FOLLOWING THROUGH A Golfer’s Passion and a City’s Budget By Henry Gerard Lucero Photos Mike Billingsley
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nitiating momentum can prove to be a challenge in its own right, especially when something becomes new and unfamiliar. On the one hand, you have cynics that speak of and display criticism that will, in-turn, escalate into a public controversy. And, on the other hand, you have activists who are passionate about implementing a course of action that could bring potential gain. It should come as no surprise that Santa Fe, back in the 90s, was in desperate need of a recreational complex. But to what extent? For the past two decades, loyal patrons and dedicated city employees have fused a golfer’s passion and a city’s budget into a must-see, highly-anticipated recreational complex and golf course that has serviced more than 793,000 rounds of golf since opening day in 1998. Since the conceptual approval of city councilors to buy land from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in 1991, this complex has welcomed sports enthusiasts to its 1,200-acre complex. For many, Marty Sanchez has been a must-play course that locals quickly adapted to due to its links style course, well-maintained grounds and visual scenery that so eloquently captivates the colorful splendor of the
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southwest. Its ability to maintain competitive low rates that surpass local competitors have set this course on the map as an affordable outing for locals and tourists alike. However, the most significant moment in its 20 years has been honoring the legacy of a promising young golfer named Marty Sanchez, a beloved Santa Fean whose passion for the sport is now the namesake of the course. A year dedicated to honoring the achievements of the past is certainly something to celebrate, especially when community leaders fought vigorously throughout the years to secure adequate funding for what was planned to be a multimillion-dollar project. To celebrate two decades of service to the local community, Marty Sanchez is initiating a celebration to honor the inception that was set forth 27 years ago.
SPORTS, REC & TRAVEL