Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club

Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club opened in 2000 in Sandia Park, New Mexico, high in the pines and juniper on the eastern flank of the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque. Ken Dye designed the original par-72, 18-hole mountain-style layout, whose landing areas and greens are separated by arroyos, native vegetation and rugged rock outcroppings, all set against sweeping high-desert vistas. The course is named for the nearby ancestral Pueblo ruins. Recognition came fast: in 2000 Golf Digest named it the best new upscale course in America, Golf Magazine listed it among the top new courses you can play, and Golfweek placed it among the country's top modern designs. A third Dye-designed nine was added in 2005, expanding Paa-Ko Ridge to 27 holes. Remaining a public facility, it is consistently rated among the finest courses in New Mexico and a standout of Southwest mountain golf.