will make it a challenge for most golfers.

Inn of the Gods has received a number of accolades over the years, including being featured in GOLF Magazine as a Top-35 golf course, while Travel and Leisure magazine named it "the most underrated golf course in the Southwest.''

Practice facilities including a putting green, and lessons are also available.

The golf course is just one of the attractions at the Four-Diamond Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino complex, which offers nearly 300 hotel rooms and suites, four restaurants, a 38,000-square-foot casino, and an indoor pool.

Other activities include a summertime program for children, horseback riding, sporting clay shooting, a fitness room, fishing, boat rental, hot tubs, and an arcade.