With golf courses popping up at resort-casinos across the country, there’s an ever-increasing number of experiences to explore. And since “fun” can mean different things to different people, it’s always handy to have options. Albuquerque’s Sandia Golf Club, adjacent to a Resort & Casino by the same name, covers everything from great golf to a variety of delicious dining venues; Vegas-style gaming to wonderful spa facilities; glitzy live entertainment to memorable weddings and special events.

Of these amenities, golf is one of the most appealing. The golf club’s location – just off of I-25 in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains – offers one of the most dramatic backdrops in the game, and designer Scott Miller did his best to maximize the views along with the golf experience. The result is a picturesque track recognized by industry-leading publications such as Golf Inc. magazine, which named Sandia Golf Club as the “Best New Development of 2005.” Golf Magazine recognized Sandia Golf Club as one of the “Top 10 New Courses You Can Play,” and Golfweek magazine listed it among the top 50 casino courses in the nation.

Resting on a patch of rugged high desert 5,300 feet above sea level, the thin air helps facilitate titanic blasts, but even the longest hitters will find plenty of room to stretch their legs on the 7,755-yard layout, the longest in New Mexico. Designer, Scott Miller, blended his signature elements with the Pueblo’s vision of creating a very different golf course than most contemporary target-style courses.

Sandia can be brutally long, but it’s not brutally tough, even with two par 5s weighing in at 655-plus yards. Miller encourages players to blast away from the tee, while also throwing a handful of interesting design gambits at them to navigate. The somewhat tame first three holes give way to the watery, 515-yard par-4 fourth (thankfully, it’s downhill). The split fairway at the 403-yard, par-4 sixth, the incredible mountain views from the par-four tenth, and the perfectly placed arroyo at the downhill, par-five 11th offer golfers equal parts strategic intrigue and aesthetic charm. With features like friendly green surrounds that make par-saving recoveries highly probable, it’s a relatively easy golf course for high handicappers, while still challenging better players to be aggressive to score. This variety makes Sandia Golf Club a very attractive choice for golf groups with different abilities. Speaking of groups, The Pueblo of Sandia is currently putting the finishing touches on a new Event Center to host large golf groups as well as other special events.

“The new Event Center at Sandia Golf Club will certainly turn a few heads,” said Matt Molloy, General Manager of Sandia Golf Club. “The additional space, exceptional quality and location overlooking the golf course and Sandia Mountains gives our team an attractive tool to elevate our group operations to new levels while delivering a memorable experience on the day of the special event.”

As most devoted golfers will attest, it’s not always about playing golf. It’s also about spending quality time with family and friends as well as enjoying all the activities that naturally accompany the game. While the new Event Center offers a great location for groups to gather before and after play to socialize over a cold beverage, the adjacent resort and casino isn’t a bad place to hang out, either.

The Sandia Resort & Casino takes full advantage of the same breathtaking mountain views found on the golf course. The contemporary accommodations are built for comfort, and the action of the casino’s 140,000-square-foot Vegas-style gaming venue offers everything from slots and table games.

All the gambling and golf is sure to work up an appetite. Bien Shur, Albuquerque’s premier dining experience, offers casual elegance with breathtaking mountain views from the top floor of the resort. The Council Room Restaurant and Bar is ready to satisfy any craving, morning, noon and night. Just a few steps from the casino floor, Ba Shie Bar serves up cold drinks and casual fare with the game du jour playing in the background. And, P’a Shur Deli & Roadrunner Grill offer overstuffed sandwiches, burgers, ballpark-style hotdogs and much more.

With a resort and casino next door, Sandia Golf Club is an ideal place to stay and play. The Ultimate Golf Package, for example, offers deluxe accommodations, $18 food credit for breakfast, complimentary re-play round, unlimited use of resort fitness center, spa and sauna facilities at the Green Reed Spa and one round of golf per night stayed. All that starting at $159 per person, per night, valid Sunday – Wednesday through October, 2015.

Sandia Golf Club represents a refreshing departure from the white-knuckle challenges doled out over the last few decades by target-style desert golf. Instead, it’s a big place with big fairways, big views and wide-open spaces that stretch to the horizon. It’s a place where golfers are encouraged to relax and swing away as they look forward to an action-packed evening after the last putt drops. To learn more, visit www.SandiaGolf.com.