"In the popular tourist destination of New Mexico, there are over nineteen separate Pueblo tribes, many with their own casinos, golf courses, and resorts. But only the Tamaya is a destination resort completely unaffiliated with, and geographically apart from, the tribe’s casino. The focus here is different. Instead of the loud clanging of slots and other garish attractions, the vibe is calm, relaxing, and, by the active presence of the Santa Ana tribe in the cultural programming at the resort, emotionally and spiritually rewarding.

Managed by the able hands at publicly traded Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H), but with a firm nod to the 700-member-strong Santa Ana Pueblo tribe (named after their patron saint, Saint Ann), the Tamaya strikes a difficult balance between the indigenous and the modern. If you want to partake of Native Ways, from April to November during “Srai-Wi” (My Children) you and your family can take classes in Native American pottery, indigenous bread-baking (using outdoor ovens), gourd painting, or archery. Or you can enjoy storytelling and s’mores under the stars led by a tribal member. You can also visit the original Pueblo grounds during select feast days throughout the year. The Tamaya Cultural Museum and Learning Center on the resort grounds rounds out the robust educational experience.

If you seek a more typical resort experience, however, the Two Warriors Golf Club is compelling for both the seasoned golfer and the once-a-decade former Omaha Country Club five-hole champion like the Crotty. With ridges dotted with juniper and pinon pine, and fairways accented by arroyos, the gorgeously evocative Twin Warriors is a year-round delight Even in winter, with snow covering the surrounding Sandia mountains, the links are open. In summer, even with temperatures at 100 degrees, the dry desert heat makes playing manageable. But remember that your shots are going to travel longer at this mile-high altitude."

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James Marshall Crotty: Tamaya Resort Takes Cultural Education to Higher Ground (Forbest 11/16)