It took them a couple of centuries to figure it out, but once the idea of casino resorts on Indian reservations kicked in, native American tribes have cashed in on the phenomenon. In New Mexico, the Mescalero Apaches have taken the idea to new heights – literally and figuratively. Their reservation covers about 72 square miles of land at elevations that range from 5,500 feet in the valleys of the Sacramento Mountain range to the 12,000-foot peak of the Sierra Blanca Mountain.

The crowning jewel on the reservation is situated in the east portion of the reservation – the majestic Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino – and it provides visitors with fine dining, gambling, shows and recreational activities for all seasons.

It takes a little planning to get there. Located just a few miles from Ruidoso, one of the fastest-growing resort areas in the country, most visitors fly into Roswell, El Paso or Albuquerque, rent a car and drive to the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino.

There is a bonus for golfers. The Inn overlooks a spectacular championship course designed by golf architect Ted Robinson. Builder of over 170 golf courses throughout the world, including some which have been the sites for major championships, Robinson likes to use the natural habitat in the area as much as possible.

The majority of the land is covered with timber pine, fir, spruce, aspen, white oak and juniper. Add Mescalero Lake, some dramatic elevation changes and the stunning view of the snow-capped Ski Apache slope and you have the recipe for an extraordinary golf course.

The course has been as one of the Top 40 Casino Golf Courses by Golf Digest and Golfweek, and No. 12 among the Top 20 Tribal Golf Courses in North America by Native American Casino Magazine.

I don’t know the criteria used by those organizations, but as one who has covered golf and major championships all over the country for more than 30 years, I would call it one of the top courses I have ever seen and played.

“We are pretty proud of this course,” said head golf pro Daniel Nunez. “We have been the host for the New Mexico Open and have also had several sectional events held here.”

Robinson carved the course from the canyons at the base of the Sacramento Mountains and used bluegrass for the fairways and bent grass for the greens.

The course is at an elevation of 7,000 feet which means you will hit balls about 10 percent farther in the thin air.

For me, it led to some guesswork in the beginning, but once I understood a well-struck ball would get extra distance, I stopped trying to swing too hard and allowed the elevation to do its job.

The first day I was to play the course was rained out, but that proved to be a blessing in disguise because it left me free to enjoy the wonders of the Inn. (More on that experience later).

The sunshine returned on day two and I finally experienced the joy of playing the course with a couple I had met the day before at the Inn – Dr. Ron Avis and his daughter Sue, both avid golfers from Florida.

We enjoyed the round so much, we had lunch at the Apache Tee Restaurant, then tackled the front nine again.

“This day is a definite 10,” Dr. Avis said. “And the course is an 11. I can’t remember when I have enjoyed a course so much, and I have played courses all around the world.”

The course features four sets of tees ranging from 5,522 from the forward tees to 7,206 from the tips and the slope rating goes from 124 to 132. The fairways over ample landing areas but get narrower closer to the greens which are well bunkered.

There is not one signature hole on the course, but there are four holes where you automatically reach for your camera. The Kodak moments came at the 8th, 10th, 16th and 18th tees.

The eighth hole is a par-3 that ranges from 173 to 235 yards. The green looks like a welcome target at an elevation 150 feet below the tee boxes. With the wind swirling, it makes club selection a guessing contest. We played the hole at 205 yards and I guessed a 185-yard club would be about right. Although I pushed my 4-metal, the ball landed pin-high in the right bunker, so Dr. Avis was confident with his club selection and hit his shot to 10 feet below the pin.

The 10th hole features an island fairway and we learned that a driver was not necessary on the hole that measures from 283 yards to 354 yards. We played it from 300 and needed to hit the ball only 170 to reach the back end of the fairway. To hit it any farther would be to risk seeing the ball splash into the lake. After a good tee shot, you are left with a short iron to a large green.

The 16th hole is the easiest on the course, a straight-forward par 4 that goes from 310 to 380 yards, but what makes it special is the jaw-dropping view of Sierra Blanco’s snow-capped Ski Apache peak rising above the tall green forest pines.

The 18th hole is a risk-reward par three over a lake. It can play as short as 130 yards or as long as 272 yards to a green that angles away from you.

The greens on the course were a little soft from the rain the previous day, but firmed up later in the day. They were large with some undulation and were very quick on downhill putts.

“We like to keep the greens at 8 or 9 (on the Stimpmeter) for resort play, but we can get them up to 11-13 for tournament play,” Nunez said.

After the round and a half of golf, it was a short walk back to the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino, a place that is designed for families, business travelers, gamblers, outdoor enthusiasts or anybody looking for a retreat from a hectic city.

Guests will be treated to a AAA Four-Diamond rated luxury resort that features 273 rooms and suites with Southwestern décor. Business travelers will note it has more than 40,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space, a business center, heated indoor pool and hot tubs, a fully-equipped fitness center and a variety of restaurants to satisfy any palate.

The signature dining establishment is Wendell’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant, named after Wendell Chino, the president of the Mescalero Apaches for 43 years until his death in 1998. It is open nightly for dinner and offers an impressive wine list, an array of fresh seafood, steaks and wonderful desserts.

Adjacent to the restaurant is Wendell’s Lounge which offers appetizers, cocktails and cozy fireside seating. I preferred to sit outside on the patio to enjoy the view of the Sierra Blanca and Sacramento Mountains.

Other dining options are the Apache Tee Restaurant overlooking the first and 10th tees of the golf course, the Gathering of Nations Buffet, the Big Game Sports Bar and Club 49 next to the casino and Smokey B’s Grill at the Casino Apache Travel Center.

The casino offers everything Las Vegas has including blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, slot machines and video poker. While my luck as the casino was not good, I did witness a lady taking away $1,000 from the Wheel of Fortune machine. What made that a mixed experience for me was that I had been playing that machine earlier in the evening and decided it wasn’t going to pay off that night.

The real attractions to the resort are the many activities offered for families and outdoors people, depending on the season.

There is horseback riding, a sporting clay range, and fishing on the 100-acre Lake Mescalero. They have a Just for Kids Summertime Activities Program designed for children 5-12 years old. The activities include arts and crafts, games, movies and special themes and all are fully supervised. There is also bird watching, hiking, camping and mountain biking.

But the big ticket items are golf, skiing and big game hunting where you go after bears, cow elk, wild birds and turkeys depending on the season.

I will confess. I am not a hunter. But I don’t feel guilty if I get a birdie on the Championship Course at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino.

You can also make reservations to play the golf course by going to the resort’s website at www.innofthemountaingods.com

Story by Fred Robledo