Excellent course with lots of elevation and wind, but many blind shots to frustrate the first-time visitor; pay $5 in the campus bookstore or online to play



+ Great turf mat tees, very good baskets (some with flags to help see them)

+ Champion-level signage with good maps, full descriptions and suggested strategy for play; the maps at the tees are taken from an overall downloadable course map

+ Some holes include white poles placed on the fairway for guidance (and their locations are noted on the maps at the tees)

+ The "IAIA AM Classic" layout includes includes seven par 4's spread among the front and back for a total of almost 7000 feet from the back tees

+ Excellent set of alternate "AM" (red) tees featuring very manageable but still challenging lengths: although they don't have their own signage, they're easily located from the maps at the "PRO" tees


+ Hole #1 is a short uphill-but-makeable par 3. It's a good starter hole because it introduces the most frequent IAIA challenges: elevation, short guardian trees protecting the green, a hole that's open to wind

+ Hole #2 has you now working a downhill short teeshot and the green is tighter: you can see the basket through a gap in the front, but if you're short to either side, you're obstructed and two-putting for par

+ The back tee on hole #6 is a bit pinched by trees on either side that frame a beautiful view of the valley stretching out beyond the hidden basket. Be careful: it's really easy to lose sight of distance on this downhill shot, and there's an OB fence just beyond the green. This fence line at the bottom comes into play quite a bit on the back 9

+ Holes #7 and #8 measure as short pars 3 and 4 respectively, but you're throwing up a fair amount of elevation

+ Hole #10 is uphill - but the shortest hole on the course. It eases you into the back nine, which features three consecutive par 4's ("the gauntlet") on #11 - #14

+ Holes #12 and #13 feature some modern art on the fairways. The white figure guarding the fairway on #12 is especially creepy

+ Don't let the wide open vistas lull you into complacency: there's an OB fence line at the bottom of the valley that comes into play, especially during the back 9 (holes #15, #16, #17). Long shots that drift right have a way of finding OB (at least that's my experience!)

+ Hole #18 has a row of guardian trees across the fairway. Throw high at the largest gap, and a good throw, combined with the downhill elevation, will likely sail above the line. The approach includes a flagged OB area up by the green (on the left). It adds challenge to an otherwise open approach - but the flags are low and difficult to see from the distance you'll probably be throwing

- Too many blind holes. There's a run of what seems like 10 or 11 holes in a row where you stand on the tee unable to see your target, which is obscured by those damn junipers or by elevation. The first time player will spend a lot of extra time walking up the fairway to look for baskets

- The baskets or greens could use some "next hole" arrows. This is especially true at a course like IAIA, with greens that are often ringed by bushy juniper trees: you can't see anything until you get outside of the ring, and if you've come out the wrong side, you're gonna do a lot of circling around and searching. Admittedly, the map at each IAIA tee shows the direction to go after holing out, but I never seemed to be able to remember, or to orient myself successfully. I learned to look at the ground to see which trail away from the green seemed to be the most heavily used, and that worked OK. Reviews from 3-4 years ago indicate there were red arrows at the time, but they're gone now. One more permanent (and inexpensive) alternative is to hang short pieces of plastic conduit below the bottom of the basket, like at Brent Baca in ABQ

- There are a few longish walks between holes, and a long walk in from #18

~ A note about payment: I played on a weekday afternoon after the campus bookstore closed (the hours, location, campus map, payment form and course information are all online). But the main sign board near the first tee includes a QR code and link, so you can pay on-the spot. My sense is that this is very much an honor system. The form is a pain-in-the-ass to fill out. Since the course was vacant (and I was impatient to play as always!), I took a picture of the QR code, and processed the payment after the round

~ A note about parking: there are campus lots that get you pretty close to the course (although I don't know if they ticket). There's space for three or four cars on the dirt circle next to the course itself: follow the uDisc locator all the way around the back of the dorms and maintenance buildings

~ IAIA was my third course of the day, and I admit I ran out of gas toward the end. I shifted to the Red "AM" tees around #14, and the course experience didn't feel at all compromised - still plenty of challenge

~ The only real "Cons" to my experience at IAIA were the blind tee shots and basket-to-tee navigation. I'm sure multiple plays would eliminate those problems, while the course would stay demanding. I played here and at the nearby Arroyo Chamisos course on the same day, and they made for a great set of contrasts and similarities. I would feel very fortunate to live close enough to play both regularly

- Great signage
- Clean
- Well designed considering the terrain
- Nice change of pace from Mad Max desert courses in ABQ and mountain courses near Taos.
- Nice new(er) baskets
- Easy to find discs

- The terrain can get a little monotonous
- Juniper trees will eat your discs and scratch you up as you attempt to retrieve.
- Spikey plants and cacti can wreak havoc on your feet and legs if you're not prepared.
- Pay to play (as many have mentioned, not an issue for me, but may turn some away)

I really liked this course a lot. The cons I listed are not really big deals but since it asked, I racked my brain to come up with some, but it's nitpicking because this course really has a lot going for it. After playing Baca, Arroyo, Sipapu, Two Gray Hares, and Red River in three days, IAIA was the perfect anecdote to my tired legs. Slightly hilly but mostly flat and those baby blue baskets really pop in that landscape. Ryan was very helpful, not only in regards to playing this course, but also in recommending other courses in the area, as this was my first time playing disc in the Land of Enchantment. IAIA may not blow you away like Sipapu, Angel Fire, and/or Red River up north, but considering the lay of the land they were given, they carved out a wonderful course that if I lived in the area, would play over and over again.

