With Spring well underway and perfect weather at hand, Rockwind Community Links, owned and operated by the City of Hobbs, is well recognized as a Lea County treasure. More than just a local golf course, Rockwind attracts golfers from all over New Mexico, as well as from several other states, especially Texas. Even in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rockwind’s reputation as a superb golfing destination is spreading wider and wider.
Golf fortunately is one of the activities which by its very nature socially distances people, and strong sunshine kills the virus. These two qualities strategically blend together to create the perfect setting for a family outing, and family is the keyword at Rockwind.
Community as a part of its name is not a marketing add-on but rather an important quality of the facility’s concept. Rockwind is much more than a destination for golfers; it is a venue which showcases and supports the Hobbs community and surrounding area.
Rockwind is a gift to local residents; its concept is proving quite unique in the whole of the USA. Of course, quality golf is the facility’s major attraction with a championship 18-hole course, a 9-hole, par-3 course and an efficiently designed practice facility that includes a driving range and several areas for short game practice.
But Rockwind is much more than golf alone. With an open green space for events, the facility is surrounded by a trail system complete with multiple trail heads. Various outdoor seating areas are intertwined throughout the campus, including picnic areas and multiple scenic viewing points. Access to the site’s five-acre lake that overlooks the championship golf course is also there for the taking.
Rockwind has received a 4.8 (5 is perfect) review average from NBC’s Golf Pass. Rockwind is also ranked second in New Mexico by Golfweek on its 2020 list of the best courses you can play. What is remarkable is that this 2020 honor is the second year in a row that the facility received this ranking from Golfweek. And this year, in 2021, the Top 100 Golf Courses rates Rockwind in 8th place in the state.
Praise for this gem of a course, however, is not new. In 2017 and 2018 Golf Digest rated it as the 7th best course in the state; the same magazine rated it in the top ten of the New Courses in America during 2015.
Not only do magazines speak highly of Rockwind but well respected professional golfers from both the PGA and LPGA such as Fred Couples, Natalie Gulbis and Lee Trevino describe the course with high praise.
Rockwind’s course design is timeless with modern features woven against classic, old school touches. Without knowing that the facility was built in 2015, it is easy to believe that this treasure has been around for decades, being constantly updated with care and love.
The course is family friendly and unique. The first-time visitor quickly observes many families playing, a highly unusual experience for a golf course of this caliber. Ever thoughtful about the community aspect of this course, Rockwind also features “Express Tees” on each hole, located so as to cut approximately 40 percent of the distance form each hole. This concept is based on the thought that novice golfers generally have only 60 percent of the swing speed of more experienced players, so the holes are proportionally shorter. This allows beginning golfers to make approaches in the same manner the course was designed for the more accomplished players.
Popular as a venue for weddings, receptions and corporate events, Rockwind checks all the boxes that make it a community treasure. Friendly staff, knowledgeable teaching pros, a well equipped and stocked pro shop and a great restaurant complete the package. For more information about scheduling a special event click here. To make a tee time click here.
