BARGAIN HUNTERS HAVE PLENTY OF PICKINGS.

Byline: DAN VUKELICH

Bargain hunters have plenty of pickings

By Dan Vukelich

If there were ever a time to look for smokin' golf deals, now would be that time -- and local courses are offering plenty of them.

Here's a sampling of what's out there for bargain-hunting golfers:

Towa Golf Resort will again offer the Towa card at $159, which offers users two free rounds of golf and a flat $49, 18-hole rate seven days a week, no restrictions. Without the card, the rate for 18 holes at Towa varies from $75 to $84, depending on the day of the week.

Black Mesa Golf Club offers a Black Mesa Golf Association membership. The program offers a handicap and membership through the Sun Country Golf Association, a $25 discount on greens fees 365 days of the year, a 15 percent discount on pro shop purchases of more than $20, one free round of golf and the ability to tee off at the twilight rate an hour earlier than the rest of the public. Membership also gains access to Black Mesa club tournaments.

Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe offers a $125 players club card that includes one round of golf, $21 in practice-range balls, $8 in food at the snack bar, savings on pro shop merchandise of between 15 percent and 25 percent and discounts in greens fees for one year.

Steve Watson, director of golf of the newly renovated New Mexico Highlands University Gene Torres Golf Course, said in celebration of the course's first full year of operation, New Mexico residents are being offered a 30 percent discount on all rates.

The 9-hole golf course, named after Gene Torres, its longtime head professional, was formerly a wide-open parkland layout. It was redesigned as more challenging desert-links course and re-opened last summer. Some holes will be familiar, but many have been re-routed to take maximum advantage of available elevation changes. For 18 holes, players go around twice, typically playing from different tees on the back nine.

Taos Country Club offers Angel Fire, Taos and Eagle Nest residents the "20-20" card, which costs $20 and gets the holder a 20 percent discount off greens fees for the year. Taos also has a birthday club. Players who register for free on the course's Web site, www.taoscc.com, get one 18-hole green round as a birthday present.

Santa Ana and Twin Warriors golf clubs offer a $149 Star Rewards card that include a free round at Twin Warriors and Santa Ana and a free twilight round at Twin Warriors, early access to tee-time reservations, continuing discounts of up to 25 percent on greens fees at both courses, 20 percent off on pro shop clothing, plus other discounts, including meals at the restaurants in the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa.

Paa-Ko Ridge in Sandia Park is running a $55 "New Mexico Appreciation Day" special Monday and Tuesday for players presenting a New Mexico driver's license, representing a discount of as much as $44 dollars. Also, a $200 "Golf Card" gets a player a complimentary twilight round, $10 off the 18-hole rate Monday through Thursday and the twilight rate on any day, a handicap, range pass and entry into Paa-Ko's "3-for-2 program" which allows three players in the same group to play for the price of two.

For the first time, Paa-Ko Ridge is offering an annual membership to non-Paa-Ko residents: $3,600 gets a player unlimited play with no restrictions for a year, said Erin Kato, Paa-Ko's head professional.