Gene Torres Golf Course at Highlands University

Gene Torres Golf Course at Highlands University sits on the campus of New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico, a historic town in the high plains region northeast of Santa Fe. Designed by Jeffrey D. Brauer and opened in the late 1990s, the course serves both the university community and the public. Brauer, a Texas-based architect known for his work on municipal and daily-fee courses throughout the Southwest and Great Plains, created a layout that works with the natural high-desert terrain at an elevation of approximately 6,400 feet. The course occupies rolling terrain characteristic of northern New Mexico's transition zone between the Great Plains and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Players encounter elevation changes and views of the surrounding landscape, with native grasses and high-desert vegetation framing the holes. The design reflects Brauer's approach to creating playable public courses that incorporate strategic elements while remaining accessible to golfers of varying abilities. As a university-affiliated facility, Gene Torres Golf Course functions as both a recreational amenity for students and faculty and a public course for the Las Vegas community. The setting offers a different golfing experience than the lower-elevation desert courses found elsewhere in New Mexico, with cooler temperatures and distinct seasonal playing conditions shaped by the high-plains climate. The course provides a straightforward test of golf in a landscape that reflects the character of northeastern New Mexico's open country.