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Ruidoso, New Mexico: Putting Green Grave

The grave of Richard "Ruff" Jones is a functioning putting green, complete with putter and an urn of golf balls.

Address:
1064 Billy the Kid Trail, Ruidoso, NM
Directions:
In Forest Lawn Cemetery (which is not large), on the southbound side of Hwy 48, just south of the stoplight at Sierra Blanca Drive. The grave is far back in the left-center.
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Visitor Tips and News About Putting Green Grave

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Putting Green Grave

We just were there a couple of days ago. The broken putter is still there along with the unbroken. Since there were no golf balls we left a couple in the cup (The urn that formerly held the balls was not there). The cup is a little raised so you can't actually "sink the putt," but it's still fun to visit and a great tribute to the late Richard "Ruff" Jones.

[Margie Randolph, 04/25/2022]
Putting Green Grave

The putting green grave is still here! There were a couple of golf balls, but the putter was broken and duct-taped together. We went to the public golf course and bought a replacement putter, so it's all ready to go again.

Bonus: three of Ruidoso's wild horses walked by as we were leaving!

[Amanda, 07/26/2021]
Putting Green Grave

This grave does in fact exist. I was there at the end of January 2020 and putted a few. Not your average miniature golf layout! Darn sure a photo-op like no other.

[Some One, 06/01/2020]
Putting Green Grave

Not sure this exists anymore. Drove through the (small) graveyard and saw no grave that resembled a putting green.

[Gorvin, 08/18/2019]

Richard "Ruff" Jones died in 2004, and the putting green was still there -- and looking pretty good -- in 2017. Jones also had a set of crossed golf clubs engraved on his tombstone.

Golf green grave.

Putting Green Grave

The grave of Richard "Ruff" Jones in Ruidoso is a functioning putting green. There's a putter laying on the grave that is not anchored, and the urn next to the headstone is full of golf balls.

[John Grabarczyk, 10/04/2017]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Galloping Horse StatuesGalloping Horse Statues, Ruidoso Downs, NM - 4 mi.
Weed World Dude: Muffler ManWeed World Dude: Muffler Man, Ruidoso Downs, NM - 9 mi.
Smokey Bear Museum And GraveSmokey Bear Museum And Grave, Capitan, NM - 14 mi.
In the region:
Tubular Art, Tinnie, NM - 25 mi.

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