Cochiti Golf Club
Cochiti Golf Club is a public 18-hole mountain-style course set amidst New Mexico's high desert terrain. With its wide fairways, firm greens, and impressive elevation, it offers a strategic challenge that balances accessibility for various skill levels with the unique demands of its rugged landscape.
Course Overview
Cochiti Golf Club, located near the serene shores of Cochiti Lake in New Mexico, offers an 18-hole challenge framed by the stark beauty of high desert terrain and rugged mesas. This public course combines a mountain-style layout with the natural contours of the land, stretching over roughly 6,500 yards of arid landscape that demands precision and strategic play. Elevated above 6,000 feet, the course invites golfers to navigate its dry fairways, undulating greens, and natural waste areas, making shot placement crucial in an environment where errant drives risk disappearing into native sand and sagebrush.
The scenery here is defined by wide-open skies and shifting light that produces breathtaking vistas, enhancing the focus required for each stroke. Cochiti's design blends seamlessly with its environment, rewarding patient players who can read the subtle breaks on greens that often feel firm and fast due to the semi-arid conditions. While the layout offers enough challenge for seasoned players, its wide fairways also provide an approachable experience for mid and higher handicaps eager to test their skills.
The club’s practice facilities include a modest driving range and putting green, though seasonal maintenance can affect condition. Visitors should prepare for walking as the course often enforces cart-path-only policies to protect turf in fragile areas. Proper footwear is advised given the firm ground and potential for uneven lies. Amenities at the clubhouse include a grill area perfect for small gatherings or a casual post-round meal, with staff known for friendly service that complements the understated charm of the venue.
Despite recent reports of course condition inconsistencies, especially in spring recovery phases, Cochiti Golf Club holds appeal for players who appreciate a no-frills venue set against a dramatic New Mexico backdrop. Planning a visit here means embracing the desert’s unique pace and challenges. Early morning tee times are recommended to avoid afternoon winds that can influence ball flight, adding another layer to the strategic rhythm of each hole. Cochiti offers a pure golf experience shaped by environment and elevation, suited for those looking beyond manicured parklands to a rugged test of focus and shot-making.
Course Highlights
Cochiti’s layout capitalizes on high desert topography with wide fairways that require accurate drives and approach shots around native terrain. The greens are notable for their firmness and subtle breaks, influenced by the elevation and climate. The course’s setting near Cochiti Lake offers scenic vistas of mesas and arid landscape, creating a stark yet captivating backdrop. Its mountain-style routing places a premium on shot control and course management, making it a rewarding destination for players seeking a blend of natural beauty and strategic golf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Guest Reviews
Michael Eras
The course was very dry with many burn spots. Tee boxes not well kept up and bunkers were hard with weeds in them. Too bad to see such a beautiful course fall into poor condition. 6/29/25. Absolutely unplayable. It’s gotten worse. See photos.
P C
This is a very special golf course to me. It’s a majestic setting and layout. The conditions right now are unplayable. I lost three balls just inches off the fairway. It also makes the pace of play terrible. I’ve finished 18 here in 2.5 hours before but that’s impossible now. I really hope they get their mowers fixed.
Bradley Scott
Permanently closed.
David Jaramillo
My friends and I have called several times to make tee times. (Yes more than once.) We were told no tee times were available. But on line 7 to 12 times were open. When I questioned about it. Person on phone said. "I didn't see those times." Lazy or rude. Take your pick. The course is in bad condition anyway. Not worth price.
Joe Minkley
Played 4/26/2025. Do not go there! The course is in horrible condition. No range balls. Putting green is terrible. The worst shape of any golf course I’ve ever played. Starting with the practice green it just got worse. All greens are dead or mostly dead. Too much sand was put in the greens and they have not been kept, verticut or in the case of sparse bumpy grass, they have not been mowed consistently. It is literally like putting on sand greens. Totally unacceptable. The fairways are terrible. The way the fairways have been torn up in an attempt to aerate has left them plowed up with holes everywhere. Big chunks of dirt have been left where they gouged out holes. You cannot get any decent lie to hit a ball. Best you can do is hunt for a small patch of grass to tee up a ball or hit it off hard pan. For some reason it is cart path only. There is nothing good in the fairways to protect. We never saw a single maintenance person working on the course. Pitiful condition! Do not waste your money here. And this used to be my favorite course in New Mexico.
Eric Kenney
Cochiti is a great place to play. The staff is friendly, and the views are stunning. Cochiti is at a higher elevation; the course takes a little more of a beating over the winter. Be patient, it is still a wonderful place to play it just takes a little longer to recover in the spring.
Steve Hudson
A fun little course. Great condition overall. Greens rolled nicely, not to awful fast. Highly recommended if you are in the area. Nice grill area as well!
Michael Eras
The course was very dry with many burn spots. Tee boxes not well kept up and bunkers were hard with weeds in them. Too bad to see such a beautiful course fall into poor condition. 6/29/25. Absolutely unplayable. It’s gotten worse. See photos.
Josh Johns
Avoid at all costs until the course is gotten back into shape. Like Marty Sanchez in Santa Fe, another local gem that’s gone to pasture. Unplayable.
Eric Kenney
Cochiti is a great place to play. The staff is friendly, and the views are stunning. Cochiti is at a higher elevation; the course takes a little more of a beating over the winter. Be patient, it is still a wonderful place to play it just takes a little longer to recover in the spring.
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Course Details
Access & Location
5200 Cochiti Hwy, Cochiti Lake, NM 87083, USA
Cochiti Golf Club Clubhouse with grill area
Walking is allowed and encouraged, though footing can be firm and uneven; sturdy shoes with good traction advised.
Open to the public with standard booking procedures; advanced reservations recommended during peak seasons.
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