Based on those reasons, Booth is well-positioned to take advantage of the strong growth in women's amateur golf, both in numbers and in talent.

So, if you are a young hotshot looking for a place to pound the golf ball, you might consider the package offered by the Lobos: great coach, great facility, a growing program.

"I think we are right on the edge of being one of the premier programs in the nations," said Booth, who came to UNM after giving 15 years to the New Mexico State Aggies, including five seasons as the head coach.

"I believe we have the No. 1 practice facility in the country, and our course was rated the No. 1 collegiate course by Golf Week. The reason I came here is because I saw UNM presented an opportunity to win a national championship and I believe that even more now."

The road to any championship starts with solid basics such as facilities, coaching, tradition and support from both the community and the university.

Booth points out UNM's support by referring to the new computerized indoor swing room, the remodeled locker rooms and the coaches offices that will be built overlooking the ninth green.

"That money already has been donated," said Booth. "I think everything is in place here. I believe UNM is behind its golf programs and is putting in both the money and the effort. I believe at New Mexico State there are the same aspirations (of winning a national title), but it's just different up here.

"It's kind of funny. My father played basketball for New Mexico State and I was raised to believe that Albuquerque and Lobos are bad."

It might have been a big step for Booth to give up her Aggie roots, but the biggest step, maybe the most difficult step to make at a UNM-type school, is to attract talent. And it's always nice if you can attract that top player -- an ace to shoot the low numbers, but also an ace that just might attract other blue-chip players.

Booth might just have that big dog. "I've signed the best player I've ever signed," she said.

The big dog Booth is talking about is Kristi Larsen of Scottsdale, Ariz., who is ranked by Golf Week as the No. 27 amateur in the country.

There is a good chance Larsen will fall nicely into the Lobos 2001 lineup since the Lobo team Booth will take to the NCAA West Regional next week features one senior, two juniors and two sophomores.

The Lobos qualified for the May 11-13 regional in Tempe, Ariz., with an at-large bid, but the Lobos did win the inaugural Mountain West Conference championship last week.

The 24-team field is expected to push 12 teams to the 64-team NCAA finals May 24-27 in Sunriver, Ore. Booth's Lobos finished eighth in nationals in 1998 and 27th in 1999 using three freshmen and two sophomores.

This year's team has been ranked in the top 15 all season, going as high as No. 8.

"In seven of our nine tournaments, we've finished in the top five," said Booth. "That tells the young players that we are a quality program. And there are a lot of good young players out there. It's amazing how much women's golf is changing.

"Two years ago, if a team broke 300, it was great. Now, teams are shooting par (288). And teams are getting deeper because of the better players. It used to be if you had three or four good players, you were a pretty good team. Now you have to have five or six good players. We used to throw out an 85 (as the high score). Now you might throw out the 75.

"I think the group coming up has just been taught to play golf a different way. I was taught to swing like a girl, pretty and fluid. These girls are being taught to swing like golfers. Now, they go out and crush the ball."