Black Mesa Golf Club near Santa Fe, New Mexico is both a beauty and a beast

ESPANOLA, N.M. -- Perhaps one of the country's best-kept secrets is Black Mesa Golf Club near Santa Fe. Golfers who have played it, however, will tell you that it's one of their all-time favorite courses.

That's because the Baxter Spann-designed championship course features one memorable hole after another. Laid out in the shadows of Black Mesa between the Sangre de Cristos and Jemez mountain ranges, the 7,307-yard par 72 boasts elevated tees, a few blind shots and plenty of interesting greens complexes, influences by the rugged rocky surroundings.

From the back tees the course has a rating/slope of 73.9/141, but it plays considerably easier from the other four sets of tees and is women and senior friendly.

Black Mesa, which offers a variety of golf packages with local hotels, also has excellent practice facilities, good dining and a complete golf shop.

Black Mesa Golf Club

Black Mesa Golf Club features one beautiful hole after another.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa Golf Club - hole 2

Those who don't find the fairway could be faced with a blind approach shot to the second green at Black Mesa Golf Club near Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa Golf Club - hole 3

The tee shot from the par-5 third hole at Black Mesa Golf Club has a wide landing area.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa Golf Club - hole 4

The fourth is the first of several wonderful par 3s at Black Mesa Golf Club in Espanola, New Mexico.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa golf course - 5th hole

The 496-yard par-4 fifth is one of the toughest holes at Black Mesa Golf Club near Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa Golf Club - hole 7

The short par-4 seventh and the newly named "Bailey Butte" in the background at Black Mesa Golf Club in New Mexico.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa G.C. - hole 8

The long par-3 eighth at Black Mesa Golf Club can be a brute.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa Golf Club - hole 10

The 10th at Black Mesa Golf Club features a blind tee shot and downhill approach to a tough green.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa Golf Club - hole 11

The par-3 11th at Black Mesa Golf Club plays uphill to a tricky green tucked into a rock amphitheater.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa Golf Club - hole 13

The 13th hole at Black Mesa Golf Club is a long par 5 that doglegs left.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa golf course - hole 15

The par-3 15th is one of only two places where you can find a water hazard at Black Mesa golf course in New Mexico.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa G.C. - hole 16

The reachable par-5 16th at Black Mesa G.C. is known as "Stairway to Seven" because of the double bogeys it produces for greedy players.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa Golf Club - hole 17

With its formidable bunkers, the 17th provides one of the toughest approaches at Black Mesa Golf Club in New Mexico.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Black Mesa Golf Club - hole 18

The 18th hole finishes in front of Black Mesa Golf Club's understated clubhouse and windmill.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf