Sierra Del Rio Golf Course

Sierra Del Rio Golf Course sits along the shores of Elephant Butte Lake in south-central New Mexico, approximately 150 miles south of Albuquerque. The course was designed by Dick Phelps, a regional architect who worked primarily in the Southwest during the latter decades of the twentieth century. The facility takes its name from the nearby Sierra de las Uvas mountain range and the Rio Grande, which feeds Elephant Butte Reservoir, New Mexico's largest body of water. The layout occupies desert terrain characteristic of the Chihuahuan Desert region, with the routing incorporating natural elevation changes and views across the reservoir. Players encounter native vegetation including mesquite, creosote bush, and various desert grasses, along with the visual backdrop of surrounding mountain ranges. The course operates in a high-desert climate where wind is often a significant factor in play, and the arid conditions produce firm, fast-running fairways for much of the year. Elephant Butte has long been a recreational destination centered on the lake, which was created by dam construction in the early twentieth century. The golf course serves both the local community and visitors to the area's resort properties and RV parks. The setting offers a contrast between the green corridors of the course and the stark desert landscape, with the blue expanse of the reservoir visible from various points on the property.