Situated in the southwestern region of the country is the state of New Mexico, one of the largest but least densely populated in the United States. Lovingly dubbed the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico lives up to its state nickname with its flourishing arts scene (such as the Georgia O’Keeffee Museum and the Santa Fe Opera), world-class Spanish colonial architecture (most evident in its capital city of Santa Fe), and delicious, eclectic cuisine (think, sopapillas, enchilada montadas, carne adovada, and carne seca) that makes it a rich cultural melting pot of Indian, Hispanic, Anglo, and Pueblo Native American influences. Perhaps its greatest claim to fame, however, is its exquisite, one-of-a-kind topography.New Mexico flaunts a widely diverse terrain of high plateaus and deep canyons across the east in the Great Plains region, home to the famous Carlsbad Caverns; the towering Rocky Mountain region sweeping across the north; and the central-southwest Basin and Range region where the Rio Grande cuts straight through the middle, a region characterized by mountainous ridges, flat deserts, and a field of 60-foot high white gypsum sand dunes. Such unique geographical features make New Mexico an easy addition to any traveller’s list of must-visit states. Where else could you find beautiful rose-colored desert vistas in one region, and towering, snow-capped peaks in another?Although New Mexico has never been a hotbed for sports or major sporting events and tournaments, it’s still a praiseworthy golf destination for avid golfers everywhere as its stunning scenery has inspired the creation of more than 100 golf courses across the state. The best golf courses in the state were often sculpted around the unique landscape and utilized the natural features of the area to its fullest potential. Examples include: the Sunset and Sunrise courses at Las Campanas, the handiwork of the legendary Jack Nicklaus, set on a remote desert mountain; Baxter Spann’s masterpiece at the Black Mesa, perched atop the moonscape of Santa Clara Pueblo with several holes routed around striking sandstone formations; the Paa-Ko Ridge designed by Ken Dye, which features a rugged terrain marked by many rocky outcroppings. One significant drawback to the allure of New Mexico as a golfing destination, however, is its diverse weather. With such a large land area, the Northern and Eastern regions of the state are often colder due to their alpine climate, whereas the Southern and Western areas are subject to a warmer desert climate with very little rainfall. When weather conditions make it hard to enjoy a few rounds out on the course, local and visiting golfers can easily turn to their exciting virtual/indoor golf options to satisfy their golfing fix all-year round in the comfortable indoors. Listed below is our list of the best and most prominent virtual/indoor golf facilities and virtual golf centers found in the state of New Mexico.
Virtual Golf Venues in New Mexico
Location: 5400 Sevilla Avenue Northwest, Albuquerque, NM 87120Formerly known as I–85 driving range, Randy’s Golf Center has been in the industry for about 15 years now. They recently moved to a newer location in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Having a new environment does not stop them from providing the same customer friendly services, however, with an even better selection of products. Their goal is to help all golfers of varying skill levels improve and become the best version of themselves with the help of the services that the facility offers.Randy’s recently launched the new SkyTrak launch monitor analysis system which features a real range flight of feedback and stats. This facility has a 10 X 10-inch course simulator screens together with a complete replica of a short grass corridor that is reminiscent of most well-known courses. They have fairway facsimiles that allow players to strike and play with real golf balls that are made of customary materials. They also have divot-action golf mats that imitate the clubs’ response on a real grass without harming Mother Earth’s precious resources. Each simulated course illustrates a true to life program using 3-D graphics. They feature 22 of the world’s most renowned golf courses such as Torrey Pines and Bethpage Black. In each round, players learn and improve through the use of swing-analysis feedback with every shot, allowing them to analyze their game with the help of accurate yardage from an extra-long drive or enlist concrete data derived from an underperforming 6-iron. Before playing another round, players can also adjust and customize the virtual weather to match their stormy nature, reflect their sunny temperament, or satisfy their fixation of golf ball-sized hail – whatever catches their fancy to make the game even more enticing. In addition to indoor golf, Randy’s also offers other virtual sports games such as bowling, baseball, and hang gliding.Hours:Monday to Saturday8:00 am – 8:00 pmSunday8:00 am – 6:00 pmContact: 505 – 897 – 0889
