Staples-designed course is one of the state’s premier municipal facilities
HOBBS, New Mexico – Rockwind Community Links, an award-winning golf facility owned and operated by the City of Hobbs, has become a particularly attractive destination for golfers in southwest Texas.
Superb and consistent course conditions have earned Rockwind accolades from national and regional golf publications, while establishing the Andy Staples-designed course as a model for other public facilities to uniquely unite golf with the local community as a means to grow interest in the game.
Opened in 2015, Rockwind provides the citizens of Hobbs and golfers in southeast New Mexico and Texas with an enviable amenity that was the first community links concept in the country. Rockwind offers a championship 18-hole course, a 9-hole par-3 course with no tees, an expansive dual ended practice range and multiple short game areas, all at exceptionally affordable prices.
Additional elements at the facility include a surrounding trail system complete with multiple trail heads, various outdoor seating areas, picnic spaces and scenic viewing points, public access to the site’s five-acre lake plus a large open green space for events. A restaurant services golfers and residents with a menu that features cuisine with a New Mexican flare.
“We have seen incredible growth over the past few years and Rockwind continues to offer an exceptional playing experience for all golfers,” said Ben Kirkes, Rockwind’s golf professional/general manager. “We attract families, juniors, collegiate players and absolute beginners and the golf course delivers for every level player. We know we are special but it’s great to have golfers returning over and over again because the experience lived up to the hype.”
Architect Andy Staples created the community links concept, which led the USGA to single out Rockwind for breaking the mold and being more than just a golf course in a special video entitled A Model Muni: Rockwind Community Links.
Rockwind’s most significant awards include: Ranked in 2020 by Golfweek at #2 in their Best Courses You Can Play in New Mexico list; rated by Golf Digest at #8 in the 2021-22 Best in New Mexico courses (public and private); named one of Golf Digest’s Best New Courses of 2015; cited as a Top Five New Golf Development in the World by Golf Inc. Magazine; and honored by Golf Advisor as One of the 24 New Courses That Shaped the 2010s.
About Rockwind Community Links
The main course, which offers five sets of tees with playing lengths ranging from over 7,100 yards for the accomplished player down to approximately 4,200 yards for the forward “express” tees, has been designed to embrace the flat nature of the southeastern New Mexico landscape, keeping irrigation to a minimum and the turf fast and firm. The design provides challenging features such as large, elevated greens, disguised bunkers and interesting ground contours.
Architect Andy Staples has incorporated characteristics typically found on courses along the eastern seaboard of the U.S. built during the turn of the 20th century. Rock walls line fairways and a large interior lake is in play on a few holes that attractively punctuates the course routing.The 9-hole par-3 course called Li’l Rock is meant to complement the dual-ended practice range and short game area. It was built to facilitate walking, families, beginner golfers and kids. The length of shots ranges from a sand wedge to a driver. Rockwind Community Links also is a site for The First Tee of Southeastern New Mexico.
