Las Vegas Courses

[Whisspy]

On 1/26/2022 at 5:56 AM, vallygolf said:

A non player will most likely enjoy wolf creek more than most courses, as it is eye candy.  Just dont let the drinking wife drive the cart....there are some gnarly grades and drop offs.  I am firmly in the "play wolf creek" camp. Though it may be a tough pill for a non playing spouse, including the driving time.

My wife is from Puerto Rico, they get their driver's licenses with a beer in the cupholder. 

[dcmidnight]

LOL all jokes aside, WC does not just have "steep hills". There are a couple of spots where you will legitimately wonder if the kid making $4 an hour in the cart barn checked the brakes that morning. I dont know how many serious crashes a year they have there but its definitely greater than zero.

[philsRHman]

8 hours ago, dcmidnight said:

LOL all jokes aside, WC does not just have "steep hills". There are a couple of spots where you will legitimately wonder if the kid making $4 an hour in the cart barn checked the brakes that morning. I dont know how many serious crashes a year they have there but its definitely greater than zero.

Two things on this. First, I was told the reason for all the switch back, meandering paths with full on guard rails is due to serious accidents. If I remember right, don’t they make you sign a waiver in the pro shop saying you could end up dead or seriously injured and they’re not liable?
 

Second, even without those insane hills, it’s not hard to dump a cart there. A friend who (I swear) was not clowning around ended up in a bunker, cart on its side. Miracle he wasn’t badly injured. We had to drive the cart out the low side and grab all the rakes and fix it quickly, luckily not a busy day and no one seemed to see. To this day we don’t know how it happened, we weren’t drinking, I think he just veered a little, caught an edge of the path or something and next thing you know you’ve got a 350 pound guy trying to get this cart upright. 

Edited January 28, 2022 by philsRHman

[vandyfan]

1 hour ago, philsRHman said:

350 pound guy

 

...that might have *something* to do with the tipping...

[sabram]

10 hours ago, dcmidnight said:

WC does not just have "steep hills". There are a couple of spots where you will legitimately wonder if the kid making $4 an hour in the cart barn checked the brakes that morning.

 

[YMark]

I'll take Conestoga over WC any day.

[qtlaw]

Cascata is a very nice experience at least once (I hosted a couple of clients so could expense it), very interesting layout (one creek runs all through course from top to bottom through clubhouse), immaculate conditions; 

 

Shadow Creek was too expensive but maybe someday.

 

Paiute is a great bargain and they treat you very well but its a little ways out there; 

 

Wynn is very convenient, right in the hotel (I've stayed at Wynn and Encore), but the price of that layout just made me go to Cascata.

[fpyle3]

I took a 5-round golf trip to Las Vegas last March, and played the following:

 

Wolf Creek: Our first round of the trip, and glad we started on this course to knock the winter rust off.  I think this course is worth playing at least once, and it does have some truly remarkable views.  However, for me this course ranked 5 of 5 on this trip and I was not a huge fan of the layout.  Tee shots and approaches were fun, although a little contrived, but the greens were not in great shape.  I would not play this course again, but do not regret playing it once.

 

Cascata: I enjoyed everything about this course, starting from the unique indoor cart pickup.  Driving range, facilities, and course conditioning were all excellent, and my foursome was fortunate to have a great caddy who knew the course and had some cool stories from looping on tour.  This was my favorite course layout on this trip, and the overall golfing experience ranks second only to Shadow Creek.  I would highly recommend this course to anyone making a Vegas golf trip.

 

Shadow Creek: Although an expensive round, to me SC was worth every penny and was truly a world class experience.  We had a group of 8, and from the second we stepped out of the SC limos we did not see another golfer, felt like we had the course to ourselves.  The caddies were good, the course layout was excellent, and the conditioning pristine.  Course is challenging but fair, and I do not recall a bad hole.  This was the best golf experience on this trip and I would play it again on a future Vegas trip cost notwithstanding.

