Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club in Sandia Park is a 27-hole public facility designed by Ken Dye, opened in 2000, and ranked as New Mexico’s #1 course by Golf Digest. The championship 18-hole layout stretches to 7,578 yards with a slope of 141, featuring dramatic elevation changes, undulating fairways, and stunning Sandia Mountain views. The course’s high-desert terrain includes pinon pines, juniper trees, and rocky outcroppings, with a full practice facility, pro shop, and clubhouse enhancing the experience.

The course plays as a challenging mountain test, with blind shots, forced carries, and contoured greens demanding precision and strategy. The par-3s, like the 265-yard 8th, test power, while the par-5s offer risk-reward opportunities. With its penal rough and wind, Paa-Ko Ridge rewards accurate ball-strikers but punishes errant shots, making it a must-play for skilled golfers seeking a scenic, demanding round.