Picacho Hills at Picacho Hills Country Club

Picacho Hills Country Club sits in the high desert landscape of southern New Mexico, approximately ten miles north of Las Cruces near the distinctive Picacho Peak that gives the area its name. The course was designed by Joe Finger, a Texas-based architect who worked extensively throughout the Southwest during the latter half of the twentieth century. Finger's portfolio includes numerous courses adapted to arid climates, and his work here reflects an understanding of desert golf's particular demands and character.

The routing occupies terrain that transitions between relatively flat stretches and areas with more pronounced elevation change, typical of the Chihuahuan Desert's alluvial fan topography. The design incorporates native vegetation including mesquite, creosote, and various desert grasses, with the Organ Mountains visible to the east providing a dramatic backdrop. Water management and turf selection reflect the realities of maintaining golf in a region that receives fewer than ten inches of annual rainfall.

The club serves as a residential community amenity and functions as a semi-private facility, offering both member and public play. Its location between Las Cruces and the smaller communities to the north positions it as one of the primary golf options in the Mesilla Valley region. The course provides a straightforward test of desert golf without the severe penalty areas or extreme forced carries found at some more modern desert designs, making it accessible to a range of skill levels while still requiring accuracy and course management in the desert environment.