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The Elfego Baca Shoot is named for a famous Socorro sheriff, who at age 19 in 1884, deputized himself to control the mobs of desperadoes in the Southwest. While attempting to arrest a particular gang of outlaws, Baca traveled to Frisco (now Reserve) and held up in an abandoned adobe hut for close to two days. The outlaws pumped all their ammunition (about 4,000 shots) into the hut until they were sure the sheriff was dead. Baca protected himself by crouching on the dirt floor until he knew the gang has no bullets left. Soon after his deputy arrived and Baca crawled out to arrest the men.

 By the time of this death in 1945, Baca had additional jobs as a deputy U.S. Marshall, Mayor of Socorro, County Clerk, County School Superintendent, Assistant District Attorney, special agent for a cattleman's association, restaurant operator, attorney at law, publisher and editor, and private detective.
 
The cleverness and determination associated with the name Elfego Baca is equal in the golfers who dare to challenge the mountain. The Shoot was begun as a special attraction along with the Hilton Golf Tournament in 1960 by First State Bank and Socorro Chamber of Commerce as a novelty event to generate more interest in the Socorro community.

The famous Shoot has been featured in the Albquerque Journal, El Paso Times, New Mexico Magazine, Golf Illustrated, ESPN2 and Sports Illustrated. Though the course had generated interest in the Shoot, it is the participants that make the Elfego Baca particularly unique.

Most competitors arrive for the event equipped with a few old drivers, heavy socks, boots, pants, long sleeved shirts, caps, canteens, walkie-talkies, and binoculars. They also bring along an element which really determines their success - three spotters. After all, it is hard to keep track of a ball that can possibly fly 1000 yards down the mountain off the first tee. The competitor's entourage also includes an official scorekeeper and a member of the Emergency Medical Team.
 
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