Pinion Hills Golf Course

~Piñon Hills Golf Course~
By Barry Vermillion
Member, Texas Golf Writer's Association

*Photography by Barry Vermillion and Kathy Vermillion

FARMINGTON, New Mex. - If I didn't know better, I would have guessed Georgia O'Keeffe designed Piñon Hills Golf Course.

Piñon Hills is owned by the city of Farmington. It is a municipal 18-hole regulation, par-72, Kenneth Dye Jr. design that opened for play in 1989.

Located in the northwestern territory of the beautiful state of New Mexico, Farmington is nestled in the San Juan River Valley in the high desert region referred to as the Four Corners Area - the perfect destination for a vacation of any kind at any time of the year.

In almost any direction you can feast your eyes on panoramic views of pristine desert that is interrupted by beautiful canyons, arroyos, and colorful mountains.

For golfers it is the pinnacle of stay and play desert vacation sites.

My golfing partner and assistant for this trip was my wife, Kathy. We have always wanted to play Piñon Hills and decided the perfect excuse to escape the scorching summer heat and drought conditions of north Texas was to simply, as she stated, "pack up our clubs and go."

One of the quirks we golfers have is the anticipation of seeing a golf course for the first time - it's almost a condition of giddiness, like a teen on a first date. This is especially true if the course is considered to be "world renowned."

The travel packet we received by mail from Debbie Dusenbery of the Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau was full of colorful brochures, notes, hotel reservations, and a Piñon Hills scorecard. All of them had frayed edges like an abused antique book by the time we arrived in Farmington.

A check of the current weather conditions on our Web site at WeatherToGolf.com before leaving our room at Comfort Inn indicated Denton, Texas, had a temperature of 89º F with a heat stress index of "feels like 92º F". The readings for Farmington were 62º F with an index of "feels like 59º F."

We were talking about the sunrise, desert scenery, and the weather conditions as we drove to the course. It was 8 a.m. and the beginning of another perfect New Mexico morning - a clean blue sky with fluffy clouds stretched across the horizon.

"You'll be driving along in the desert and then all of a sudden, there it is," I was told by a friend who had played Piñon Hills in the past. He was right.

In the distance we could see dark ribbons of green fairways laced through the low desert hills. We knew immediately this was going to be a memorable round of golf.

Entering the clubhouse we were welcomed at the check-in desk by Tom Cook, a 3 year employee at Piñon Hills.

He has probably seen our look of drooling anticipation on the faces of many other golfers that have been there before us and he kindly asked, "Have you played Piñon Hills before?"

After a brief explanation of the course layout, and with a big promising smile, Cook said, "You are really going to enjoy your morning round."

	Golf Digest awards: 2002 - #1 Municipal course in America 1995 - America’s Best Public Municipal Course 1991-1995 - #1 Course in New Mexico 1994 - America’s Best Golf Values
The Clubhouse and Pro Shop at Piñon Hills Golf Course

Cook introduced us to Ty Hamer, head golf professional at Piñon Hills, who had walked up to the counter to greet us. The emerald green fairways were at the top of my list of questions for him.

"We have Kentucky bluegrass tee boxes and fairways," Hamer explained, "and our greens are Bent grass."

But how could the course be such different shades of brilliant green in a desert? "We take water from the city reservoir before it enters the treatment facility," Hamer told us.

Much of the southwest has been experiencing drought conditions; however Hamer said there have been no watering restrictions of any kind in Farmington. He said, "The drought hasn't affected the course or our maintenance and watering schedule."

Hamer could tell we were anxious to get on the course and sent us to the starting booth.

Tinny Sandoval, the starter for the morning, greeted us at the first tee. He has seen hundreds of golfers during his 10 years at Piñon Hills do the same thing we did that morning. We stared down the first fairway, obviously in a near-trance, mesmerized by the manicured, green grass in the middle of a desert.

Off the first tee I hit an unintended draw that sent the ball to rest in the first cut of rough on the left side of the fairway. It was the first of many difficult shots for me out of the almost sticky, ball holding Kentucky bluegrass rough.

