By Tim Keithley
For the Ruidoso News
Imagine standing on the 18th hole at Augusta National without leaving Ruidoso. That experience soon will be available the village’s new simulated golf store and restaurant, The Crow at Marty’s Golf House, located next to Subway at 1129 Mechem Dr.
“Whose Crow?” was my first question to Marty and Kristi Espinosa, who have plans to open this new business venture in time for Labor Day weekend. “He was my dad,” Marty answered.
Marty’s dad passed away several years ago now and the couple decided to name their business in his honor. “He was known as ‘Crow’ by everyone,” he said. “We were close—just a fantastic father to our big family.”
Marty and Kristi have been around Ruidoso a long time. Marty served as a golf professional at Alto Lakes Country Club and The Outlaw at Alto Lakes for 27 years before recently retiring. Kristi has been a pharmacist at Sierra Blanca Pharmacy since they married about 18 years ago.
Marty said the idea to start a simulated golf course business only came up recently.
“Playing simulated golf with a computer program has become an extremely popular activity. I believe that having a place to play golf indoors in a relaxing environment locally will attract plenty of customers,” he said.
Marty’s computer simulation golf allows you to select from about 25 famous golf courses from around the world. There will be four separate bays set up for golfers to play rounds together or practice. Marty and Kristi plan to charge golfers an hourly fee to use the simulation game.
“You use regular golf balls and strongly swing towards a soft screen,” Marty said. “Then the computer measures your ball’s velocity, height and angle just as if you were on the golf course,” Marty said.
Along with playing simulated golf, Marty and Kristi plan to offer a menu of snacks including pizza. Marty’s Golf House will have a full-service kitchen for lunch and dinner with seating for about twenty people. Marty plans to sell golf merchandise and offer golf lessons as well.
“I know many people in the golf community here,” Marty said. “We want this to be a place where everyone can come and enjoy playing golf together and have some fun too.”
