On paper, the appeal of Arroyo del Oso Golf Course is more or less straightforward: Equipped with a pro shop, restaurant, and driving range, this is a 27-hole, par 72 course (par 73 for women) featuring a trio of water obstacles and multiple sand traps. The public course debuted in 1965 and, 16 years later, was named one of the country's top 50 municipal golf courses by Golf Digest.
If you take one step onto the course itself, however, you're likely to notice what makes Arroyo del Oso special: its topography. The arroyo for which the scenic course is named plays an important part in the greens' design: Duffers criss-cross the arroyo three times during most games and, if they should pause to take in the view, they'd notice that the course follows the natural contours of Bear Canyon Arroyo's sloping terrain, which is speckled with Ponderosa pines.
Arroyo del Oso Golf Course
7001 Osuna Road NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 884-7505
www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/recreation/golf/arroyo-del-oso-golf-course
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