Alright, let’s talk about my little adventure trying to hit some golf balls in Ruidoso, New Mexico. I’d heard good things, you know, mountain air, scenic courses, the whole deal. So, I figured, why not? Packed up my clubs, threw ’em in the car, and headed up there with some pretty high hopes of a relaxing golf weekend.
First stop, I had my sights set on one of the more well-known spots. Won’t name names, but it looked fantastic online. Rolled up, all eager, only to find the parking lot absolutely jammed. Turns out, there was some big local tournament happening. Yeah, no tee times for miles, or at least not for a casual like me just showing up. A bit of a downer, sure. You plan these things, get all geared up, and then reality hits you with a well-placed sand wedge to the ego.
Plan B: The Scramble
So, there I was, clubs in the trunk, feeling a bit deflated. But I wasn’t about to let the whole trip be a bust. Pulled out my phone, did some quick searching. “Golf courses near me, open now, please!” That kind of desperate search. Found a place called Cree Meadows. Looked a bit more old-school, less of the fancy resort vibe, which, honestly, sounded pretty good at that point.
Driving over there, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But when I got to Cree Meadows, it had a certain charm. No massive clubhouse, no armies of staff, just a straightforward golf course nestled in the pines. The folks there were friendly, got me out on the course without much fuss. And let me tell you, that course had some teeth. It wasn’t one of those perfectly manicured, flat-as-a-pancake situations. Hills, man, lots of them. And the altitude? Whoa. My usual distances were all out of whack. A 7-iron shot would just sail, and then sometimes, it would die like it hit a wall. Confusing as all get out for a guy like me who’s used to playing closer to sea level.
- I remember one par 3, looked pretty straightforward. But the green was perched up high, and the wind was swirling.
- Took me three tries to get the ball to stay on that darn green. My playing partner for the day, some local guy who probably played there blindfolded, was getting a good chuckle.
- The fairways were tight in some spots too, lined with those tall pine trees. If you sprayed your drive, you were saying goodbye to that ball.
My score? Let’s just say it wasn’t anything to write home about. I think I spent more time enjoying the views and the challenge than actually playing well. But that’s the thing, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s not about breaking records. It was about being out there, trying something different, breathing in that crisp mountain air. The experience itself was the win, even if my scorecard said otherwise.
So, yeah, my Ruidoso golf experience was a bit of an improvisation. Didn’t go as planned initially, but it ended up being a pretty memorable round. It taught me to be a bit more flexible, and honestly, sometimes those unexpected detours lead you to some cool spots. I’d definitely go back to Ruidoso, maybe try another course or two. But next time? I’m calling ahead for a tee time. Lesson learned, the hard way, as usual.
