City: Albuquerque, NM

Category: Golf

Telephone: (505) 836-4449

Address: 3401 Ladera Drive NW

Description: On the west side of the Rio Grande, with big-sky views back to the Sandia Mountains and to the nearby Volcanoes area, Ladera is the longest-yardage municipal course. The 18-hole championship golf course and the 9-hole executive course were both designed by Richard M. Phelps and opened in 1980 and 1981 respectively. There is plenty for players to get their teeth into on the main par-72 course, which stretches 7,060 yards for the championship tees, 6,618 for the regulation tees, and 5,966 yards for women’s tees. You’ll find four lakes here, plus broad fairways and roomy undulating greens. Hole 7 poses a gambling quandary, with its dogleg right turn, navigating trees to the right, and rough and bunkers to the left. To make your par 4, you can choose to take the straight, long course over the hole’s 441 yards or try to carry the trees to make the hole shorter. The 9-hole executive course is moderate to advanced in challenge and is popular with beginners and seniors. Men’s tees cover 2,053 yards; women’s, 1,852 yards. The course mainly consists of par-3 holes, with a couple of par 4s and a single par 5. There is a spacious driving range and practice putting and chipping greens. Golf carts and pull carts are available to rent, and you can book a golf lesson here from the course pro. There is a pro golf shop and also a café. You can’t book for the 9-hole executive course, but Ladera accepts tee-time reservations seven days in advance for the 18-hole course.