Location: 419 Mountain Rd. NW Albuquerque, NM 87102Golftec Albuquerque is conveniently located southwest of I-25 and I-40 at 419 Mountain Road NW between 4th and 5th street. For golfers who are seeking for golf lessons or custom golf club fitting, worry no more because GolfTec Albuquerque has the answer to your worries. Providing you their state-of-the-art Training Center that is fully equipped with the tools you need to help you improve your game. They have a number of Certified Personal Coaches that already possess more than a year of instructional experience each. Golftec Albuquerque uses the latest golf technology to help players of any age or ability to reach their goals. In addition, all of their indoor services, an outdoor and on-course golf lessons are also available at the local golf courses located in UNM Championship Golf Club or UNM North. Whether you’re practicing a new strategy in order to win your club championship or just a newbie to the sport, Golftec Albuquerque is the perfect place for you.They also offer a variety of golf lessons and Game Plans that are available at the facility, including In-Bay, On-Course, Short Game, and Putting lessons. Availing of the Game Plan will entitle you to receive sequential lessons designed to enhance your swing and give you more confidence the next time you hit the actual golf course.Golftec also has an online Player Performance Center and a GOLFTEC TO GO mobile app that provides 24/7 access to all of your lessons, as well as your Coach’s feedbacks, comments, and recommended practice drills. You can even view your lessons from your mobile device to help you progress and strategize wherever you are.Each training Bay includes an interactive video that lets you see the immediate replay of every swing from two directions simultaneously. This resource makes your practice sessions more productive and helps you improve your game in just a very short time.TECFIT Custom Club Fitting is also available in GolfTec. It is a tour-level club fitting system that provides a precise and unbiased fitting experience together with their experienced and certified professionals. The confidence gained by using properly-fit equipment is another critical key that can lead to your golfing success.Other unique features of this indoor golf facility are as follows: a one-on-one private golf instruction, high-speed cameras, foresight launch monitor technology, GOLFTEC’s patented Motion Measurement technology, and video practice with immediate visual feedback. Hours:Monday9:00 am – 6:00 pmTue-Wed and Fri7:00 am – 6:00 pmThursday7:00 am – 7:00 pmSaturday7:00 am – 2:00 pmSundayClosedContact: 505 – 948 – 5095
Location: Cottonwood Mall, 10000 Coors Blvd NW G-19, Albuquerque, NM 87114GlowGolf is one of the many indoor sports facilities that offer a glow in the dark theme. They offer a fun and inexpensive entertainment environment for your next social event. An exciting round in GlowGolf is perfect for activities such as church groups, summer camps, school outings, scout troops, and many more. Not only are they a good option for group occasions, but they also offer a large-group special discount program to save you some money.A GlowGolf birthday party is a one-of-a-kind experience. It does not only let you play around the facility’s glow-in-the-dark mini golf course but it also gives a uniquely entertaining atmosphere when it’s time to blow those birthday candles. This facility also hosts Fundraising Tournaments that is entertainingly different and productive at the same time. All the money gathered from the event will go to a charity of their choice. Tournaments held at their facility does not only have as many money-making opportunities as traditional outdoor golf tournaments but also have the advantage of being indoors and out of the occasional bad weather conditions outside, in an environment that is fun for all ages and skill levels. Other opportunities to raise money for your fundraisers would be through raffles, silent auctions, food and beverage sales, hole sponsorships, and many more.Hours when school is in:Monday to Friday3:30 pm – 9:00 pmSaturday10:00 am – 9:00 pmSunday11:00 am – 6:00 pmHours when school is out:Monday to Saturday10:00 am – 9:00 pmSunday11:00 am – 6:00 pmContact: 505 – 899 – 0503
Wrap up
In summary, although New Mexico is mostly known for its vibrant local culture and artistic tourist attractions, it’s also a very promising golf destination with many premium-quality tracks designed by some truly talented golf course architects. Though the weather might sometimes make for un-ideal playing conditions outdoors, golfers can still enjoy a few rounds at any of the indoor/virtual golf facilities listed here. With that said, this is by no means an exhaustive list of all the establishments that offer indoor or virtual golf. It’s simply a guide to start you off on the right direction with some of the most popular indoor golf facilities located in the state, with many more for you to discover for yourselves.