 

South Shore: I think this may be a private course, not sure.  Nicklaus design, and I thought it was an enjoyable course.  Several guys in our group did not like the course, but I’d rank it behind only Shadow and Cascata on this trip.  Friendly staff, very good conditions and a good layout, not much more I could ask for.

 

Paiute - Wolf: This round unfortunately was the 5th round in 5 days, and I was sore and tired.  Add to that a temperature that was 10-15 degrees colder than any other round and incredibly high winds, and I was not fully in on this round.  My fault for not packing winter gear I guess.  In any event, I would like to get back out and give this course another go, as there were some very good holes. I did not play either of the mountain courses, but from what I could see they looked nice as well.

[philsRHman]

On 2/2/2022 at 10:21 PM, fpyle3 said:

I took a 5-round golf trip to Las Vegas last March, and played the following:

 

Wolf Creek: Our first round of the trip, and glad we started on this course to knock the winter rust off.  I think this course is worth playing at least once, and it does have some truly remarkable views.  However, for me this course ranked 5 of 5 on this trip and I was not a huge fan of the layout.  Tee shots and approaches were fun, although a little contrived, but the greens were not in great shape.  I would not play this course again, but do not regret playing it once.

 

Cascata: I enjoyed everything about this course, starting from the unique indoor cart pickup.  Driving range, facilities, and course conditioning were all excellent, and my foursome was fortunate to have a great caddy who knew the course and had some cool stories from looping on tour.  This was my favorite course layout on this trip, and the overall golfing experience ranks second only to Shadow Creek.  I would highly recommend this course to anyone making a Vegas golf trip.

 

Shadow Creek: Although an expensive round, to me SC was worth every penny and was truly a world class experience.  We had a group of 8, and from the second we stepped out of the SC limos we did not see another golfer, felt like we had the course to ourselves.  The caddies were good, the course layout was excellent, and the conditioning pristine.  Course is challenging but fair, and I do not recall a bad hole.  This was the best golf experience on this trip and I would play it again on a future Vegas trip cost notwithstanding.

 

South Shore: I think this may be a private course, not sure.  Nicklaus design, and I thought it was an enjoyable course.  Several guys in our group did not like the course, but I’d rank it behind only Shadow and Cascata on this trip.  Friendly staff, very good conditions and a good layout, not much more I could ask for.

 

Paiute - Wolf: This round unfortunately was the 5th round in 5 days, and I was sore and tired.  Add to that a temperature that was 10-15 degrees colder than any other round and incredibly high winds, and I was not fully in on this round.  My fault for not packing winter gear I guess.  In any event, I would like to get back out and give this course another go, as there were some very good holes. I did not play either of the mountain courses, but from what I could see they looked nice as well.

I'll never forget a Vegas trip in March, having always been there in warm months, thinking "it's the desert, it can't get cold." I got to Paiute for the first tee time of the day, in shorts and short sleeves. It was 40 degrees and 25+ MPH winds. I think I went inside and bought a wind jacket. But by the second round of the day it was 65 and perfect out. 

[Whisspy]

This is a great thread.  Very helpful. 

[EricMatt]

Just played Reflection Bay.  Winter conditions to some extent, but it's a nice track.  No complaints for the price ($100) and it's got some nice views.

[philsRHman]

3 hours ago, EricMatt said:

Just played Reflection Bay.  Winter conditions to some extent, but it's a nice track.  No complaints for the price ($100) and it's got some nice views.

Reflection Bay is a perfect example of how our frame of mind can skew our perception and experience. When I played before it closed down, maybe 10-12 years ago, I loved it. The wide banked fairways, lots of run, good fun Resort style golf that wouldn’t beat anyone up. 
 

More recently, sent out as a single amid a mass of foursomes, nowhere to go, painfully slow. Totally my fault for not asking or balking at being sent solo. But couldn’t do anything but find flaws with the conditions, the design. At the moment I was chalking it up to reopening cost cutting measures, which maybe it was. But more likely it was holding it to an unfair standard from a day I was paired with a nice family and had a great time. 

