Golfing at Its Finest in Taos
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bout eight miles south of Taos lies a hidden gem in the heart of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains: the Taos Country Club. The championship course, full service clubhouse and award winning restaurant features breathtaking views of a classic New Mexican desert along with the always enchanting Taos Mountain. Couple that with its unobstructed, ever-changing, expansive sunsets 365 days a year and you will soon find out why the Taos Country Club is known as one of northern New Mexico’s premier golf destinations. The world-class golf course is located 3.6 miles south of the 300 year old St.
Francis de Asis church in the Ranchos de Taos plaza. The course was designed by Jep Wille and has won many awards since opening its doors in 1992, including a four-star rating by the prestigious Golf Digest Magazine, making it one of the best places to play golf in the Southwest.
such a venture because of the ability to use recycled water. Nearly 25 years later, the course is visited by golfers from around the globe and is known for its silvery green sagebrush back drop, meticulously manicured greens and challenging links style of play.
The course, which is owned by PGA Professional Tad Bourg along with three other partners, was built on the strong love for the game. Plans to build the club began in 1978 and construction began in 1991. At that time, the land where the country club lies was yet to see much development and was conveniently located near Taos’ main water treatment facility making it the prime location for
The course’s distance is 7300 ft. from its championship tees, but has tee boxes for all ages and skill levels. Riding through the course, you notice its vast rolling hills that cut through the silvery green sage and nestles up to the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the south end of the beautiful Taos Valley. The practice green is 17,000 sq. ft. complete with practice bunkers to work on those always
open to the public. We wanted the country club to be a special place for everyone to visit,” Bourg says. The clubhouse is designed in distinctive southwestern style with 20 ft. ceilings, exposed vigas and an eclectic collection of art as part of its Gallery on the Green partnership with the Walden-Nightingale Gallery from the Taos plaza. The clubhouse is also home to a brand new restaurant, The Terrace at Taos
fun bunker shots. The driving range is complete with five course-like greens and boasts an unmatched view of the mysterious and supposedly “magnetic” Taos Mountain. The pro-shop offers the latest in golf fashion, shoes and hard goods for your game and also offers the latest Taylormade clubs releases as their rental equipment. Bourg’s son, Carville, is another of the on-course PGA golf professionals. He prides himself in maintaining a variety of products for golfers of all ages as well as managing the many golf tournaments, special events and clinics. Carville, who spent his childhood watching the country club grow, likes to recall the times before there was grass and when the clubhouse was a trailer where all you could buy were a handful of snacks. The Taos Country Club also has a full service clubhouse for its membership. “We offer memberships and private facilities for our members, but we are
Country Club, open May through October. They serve breakfast starting at 7 a.m. to the early morning golfers, and now opens in the evenings as well to serve their twilight dinner offerings. Food and beverage director Jacob Herrera says, “We don’t want to be a fine dining restaurant; we want to be a place you can enjoy good food, take in our views and have fun with your friends”. The Terrace also caters many special events. The sunset ballroom and terrace bar seat almost 200 guests. Often the use of the driving range is needed for larger events of up to 600 guests. “Our guests fall in love with the sunsets — summer’s the most popular time to get married at the club,” says Herrera. “We love being a part of our guests’ special moments and take pride in making them memorable.” Whether you are a golf lover or just looking for a place to enjoy a great meal, the Taos Country Club and The Terrace won’t soon be forgot! Taos Country Club 54 Golf Course Dr. Ranchos De Taos 575.758.7300 www.TaosCountryClub.com /taoscc.com