Turtleback Mountain Resort in Elephant Butte, N.M., is offering two rounds of free rounds of golf March 5-7 and March 12-14 for players willing to tour the property. Temperatures are forecast to be in the 70s. For details, click here.
An 18-man squad led by David Senn of Truth or Consequences decimated a team from Northern New Mexico over two days of match play Sept. 29-30 at Sierra del Rio Golf Course in Elephant Butte, N.M.
The Ryder Cup-style event pitted teams from Northern and Southern New Mexico in three rounds of gross competition. Players were paired by ability in three matches: 2-man alternate shot, four-ball and individual. The South took a commanding lead after 36 holes of play on Day 1 and won the event 68-40 at the conclusion of play on Day 2.
“People are telling us this is one of the really fun events of the year,” said Monty Mills, captain of the losing North squad, which is now 1-2 over three years.
The competition, conceived by Bob Logefeil of Las Cruces, is for low handicappers across the state over age 50. Four spots on each team are reserved for players older than 65.
“We like to think this isn’t just about Albuquerque vs. Las Cruces, but will grow to become an event for the entire state – including seniors from Ruidoso, Farmington, Silver City and other cities,” Logefeil said. “As the event grows, so will the teams.”
Senn, the winning captain, congratulated Sierra del Rio’s head professional, Victor Torres, for hosting “a tremendous event that is getting more popular with each year.” The golf course was in superb condition and windy conditions in the afternoon provided a true test, Mills said.
Guest speaker at dinner on Sept. 29 was Sun Country Golf columnist Guy Wimberly, a PGA of America lifetime-achievement award member, who detailed the growth of the Sun Country Amateur Golf Association and Sun Country Section PGA starting in the 1970s.
The New Mexico Shootout has been postponed for 2009, organizer Jack Whitt, CEO of Turtleback Mountain Resort, said today.
“We’ve been very fortunate in the past years to have tremendous support from our sponsors,” Whitt said. “Economically speaking, we’re all in the same boat this year and feel the postponement is appropriate.”
Organizers planned to restructure the event for 2010. In 2007 and 2008, it featured two teams of two LPGA players each playing the Sierra del Rio Golf Course in Elephant Butte. Participants included Nancy Lopez, Natalie Gulbis, Rosie Jones and Kristi Albers, most of whom had ties to New Mexico or West Texas.
The event, supported by the New Mexico Tourism Department, was held in September.
Thirteen-year-old Tripp Gleghorn of Hatch is believed to be the youngest person to score a hole-in-one in Sun Country in recent memory, says Guy Wimberly, director of Golf at Sierra del Rio Golf Course, whose 2nd hole was aced by the young Gleghorn on the Fourth of July. We apologize for previously misspelling his first name.
For a complete list of holes-in-one in Sun Country this year, click here.
