Tour the World of Golf in Las Vegas

Las Vegas has blossomed into a well-saturated golf market and many courses offer a variety of unusual features, but there’s nothing more unique than the themed courses offered by the Walter’s Golf Group…Bali Hai, Desert Pines and Royal Links. In tune with the multi-million dollar “themed” hotels you find on the Strip, they carry their own elaborate theme, allowing golfers to “experience golf from around the world”.

Bali Hai Golf Club, an upscale pacific-themed golf course, is the only championship public course located on the famed Las Vegas Strip. Designers Schmidt and Curley named the course after the famous Indonesian land of enchantment. The course is highlighted by seven acres of opulent water features -- babbling brooks, blue lagoons and waterfalls, 2500 stands of towering palms and 100,000 tropical plants. Transition and out-of-play areas are accented with Augusta white sand and black volcanic rock outcroppings. Bali Hai Golf Club has achieved many awards, including its most recent (2007) recognition as “America’s Best Courses You Can Play” by Golfweek.

The par-71 course measures 7,002 yards, slope-130 from the championship tees. Spectacular views of the Strip’s mega hotels can be seen from the fairways. The course, designed to go out like a lamb and in like a lion, intensifies as the golfer progresses along the course. Curley’s intention: “We want to give guests an opportunity to loosen up and enjoy their surroundings before we begin challenging their skills”.

Bali Hai’s golfer-friendly trademarks include huge fairways, no hidden hazards and large, but heavily sloped greens. The 11th hole, “Lagoon”, is a challenging 190 yard, par-3, which offers a spance of white Augusta sand merging with a blue lagoon running alongside the entire length of the left side of the fairway. With the green angling from right to left only adds to the difficulty of making par. Another demanding par-3 is the 16th hole, “Pacific Rim”. The green is entirely surrounded by water and of all the greens at Bali Hai, it has the most severe elevation change dividing it.

The 18th hole, “Kuda Bay”, a challenging par-4, playing about 486 yards from the championship tees, offers breathtaking views of the gleaming Mandalay Bay Hotel. The tricky approach to the angular green is challenged by water in the front and right side of the green. The bunker surrounding the green will help any shot hit short from being “wet”.

If you want to quickly escape the hustle and bustle of the casino floor, experience the tranquility and beauty of this south pacific tropical paradise. It is a premium daily fee facility and the cost may detract some players. However, one of the managers of the course made a good point: “People come to Vegas with the mind frame to gamble, and they don’t think twice about betting and losing $100…$200…$300 a night. Instead they could enjoy four hours of golf in this tropical paradise and leave with refreshing memories.”

Desert Pines Golf Club, referred as “The Pinehurst of Las Vegas”, is a ‘taste of the Carolinas’. Unique? On what other golf course in southern Nevada will you find thousands of Carolina pine trees?
Desert Pines is a journey into the elegance and tradition of golf in the American South. Just 10 minutes from Downtown Vegas, this Perry Dye-designed course features thousands of mature pine trees surrounding the rolling fairways, with white sand bunkers protecting large undulating greens patterned after those at Augusta National. Because of the towering pines, the temperature is usually cooler in the summer than at other courses in the area.

Desert Pines is far from a pushover. At 6,810 yards from the tips, the layout encourages golfers to use every club in the bag. Four lakes come into play on 9 of the 18 holes, which require both precision off the tee and onto the greens. Good course management skills are rewarded over power off the tees. The course has been recognized as the “Top Strategic Course in Nevada” by The Straight Ball Guide –Nevada Golf (2003).

Desert Pines offers a great variety of holes and distances. The par-3s range from 158-252 yards from the tips. The shortest, #11, called “Reese’s Landing” is far from easy with water looming front right of the green. The longest, called “Great Britain”, has a look reminiscent of the links courses. One of the most challenging holes on the course is the 18th, “Gauntlet”. A good tee and approach shot is essential on this 466 yard, par-4, with its long stretch of water down the left side and then two large bunkers protecting the green, waiting to gobble up your ball.

The Desert Pines Practice Center, recognized in 2007 as the “Best Practice Facility in Las Vegas”, features a 58 bay, under cover, two-tiered, climate controlled facility with automatic ball returns so that golfers don’t have to bend over or change their stance to tee up each new ball. It also features five target greens resembling some of the country’s most famous par-3 17th holes.

Royal Links Golf Club, my favorite, takes you on a tour of the best 18 holes from eleven British Open rotational courses. A review of this course appeared in our May issue and can be seen on our website: baystategolfinc.com.

For more information regarding these courses visit: www.waltersgolf.com