Golf in Artesia

Artesia is an Eddy County city in the Pecos Valley at roughly 3,400 feet, named for the artesian wells that once allowed agriculture to flourish in an otherwise dry landscape before petroleum became the dominant economic force. Oil and natural gas production have shaped the city's character since early in the twentieth century, and Artesia hosts a refinery that processes regional crude. The Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame preserves the ranching culture that preceded and coexists with the petroleum economy. Pecos River headwaters provide the water that sustains agriculture in the valley. Artesia Country Club serves the community's private golf needs in a setting defined by the warm, semi-arid Pecos Valley climate — winters are mild enough for year-round play, and the tight-knit social fabric of a petroleum-and-ranching community gives the club an enduring institutional role.