Ready your kilt and your clubs for the Tartan Tourney
Golfing in kilts
For the festive Tartan Tourney held on Saturday (Aug. 17) at Valle Escondido Golf Course, wearing kilts is encouraged (at least something plaid!). It is a four-person scramble tournament open to the public and a women’s division with no flighting, but there will be prizes for first and second place in each division. To play in the women’s division, there must be two women in the foursome. There will be a shotgun start at 9 a.m. A piper will play the bagpipes at the beginning and early parts of the tournament – it is usually quite a scene to see the bagpiper emerge out of the mists on the ninth hole.
The entry fee for the Tartan Tourney is $25. Two mulligans can be purchased for $10. Entry fees do not include green fees. A lunch is available at the Valle Escondido clubhouse – there is a deli and a full-service bar.
The Valle Escondido golf course is open to the public until the last weekend of September (depending on weather). Visit taosgolf.org.
Mutt Strut
Mark your calendars and tell your pups because Taos Ski Valley will be hosting the second annual Mutt Strut on Aug. 31. The day will be filled with a 5K Dog Fun Run/Walk, dog activities, music, food and fun, with proceeds benefiting Taos Stray Hearts Animal Shelter. Dogs must be on leashes and owners/handlers are responsible for cleaning up their pup’s poop.
The event will be held out of the Taos Ski Valley Resort Center Plaza. Online preregistration is $20 per dog (holdmyticket.com), and day of registration is $25 per dog. Visit skitaos.com.
Bull of the Wood trail marathon and half-marathon
Trail racers have two beautiful options to run on Sept. 14: a full marathon and a half-marathon. All racers will climb to the top of Fraser Mountain. From there the marathon distance runners will continue to the top of Kachina Peak. Interested runners can email questions to bullofthewoodsrun@hotmail.com or register at ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=64558.
Gran Fondo cycling challenge: Taos – Mora – Angel Fire – Taos
Sunday (Sept. 22) marks the annual Gran Fondo bicycle race and ride. Sponsored by the Duke City Wheelmen, the race offers 105-, 65- and 46-mile options, all of which begin and end at the Taos Youth and Family Center.
Riders will experience beautiful, rural New Mexico terrain. The course starts in Taos, follows State Road 518 over U.S. Hill, past Sipapu Ski Area, down Holman Hill and through the town of Mora. The race continues on to Coyote Creek State Park, Black Lake and Angel Fire. Then it’s up and over Palo Flechado Pass and down into Taos.
For more information, contact Jennifer Buntz at (505) 306-1443 or GranFondoTaos@gmail.com. To register, visit dukecitywheelmen.com.
Ride the Rift – free community mountain bike event
On Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the fifth annual Ride the Rift, with a Little Kids Race at 1 p.m. This is a free, noncompetitive mountain bike event designed to all levels and all ages of riders – the super tough adventurer, the regular weekend warrior and the parent and kids who ride a few times a year. The intent is to bring the Taos cycling community together for a fun, casual, noncompetitive day of riding on some of Taos’ most accessible single track. It’s free so everyone can enjoy – brought to you by the Field Institute of Taos and sponsored by community-minded local businesses. Staging is at the end of County Road 110. Look for the tepees and go about four-plus miles to the end of the road (and we do mean the end of the road), past University of New MexicoTaos and the golf course. Registration closes at midnight Oct. 11. Register online at newmexicosportsonline.com.
Earn money for favorite nonprofits
Want to earn money for local organizations and support their work in Taos? Join the #expLOReTaos GeoTour, now through Sept. 10. For more information, contact info@lorfoundation.org.
Free fly-fishing clinic
Learn from the Solitary Angler in a clinic to take place again at Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort every Saturday through Aug. 31 at 10:30 a.m. Solitary Angler–certified instructors provide a 90-minute Quick Start casting class on the Río Pueblo. New this year, Solitary Angler will be teaching an Intro to Fly-Fishing class Aug. 17. Reservations are required for both classes; call (866) 502-1700. For more information, see
KTAOS Solar Volleyball League
The league plays every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 5-9 p.m. through Aug. 30. No teams are needed to play. Doors open at 3 p.m. and games commence at 5 p.m. It’s free and everyone is invited to the KTAOS Solar Center (9 State Road 150, El Prado) to join in. Visit ktao.com.