Los Alamos Golf Course Review May Update for 2025 Season

Published on May 12, 2025

Los Alamos County staff have been monitoring the golf course and as published, performed a review of the course on May 12th, to provide better clarity and to ensure optimal conditions for play. The updated schedule reflects changes in course availability and ongoing preparations.

Updated details:

• The practice range and main putting green will remain open. These areas will be available to golfers for practice. Range balls are available from 8:30am to 6:30pm, Monday through Saturday. The practice range closes at 3:30pm on Sundays to prep the range for mowing on Mondays.
• The course will remain closed at this time. Another course review will be during the week of June 9th. While the weather conditions have improved, the course needs to see consistent air temperatures above 55 degrees for a period of 60-90 days for optimal growth of the turf. When the course is again reviewed, staff will provide notice of the progress. The total number of days that we have seen this consistency is seven (7) since March.

Los Alamos County’s priority is allowing the new turf on the greens, bunker collars, tees, and fairways to grow in with significant root growth to support the traffic on the golf course. While the course has seen improvement, the root depth is still too shallow. The optimal nighttime air temperature range for bent grass and blue grass to grow roots and shoots is 50 to 77 degrees. It usually takes 60-90 days, at these temperatures, to consistently establish new turf areas. The recent weather has been close to this range however, it’s not nearly enough time to properly establish the grass for consistent play. We understand that the community sees green on the course and wonders why we can’t play. The establishment of the roots and turf cover dictates the ability to open the course. Most of the greens are spotty, and the root development is still very thin and shallow, at a depth of two (2) inches, which is problematic for long-term play. For putting greens, the USGA recommends a uniform rootzone depth of 8 to 12 inches, plus or minus one inch, and a root zone depth of 12 inches, plus or minus one inch for tee boxes. This depth ensures strong root development, allowing for better drainage and overall turf health.

To reiterate, the key areas of the course, including greens, collars, fairways, bunkers, and tees, are not yet ready to handle play or cart traffic. We anticipate, with the near-term weather forecast, that we will begin to see optimal growth temperatures. Staff and contractors will continue to review and monitor the course frequently to assess the progress of root growth in newly seeded and sodded areas, as well as the re-contoured greens.

Staff and our contractor are following the grow-in plan prepared by the Golf Course Architect to ensure our multi-million-dollar investment in the golf course takes hold and provides the quality golfing experience that our community deserves for this and the coming years.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate the community’s understanding as we focus on the completion of necessary improvements. For further updates and information, please visit the Los Alamos County Website or contact the Golf Course Pro Shop at (505) 662-8139