Great signage with description of each hole, creative tee pads and baskets. Challenging. Wide variety of shots. Beautiful scenery.

I imagine this place can get very hot in summer months and windy in the spring. Lots of vegetation to scrape or scratch legs on (it is a high desert course) so pants are recommend which could be brutal in the summer heat. I didn't feel like there was a signature hole for the course.

Really enjoyed testing out my skills on this course. I think I threw every kind of shot except a roller. Stay out of the trees and clean in the fairway for a good score, if not you will be scrambling. Looking forward to version 2.0 in 2018.

Excellent Course layout! Rolling topography, with large Scrub Pine, that both hides and protects most pins. At 7000 ft altitude, one round is a two hour "work out". Wind is a huge factor.
The scenic views are outstanding! This place is very special and sacred by anyone's definition. I feel privlidged to have been able to play here.

You can't rate a course on it scenic views, otherwise IAIA would become a 5.

I have played over 60 courses, most are in the Upper Midwest. I rate IAIA as a solid 4. Probably a 4.1, It is now my favorite Western dgc.

Great layout.
Great views.
Easy to navigate (the little red arrows point you to the next tee. Occasionally I had trouble spotting them but pulling out the map quickly solved that problem).
Great signage. Each tee sign included a map and a description of the hole. On blind holes there are white posts to give you a visual reference. All baskets have tall flags with the hole number to make spotting them easy.
Several picnic tables are scattered throughout the course for when you'd like a break.
Not crowded. A refreshing change of pace from Rosy.

Pay to play. I don't really consider this a con but some might.

I had a little difficulty locating the first tee but nothing too bad.

It's a longish walk from 18 back to your car.

I suggest wearing boots. As with most of NM there are plenty of thistles and thorns to warrant something sturdier than tennis shoes. That said, I played my round in tennis shoes because I lack foresight and only got stuck 2-3 times.

Not many negatives. I really enjoyed my round and am sure I'll get my money's worth out of my annual membership.

I accidentally threw to hole 12 from hole 14. I should have known from the flag but the wind was blowing towards me and I couldn't read it. Hole 14 is a sharp dog-leg right. If you throw to the recommended landing zone you'll see hole 12's basket ahead and slightly right but hole 14's basket is hidden behind some trees further to the right.

So, I was born and raised in New Mexico but I have lived in the mid west(Cincinnati area) most of my adult life. It is a huge difference in topography, where we are used to carving out holes through the woods and the green grass at IAIA you throw over and around the bushy juniper trees and chamisa brush. With the snow capped mountains in the background it's a pretty special place to watch a disc in flight.
I like that there is plenty of elevation change through out the course, I am a big fan of the turf tee pads and they are in great shape. Very nice tee signs made of cedar that give all necessary info including short tee pad location. On multiple throw holes(par 4/5's) Ryan has also set out white posts to let you know which direction the basket is located(he plans on putting distance to the white posts on the tee sign). I also like the Titan baskets which are New Mexico themed, turquoise color, powder coated, are in great shape and catch well. He also has NM themed next tee stakes on each hole. I really liked the red flags with hole # on top of each basket. They go well with the theme thing and I really liked that they can be adjusted so that if the basket is tucked behind a juniper tree the flag can be raised so that you can see where the basket is from a distance. I would love to do that at Idlewild but I'm sure they wouldn't last in a public park.
The course flows very well, it's the walk isn't very long between basket and next tee. The front nine is shorter than the back so there are a few more birdie opportunities. Par is good on some of the par 4s in the back.

I also like that you get free relief when you throw a disc in one of the juniper trees through out the course, Hopefully that will keep the trees from getting torn up. I'm not sure if that applies to the disc being under the tree as well.

Currently the cost may be a bit prohibitive for the traveling disc golfer($50.00 membership fee)unless you hook up with a member, then it's free to play. They plan on implementing a daily fee in 2016.

I had the pleasure to play the back 9 with Ryan the course pro/co designer/ maintenance guy then I came back the following day to play the front. It was windy on the back nine and calm on the front. I've played some great courses and this one is right up with them all. It's just a different kind of golf than what I'm used to. IAIA is the best course I've played in NM
We have plans to go to Santa Fe every Thanksgiving so I will be back to play this great course again.

Clean, plays fair to par, modern layout and design, excellent use of a nice spread of land, epic views of the San Dias mountains. Ryan Flahive is a helluva host and has pulled something really special together. Good signage, nice sticky turf teepads, good arrows marking the next tees, and excellent Gateway Titan baskets. Good fauna (coyotes and jackrabbits) and flora (wildflowers were blooming from recent rains). Front 9 is easier, back 9 is longer.

Could use a water fountain, but I'm sure there are some on the school's campus. but you probably ought to remember to bring water -- it is in the desert after all.

Best course in the Santa Fe area, and a really nice desert course all around. IT IS PRIVATE though, so call ahead, and make a donation. Absolutely worth the effort if you are in Santa Fe. Really a fun disc golf experience. Thanks again Ryan.