Cheena/Star at Santa Ana Golf Club

Santa Ana Golf Club's Cheena and Star nines occupy land within Santa Ana Pueblo, a Native American community located along the Rio Grande northwest of Albuquerque. Ken Killian designed both courses, which opened in the mid-1990s as part of the pueblo's economic development initiatives. The property sits in the high desert landscape characteristic of New Mexico's central corridor, where elevation approaches 5,000 feet and the Sandia Mountains provide a dramatic eastern backdrop. The terrain features the contrast typical of Rio Grande valley golf: cottonwood-lined corridors near the river give way to more exposed desert terrain with native grasses, sage, and scattered juniper.

The Cheena nine and Star nine can be paired with a third nine, the Tamaya, to create different eighteen-hole combinations for daily play. Killian's routing works with the natural elevation changes and arroyos that define the site, incorporating both strategic bunkering and the visual drama of the surrounding landscape. Water comes into play on several holes, reflecting the pueblo's agricultural heritage and access to Rio Grande irrigation.

Santa Ana Golf Club operates as a semi-private facility, welcoming outside play while serving members. The pueblo's cultural presence is evident in the clubhouse design and overall atmosphere, connecting the golf experience to the land's deeper history. The courses provide a regional golf option that balances desert conditions with the softer playing surfaces made possible by the valley's water resources.