[CDM]

On 1/28/2022 at 7:13 PM, YMark said:

I'll take Conestoga over WC any day.

 

I would agree Conestoga is a better overall course design but WC hands down is one of the most visual courses you will play and adds a fun factor to it. 

Edited February 4, 2022 by CDM

[Grizz06]

On 2/4/2022 at 3:50 PM, CDM said:

 

I would agree Conestoga is a better overall course design but WC hands down is one of the most visual courses you will play and adds a fun factor to it. 

  Love Conestoga and don’t know how it doesn’t get more love.   It has some WC in it.   I play WC once every 3 years when in Mesquite and that’s enough; it’s truly golf on the moon.

[MPG]

On 1/26/2022 at 8:53 AM, vallygolf said:

Limo Ride from your hotel. Private tee time with caddie. You can poke around the clubhouse and locker room all you want.  Every time I played I went as a single.  They wont pair you  up with another group (they may if you ask, but for me the solitude was awesome).  It was truly like I had a top 10 course to myself.  After teeing off I never saw another group.  I have never managed that at a top 50 course before or after.

I have played Shadow many times and it is great (reminds me a lot of North Carolina style courses) but if you do go - -  you have to visit the short game area on the other side of the road from the driving range.   Incredible and you usually find some PGA or LPGA players over there since it is secluded.    You can practice every short game shots in that one area plus shots up to 150 yards.    

 

For those interested, I know MGM changed their policy since November last year when they did the price increase - you really cannot play Shadow anymore on the weekend (Friday thru Sunday) unless you have a very high casino play rate.  Shadow does allow play Monday thru Thursday but it again is based off priority and they really only allow 7 groups on the course at one time.    I played in December 2021 on Thursday and there were only 3 groups on the course.    The weekend was completely full and after speaking with one of my caddie friends - Full meant 2 groups (both MGM whales).   

 

I live in NC so I always liked Cascata better since I want to play a desert style course vs. Shadow - again, I would never turn down the opportunity to play Shadow since it is freaking amazing and my caddie (very good Friend) and I play 36 holes/day in or around 5.5 hours.  Yes, caddies are allowed to play with you as well if you are a single.     

Edited February 25, 2022 by MPG

[Whisspy]

Ended up playing at Pauite.  The scenery is amazing as it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere,  the clubhouse / bar was really nice and the course was fun.  Greens were hard and fast but I would definitely go play there again given the price and location to the strip.   Also a 6 pack of Coors was $20 from the cart girl and 1 BudLight in my room at the Aria was $16.  Great day!

[tips09]

On 2/3/2022 at 8:05 PM, philsRHman said:

I'll never forget a Vegas trip in March, having always been there in warm months, thinking "it's the desert, it can't get cold." I got to Paiute for the first tee time of the day, in shorts and short sleeves. It was 40 degrees and 25+ MPH winds. I think I went inside and bought a wind jacket. But by the second round of the day it was 65 and perfect out. 

I had the exact same experience a couple years ago at Paiute. The range and first 9 of the day were COLD. I’m from Canada so figured shorts and a short sleeve would be fine. That wind did me in. I was quite jealous of the members with covered carts that morning. 

[philsRHman]

7 hours ago, Whisspy said:

Ended up playing at Pauite.  The scenery is amazing as it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere,  the clubhouse / bar was really nice and the course was fun.  Greens were hard and fast but I would definitely go play there again given the price and location to the strip.   Also a 6 pack of Coors was $20 from the cart girl and 1 BudLight in my room at the Aria was $16.  Great day!

Drinks aside, my friends figure the 6ish hours outside the casino will save them more in table losses than whatever they’d spend on greens fees. 

[Whisspy]

Anyone play Revere Lexington lately?  I heard they overseeded and it’s cart path only at the moment.  Trying to decide between Angel Park Mountain , Rhodes Ranch and Lexington… Any recommendations??

