So, there I was on Hole 1, White tees, 359 yard Par 4. Trying to stay in the green, Let's play safe and figure around 200 yards off the drive. I got to the ball, and the GPS showed 214, leaving me 145 or so to the flag. So I pulled out my trusty 140 club, struck it well, and watched that ball clear the green and roll out just shy of the desert beyond.

Humm, that range session on the real turf must have done me some good.

So I proceeded to chunk my chip and finish with double-bogey.

Fast forward to Hole 3 (I DO NOT want to talk about what happened on number 2) and we’re looking at a 490-yard Par 5. My longest drive ever rolled up well short of the water. My next shot cleared the water and left me about a hundred yards out. I pulled my trusty sand wedge and watched it sail 120 yards as it mocked me and waved goodbye, landing in the waiting desert.

Have you ever had this happen to you? The magic here at Tijeras Arroyo is a combination of the desert air and elevation. Cappy, the manager of this fine facility, told me that most people average 10-15% gains on all their shots here.

This is definitely a course where you want to stay on the green stuff. It’s supposed to be easy to spot your ball in the desert terrain between fairways. It’s not. And if you do find your ball, be prepared to hit off rocks and/or hard pan. Some locals I spoke with carry a “desert club,” like an old beater 7 iron to avoid putting dents in their gamers.

This is a beautiful course with mountains for backdrops. You’ll play ten Par 4s, four Par 5s, and four Par 3s. Being in the desert, you might think it's pretty flat but there's actually quite a bit of elevation changes to keep things interesting.

My favorite hole here is number 5. It's a Par 4 running straight at the Sandia mountains. It’s a spectacular hole. Even for a higher handicap person like myself, it’s a doable driver, wedge, putt, putt. Happy par with a beautiful backdrop.

My toughest hole was their signature hole, Number 18. Picture a long Par 5, dogleg left. You’ve got unforgiving desert on both sides, a fairway that’s skinny where you’d prefer wide, and desert to maneuver over in a couple spots. When you play here, I’m sure you’ll have no trouble beating my desert snowman.

The course offers up a variety of challenges. There’s even a couple places to lose a ball or two in the water. It’s a good thing I brought, and almost used, three sleeves.

Friendly Folks
While the course wasn’t friendly to me, all the people were. The staff is welcoming and friendly. You won’t pass somebody here without them saying something nice to you.

The Other Stuff
This place has everything. You can enjoy practicing on the grass driving range and two practice greens. The Pro Shop has anything you need to play golf. If the weather’s bad, check out the simulator where you can load up your choice of 83 courses, or just have it analyze your swing, showing you where and how the ball comes off your clubs in super slow motion.

The Coyote Grill
A great golf course deserves a great grill, and you’ll not be disappointed here. The Coyote Grill is known to have the best food on the base. Try the Green Chili Cheeseburger. It’s got just the right amount of New Mexico kick in a melding of awesome flavors. Don’t forget your napkins, you’ll probably need five. The locals literally come for miles around for the food, which includes daily specials. Cappy, the golf course manager, shared with me that the grill could easily survive without the course.

Facility Facts
• Length 6971 yards - Slope 127 -  Rating 71.9
• Year Built 1971
• Greens: Bent Grass
• Architect - Unknown (let us know if you have this info)