Las Cruces is a pretty cool little New Mexico golf destination

While Santa Fe and Albuquerque often garner much of the attention when it comes to traveling to New Mexico, you may want to consider Las Cruces in the southern part of the state near El Paso for your next golf trip to the Land of Enchantment.

This week, I played a couple of really nice public courses, sampled some stellar New Mexican food and stayed at a beautiful old hotel that embodies the spirit of Las Cruces.

What Las Cruces lacks in terms of quantity in public golf it makes up for in quality.

The golf course at New Mexico State University was a real treat. The course, which has hosted both men’s and women’s NCAA championships, is more parkland than desert, was in excellent condition and can accommodate every level of player.

I also got to play Sonoma Ranch Golf Club, the first new public course in Las Cruces in about a half-century. Sonoma Ranch has lots of great views, a large clubhouse and grill and terrific bentgrass greens.

In between, we had some great Mexican food at a Las Cruces institution, La Posta de Mesilla and stayed at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, an old Spanish-style hotel that features a beautifully tiled lobby, fountain, fine dining and elegantly appointed rooms.

Hotel Encanto, as well as some other local hotels, also offer golf packages with NMSU and Sonoma Ranch. And if those two courses aren’t enough, there are several other terrific options in the Ruidoso and El Paso areas which are an easy drive from Las Cruces.