Ruidoso Golf Trip Planning Guide
Ruidoso is a pine-covered mountain town in southern New Mexico — a summer escape from Texas heat with multiple golf courses, the famous Ruidoso Downs horse track, and the Inn of the Mountain Gods casino resort. Cool temps, a walkable Midtown, and a real Vegas-lite casino make it a fun, value-packed buddy trip.
Quick Facts
Summer, Fall
ELP (130 min drive)
$30–$140
$200/night
1 of 3
~$255/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Ruidoso. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
The Links at Sierra Blanca — links, $60–$90 · 4.5★
Jim Colbert/Jeff Bauer Scottish links–style course on the old airport site with big mountain views
Cornerstone Bakery & Café — casual, $$ · 4.6★
Beloved Midtown breakfast-and-lunch spot to fuel up before tee time
Quarters Lounge — honky tonk · Open late
Longtime Ruidoso bar with live music and dancing — the local late-night spot
Day 2
The Lodge at Sierra Blanca / Inn of the Mountain Gods Golf — mountain, $80–$140 · 4.5★
Ted Robinson resort course winding around a mountain lake at the Mescalero Apache casino resort
Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino — 2-3 hours, $0–$200/pp
Full Mescalero Apache casino with tables, slots, and a sportsbook
Wendell's (Inn of the Mountain Gods) — steakhouse, $$$ · 4.4★
The resort's lakeside steakhouse — the splurge dinner with a view
Casino Bars (Inn of the Mountain Gods) — casino bar · Open late
Casino floor bars and lounges for a Vegas-lite night with blackjack
Day 3
Cree Meadows Country Club — mountain, $30–$55 · 4.3★
Affordable, walkable 1947 course in the pines right in town — the value round
Ruidoso Downs Horse Racing — half day, $10–$50/pp
Quarter-horse and thoroughbred racing — home of the world's richest quarter-horse race (summer season)
Casa Blanca Restaurant & Cantina — mexican, $$ · 4.4★
Margaritas and New Mexican plates with a big patio — the easy group dinner
Sacred Grounds / Midtown patios — patio
Walkable Midtown bars and patios for a relaxed pine-town crawl
Course-by-Course Guide
Ruidoso has 3 courses worth playing. 1 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Where to Stay
Ruidoso has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $200/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.
$250–$800 /night
Upper Canyon and Alto cabins set in the ponderosa pines
$200–$450 /night
Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino on the Mescalero reservation
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
Cornerstone Bakery & Café
$$Beloved Midtown breakfast-and-lunch spot to fuel up before tee time
Wendell's (Inn of the Mountain Gods)
$$$The resort's lakeside steakhouse — the splurge dinner with a view
Casa Blanca Restaurant & Cantina
$$Margaritas and New Mexican plates with a big patio — the easy group dinner
Cattle Baron Steak & Seafood
$$$Reliable steaks and a salad bar that handles a hungry crew
Nightlife
3 bars curated for groups. 2 stay open past midnight.
Quarters Lounge
Late nightLongtime Ruidoso bar with live music and dancing — the local late-night spot
Casino Bars (Inn of the Mountain Gods)
Late nightCasino floor bars and lounges for a Vegas-lite night with blackjack
Sacred Grounds / Midtown patios
Walkable Midtown bars and patios for a relaxed pine-town crawl
Activities Beyond Golf
3 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino
Full Mescalero Apache casino with tables, slots, and a sportsbook
Ruidoso Downs Horse Racing
Quarter-horse and thoroughbred racing — home of the world's richest quarter-horse race (summer season)
Lincoln National Forest UTV Tour
Off-road the high pines around Sierra Blanca peak
Getting There
Fly into El Paso International Airport (ELP) — it's a 130-minute drive to Ruidoso. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Ruidoso Shuttle and El Paso Limousine Service). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.