Riverview Golf Course: Two Nines, One Unforgettable Round

Riverview Golf Course in Kirtland, New Mexico started as a private perk for El Paso Natural Gas employees back in 1958. Sixty-seven years later, it is San Juan County's most active golf facility, a 4.1-rated public course where high school state championships, First Tee programs, and $24 weekday walking rounds all share the same tee sheet. The course earned its reputation the old-fashioned way: good turf, honest pricing, and a back nine that outpunches its modest green fees by a wide margin.

Two Nines, Two Personalities

The front nine plays parkland style on the original land that El Paso Natural Gas developed. Fairways are wide, the terrain is relatively flat, and mature trees frame the holes. It is approachable and enjoyable, and it has served as the first full-round experience for generations of Four Corners golfers. The back nine is something different entirely.

When San Juan College added the second nine in 1999, they hired Baxter Spann of Finger, Dye and Spann Inc. to design it. Spann took advantage of natural elevation changes and built a links-style layout with doglegs, risk-reward par 5s, and views that the front nine cannot match. GolfDigest put it plainly: "The front nine is nothing special, but Baxter Spann's back nine includes some of the better golf in New Mexico." GolfPass reviewers echo that, rating the layout 4.6 out of 5 and repeatedly calling the back nine the highlight of the round.

The contrast is jarring in the best way. You finish the front nine on relatively familiar ground, then walk to the 10th tee and play a different game for the last two hours of your round.

Shiprock on the Horizon

Hole 11 is the course's signature. It plays as a Baxter Spann design set piece, framed by views of the La Plata Range and Shiprock, the 1,583-foot volcanic monolith that rises out of the New Mexico high desert 10 miles to the west. Shiprock is not a backdrop you see from the parking lot. It is visible from multiple holes on the back nine while you are actively trying to make par. Not many courses anywhere in the country offer that kind of visual anchor.

Kirtland sits at about 5,300 feet elevation, so the ball travels farther than you are used to if you are visiting from lower ground. Club selection runs roughly one to two clubs less than at sea level. Factor that in on the par 3s and you will save yourself some frustration.

The Numbers

From the Black tees, Riverview plays 6,997 yards with a 72.4 course rating and 131 slope, a genuine championship test. The Gold tees come in at 6,634 yards (70.6/128), and the Blue tees at 6,356 yards (69.3/122). The White tees play at 6,020 yards (67.6/117), and the Turquoise tees give shorter hitters a manageable 5,297 yards. All tees play to par 72. The greens are bentgrass, overseeded and consistently cited by GolfNM as ranking among the best in the state for subtle contours and surface quality.

The Value Case

Weekday walking runs $24. Weekend and holiday rates go to $31. Seniors pay $20 on weekdays. Wednesday brings a retro rate of $34 that includes a shared cart and a fountain drink. These are honest rates for a course playing to a 131 slope from the tips with bermuda fairways, bentgrass greens, and one of the better practice facilities in the southwest.

The practice setup includes a double-ended driving range with more than 50 tee stations, two putting greens, two chipping greens, and an on-site golf academy with V1 digital coaching. Rental clubs run $30, and the Rio Vista Grill serves food on-site. The name references the San Juan River nearby, which gives the course its lush character in a region that otherwise runs high desert.

The Bigger Picture

Riverview hosts more than 30 tournaments per year. The course is home to First Tee Four Corners, which has reached more than 9,000 kids annually across six courses, 20 elementary schools, and two community youth centers since launching in 2005. This is the center of golf life in the Four Corners region, the corner of the country where New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah meet.

San Juan County took ownership of the course in 2010 after San Juan College ran it for a decade. The transition to county operation kept the course public and focused on accessibility. GolfPass reviewers rate the staff friendliness at 4.6 out of 5 and pace of play at 4.4 out of 5. Rounds typically finish in under four hours.

Worth the Stop

If you are passing through the Four Corners area, Riverview is worth building your schedule around. Baxter Spann's back nine is strong enough to warrant the detour on its own. Combine that with the scenery, the bentgrass greens, and a $24 walking rate, and there is not much to argue with.

View the full scorecard and tee details for Riverview Golf Course on Stymie.