Our round seemed to be progressing fast- too fast. We both were trying to take in the scenery and the amazing design of the course with a layout that flows over hills, down in to canyons, and along sandstone cliffs looking as though it is the result of some ancient natural phenomenon and has always been there.


Natural desert scenery seen from the cart path enroute to no. 6

Kathy and I agreed, without a doubt, no. 6 is the prettiest hole on the course.

"Our signature hole is no. 6," Hamer said. "It was chosen because it is picturesque. We have multiple tee boxes on that hole, some on both sides of the canyon."

No. 6 is a 229 yard par 3 from the back tee and 140 yards from the forward tee that fits perfectly in the floor of a narrow canyon. Guarded by an arroyos down the left side from tee to green, the right side is natural terrain defined by huge sandstone boulders from the right side tee boxes to the back of the green.

Usually good for 150 yards, I selected my 5-iron for my tee shot hoping to compensate for a short hit due to my state of excitement. I sent the ball to the middle-left side of the green where it bounced twice, rolled and stopped on the back fringe.

All 18 holes are beautiful in this desert terrain and it's easy to be charmed, or tormented, by any of them.

"I really like no. 18. It is a nice finishing hole usually played into the wind," Hamer told me.

No. 18 is a long par-4 measuring 469 yards from the back tee and 362 yards from the forward tee. Generally, a par-4 over 450 yards is usually designated as a par-5. Not this one. With a wide and generous fairway and only two bunkers, one at the slight, right turn of the fairway and another guarding the left front of the green, it is reasonable that most golfers can par this hole. Unfortunately, I became very familiar with one of those bunkers.


No. 6, the signature hole, is a par-3 measuring 229 yards from the back tee and 140 yards from the forward tee. This view is from the forward tee.

"I like nos. 8 and 9, too," Hamer said. "Both are interesting par-5's that have to be played back to back making them a real challenge for any golfer."

He added "No. 9 is our longest par-5 that is reachable in two usually by only the longest hitters. If you have a good drive you might have a chance at reaching the green in two, but you have to make a second shot that has to be accurate and really long."

No. 9 is 589 yards from the back tee and a very long 514 yards from the forward tee. The enormous length of this hole is compounded by two separate arroyos that cut across the fairway.

There's more sand bunkers waiting for errant slices or fades all along the right side of the fairway and guarding both right and left front sides of the green. There are deep grass bunkers and swales that protect the sides and back of the green that should be avoided.

No major renovations or changes have been needed or made to Piñon Hills Golf Course, Hamer said. Today the course is the same as when designated for various awards in years past.

Kathy spoke for both of us when she said, "The course is immaculate: the staff, the pro shop, carts, playing conditions - everything."

The staff at Piñon Hills is accommodating and friendly. The atmosphere is more like that of a prestigious country club and not what most of us have come to expect when playing a municipal golf course.

All the good things you may have heard about Piñon Hills is true. Kathy and I suggest you do what we did - just "pack up your clubs and go." You won't regret it.

We are already planning a return trip to the Land of Enchantment under the bluest of blue sky to be seen anywhere.

BARRY VERMILLION can be reached at 940-566-2571. His email address is barry.v@weathertogolf.com.

Tee time for residents (Must live with 100 mile radius) - Reservations available 3 days in advance.

Tee time for non-residents- Reservations available up to 60 days in advance with $10 per person early reservation fee.

Resident fees: Weekdays 18 holes- $19.25; weekends- $23. Weekdays 9 holes- $12.75; weekends- $15.25.

Non-resident fees: Weekdays 18 holes- $36.50; weekends- $42. Weekdays 9 holes- $26.50; weekends- $28.75.

Pro shop: Nike rental clubs. Cart rental. Full line of golf merchandise and accessories. Club repair available. Custom fitting for TaylorMade clubs.

Food and drinks: The Grill On The Hill restaurant offers complete menu for breakfast and lunch. For more information call (505) 326-6065.

The Clubhouse and Pro Shop at Piñon Hills Golf Course