[huskydawg]

2 hours ago, Whisspy said:

Anyone play Revere Lexington lately?  I heard they overseeded and it’s cart path only at the moment.  Trying to decide between Angel Park Mountain , Rhodes Ranch and Lexington… Any recommendations??

Rhodes Ranch is a Ted Robinson design so it's easier.  They also shortened one par-5 and a long par 4 for more houses, so that course is easier still.  Pretty flat with some mounds that can either swallow your ball or sometimes kick it back out.  Good for beginners.

 

Angel Park Mountain is interesting, decent challenge but it can get backed up.  Sometimes groups of 5 or 6 slow it down even more, though they're not supposed to.  I think some folks like to get wasted out there.

 

Lexington is way across town from both of the above so I hadn't been there recently.  I don't remember disliking it though.

[puttnforthe8]

11 hours ago, Whisspy said:

Anyone play Revere Lexington lately?  I heard they overseeded and it’s cart path only at the moment.  Trying to decide between Angel Park Mountain , Rhodes Ranch and Lexington… Any recommendations??

AP: 6 out of 10 times vs those others.

 

 

[puttnforthe8]

On 2/28/2022 at 7:36 PM, philsRHman said:

Drinks aside, my friends figure the 6ish hours outside the casino will save them more in table losses than whatever they’d spend on greens fees. 

 

That's why the drive to Paiute, Coyote, Cascata, even Mesquite, you can't look at it in terms of just the cost and distance.   Go to breakfast - put $25 on 22; go to lunch - play a few hands of BJ; before dinner - drop $200 on slots; post dinner - way too much!  LOL!!!

 

Spend the day out a Cascata, maybe even play Boulder - grab food and drinks there.  Come back and shower, go to the jacuzzi and then maybe even back to bed!  I just saved $1000!!

Edited October 5, 2023 by puttnforthe8

[davbrucas]

Shadow - $1000 yes, once

Wynn - $650 No

Cascata - $450 Yes...I play in every time I go to Vegas

Balil Hali - $250 Nope

TPC Vegas - $250-300 Nope

Pauite - $130 yes...great course. 

[Pastit]

16 minutes ago, davbrucas said:

Shadow - $1000 yes, once

Wynn - $650 No

Cascata - $450 Yes...I play in every time I go to Vegas

Balil Hali - $250 Nope

TPC Vegas - $250-300 Nope

Pauite - $130 yes...great course. 

I must say that’s good value for a fortnight’s golf !

[flushem]

On 11/9/2023 at 11:58 PM, davbrucas said:

Shadow - $1000 yes, once

Wynn - $650 No

Cascata - $450 Yes...I play in every time I go to Vegas

Balil Hali - $250 Nope

TPC Vegas - $250-300 Nope

Pauite - $130 yes...great course. 

I would add Reflection Bay, Rio Secco and Coyote Springs on "yes" list.  

[shellbmb]

Anyone play any of these courses recently?  Headed out to Vegas in a couple of weeks and want to make sure the course is in good shape.  We are already playing the three Pauite courses so looking for one other day.  Coyote Springs or Reflection Bay?  Don't think we can make Wolf Creek due to our flight time.  They only do split tee start this time of year.  

[ThermalDan]

I've played both Coyote Springs and Reflection Bay and would happily play them again.  Can't go wrong with either, just depends on what you look for.

[dfw Ag]

Anyone played Cascata in the summer recently? Only have been in winter, know they do their dynamic pricing for rates so nothing is listed, just wondering if there's a drop in the June-August months from their standard rate. Thanks in advance!

[puttnforthe8]

15 hours ago, dfw Ag said:

Anyone played Cascata in the summer recently? Only have been in winter, know they do their dynamic pricing for rates so nothing is listed, just wondering if there's a drop in the June-August months from their standard rate. Thanks in advance!

Yes

[ohjims]

Gonna be in Vegas beginning of June. Trying to decide between TPC Las Vegas and Reflection Bay.. thoughts?