Sep. 5—Every Tuesday for the past eight years, Jeff Miles has gone golfing with a group of friends. Consisting mostly of retired state government and national laboratory employees, the group has grown to more than two dozen people who typically show up at the Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe golf course each week.
Miles said he doesn’t think the group will be deterred by an increase to the green fees and golf cart rates being considered by the Santa Fe City Council.
“To me, we have to have an increase,” he said. “Everyone around us has higher rates than we do, and we have a great course.”
Miles — the grandson of former Gov. John Miles and son of former Gen. Franklin Miles — praised his hometown’s golf course on Caja Del Rio road.
“This to me is probably, if not the best, definitely one of the best public courses in New Mexico, if not anywhere,” he said.
At the beginning of the year, the council unanimously approved a four-year, $11.5 million contract with Indigo Sports, a subsidiary of Troon Golf, to manage the golf course. Parks officials said at the time a review of the fees was underway. Since then, the City Council has approved raising golf rates effective Nov. 1, but approval of the actual fee structure is still pending.
The new fee structure under consideration will break weekday rates into city, county, New Mexico and out-of-state residents, with slightly higher rates in all categories on weekends. The highest increases are directed at out-of-state golfers, something golf course manager Lorenzo Vigil said was intentional.
“Golf’s not a cheap sport, and so we want to make sure that we provide the best rate and the best amount of service and quality that we can provide,” he said.
The last rate increase was in 2020, which Vigil noted is uncommon for golf courses. He isn’t sure why a rate increase wasn’t proposed earlier.
To give some examples, out-of-state resident who now pays $40 to play 18 holes would pay $49 during the week and $56 on Saturdays and Sundays. Santa Fe residents who now pay $35 for 18 holes would pay $40 on weekdays and $42 on weekends. Santa Fe County residents would pay $43 and $44 respectively.
Seniors would get discounts of a few dollars — for example, seniors who live in Santa Fe would pay $30 to play 18 holes on weekdays and $33 on weekends, while New Mexico residents seniors would $33 and $36, respectively, and out-of-state seniors could expect to pay $44 on weekdays and $49 on weekends for 18 holes.
Vigil said about 40,000 rounds are played at Marty Sanchez each year and it receives 200 to 300 players a day. He estimated 95% of golfers are from New Mexico.
A loyalty program available to city and county residents is expected to cost golfers $69 at the beginning of the season, after which they would pay less than they would otherwise. For example, city residents who are members would pay just $35 to play 18 holes during the week and $38 on weekends.
Discounts for seniors, veterans, active-duty military and police officers will remain in place, and fees for golfers under 18 will stay flat. Cart fees will increase for seniors and the general public for 18 holes, but will decrease by $1 for nine holes and stay flat in other categories.
The course is also implementing a “twilight rate,” which Vigil said is intended for golfers who hit the course before they could realistically expect to complete a full 18 holes. That could be as early at 1 p.m. in winter and as late as 4 p.m. in the summer.
Vigil said the new rates will still be “highly competitive” with surrounding courses and he is unaware of a nearby course with cheaper green fees than Marty Sanchez.
“We’re still probably going to be the least expensive golf course in the area,” he said.
Online listings at nearby courses bear that out. Rates at Angel Fire Resort Golf Course start at $100 during the summer season, and at Black Mesa Golf Club, fees are upward of $90 on weekends and $70 on weekdays. Fees are more comparable at the Pueblo de Cochiti Golf Course, which lists greens fees of $48 Monday through Thursday and $58 Friday through Sunday.
After working at the golf course for 13 years, Vigil said many of the regulars are like family, and he believes Marty Sanchez is “the best public golf course to play in the state of New Mexico.” He became golf course manager earlier this year after serving as head golf professional when the course was managed by the city.
Parks and Open Space Director Melissa McDonald said the overview of the rates began at the same time the city put out the application for a new contractor, and the rate change was a partnership between city staff and Troon employees.
“What we really tried to do is target any increases on out-of-state and out-of-Santa Fe residents so the local community isn’t bearing the brunt of all of the increases,” she said.
McDonald said she doesn’t think the increases will deter tourists from golfing.
“People are used to paying higher rates back at their own hometowns, so I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of complaints about our rates being too high,” she said.
McDonald and Vigil said conditions at the course have improved significantly since Troon came on board.
Vigil said Troon has much more capacity to maintain the course than city parks staff, who were previously responsible for maintaining it along with numerous other city parks and open space.
“They didn’t have full staff, and it was kind of tough for them to get things done as far as maintenance,” Vigil said.
Several golfers agreed.
“Now that Troon’s taken over, it’s looking so much…
