El Paso's first links-style course was stunning when it opened a decade or so ago. It was nationally ranked by Golf Digest and became the pride of our fair city. The fairways tend to be narrow with tricky undulations on the fairways and on the elevated greens. Don't automatically reach for your driver on every par four or five. If you're not in the fairway welcome to the desert which is represented by scrub brush, very hard soil, and rocks. It can be very punishing and costly but still loads of fun! Unfortunately in the last several years the city has hired and fired a number of golf management companies. The result is a 27 hole complex whose quality ranges from very good to unacceptable. Historically the greens tend to be neglected, overwatered, underwatered, and/or not fertilized. Ball marks and fungus abound. Annually some greens are so damaged that various nines are closed. For what was a jewel in the West Texas desert I seldom play Painted Dunes these days. I remember the first-quality facility but now see a shadow of its former self. Perhaps some day...

Requires ball positioning from the tee.
Few places to run the ball up on the green.

Rough is sparse-bare in places, but thick bermuda grows heavy in others. Rough needs to be more consistant.

Put on your thinking cap because you will need it from tee to green. One of few course that doesn't allow for 'slop' from the tees. Hitting fairways and greens are key to a low score. As for the long-knockers.....the desert is full of them. The greens are long with several multi-tier layouts.

Customer Service

Replaced lost PING S/W (to spec.) for me in four days.

Similar Products Used:

Friendly staff. Helpful to first-timers.