Rhodes Ranch Golf Course - CURRENTLY OUT OF INVENTORY

20 Rhodes Ranch Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89148


Tee time policy: Reservations are accepted 60 days in advance. Rates vary. Green fees include a golf cart for this course.
Dress code: Golf course strictly enforces proper attire including collared shirts and shorts or slacks. Clothing that is not appropriate includes: denim shorts, denim jeans, t-shirts, swimming attire, gym shorts, halter-tops, tank tops or cut-offs. Shoes with spikes must have non-metal spikes while on the course. Any participant who does not comply with the dress code policy will need to change into the proper attire or not be able to participate in the day's play.

RHODES RANCH REVIEW

Ted Robinson's 6909 yard championship designed golf club is the centerpiece of the Rhodes Ranch master-planned community, a lush oasis in the desert of Southern Nevada. Located just minutes off the Strip at Warm Springs Road and Durango, the community includes 9 residential sections within their guarded gate entrance, each featuring upscale, luxurious living opportunities. A courteous and efficient staff compliments a great golf facility that includes a spacious modern clubhouse, driving range and practice putting green. The clubhouse features a fine dining restaurant and lounge, plus an outdoor patio with wonderful views of the golf course, and an ample pro shop with a nice arrangement of accessories, clubs, and apparel for men and women. With the gorgeous views and fine facilities, this is a great place to host tournaments, parties, receptions and special events.

The golf course, which has been open since 1997, has been recognized with 3 1/2 stars out of five by Golf Digest Places to Play. We give it a solid Four! Gentle rolling fairways and generous-sized greens are found in a setting that takes one from the desert to a tropical paradise. Mature palms (over 3,000) and lush landscaping along 162 acres combine with numerous water hazards and subtle elevation changes to make this an incredibly aesthetically pleasing layout. The conditioning from tee to green on our visit was exceptional. Ted Robinson has labeled the group of par threes here as the best he has ever designed... All four are beautiful, and each is challenging, with 3 of the holes featuring considerable water hazards.

Four sets of tees at Rhodes Ranch measure 6909 (122 slope), 6403 (120 slope), 6009 (117 slope) and 5238 yards (110 slope). If you visit their website, you will find photos, hole by hole diagrams and descriptions, with tips on how best to play each. Great website - you can visit it through a link at the bottom of this page. One can discern from the slope ratings that this is a very player friendly layout. Choose the correct tees for your game, and the par fours are playable, the par fives score-able, and the par threes - well they may make or break your round. The course is well marked with 150 yards posts also doubling as directional aids. Sprinkler heads are measured to the center of the green, and the Kirby system is also in place, with yardage blocks every 25 yards from 75 to 200 out (up to 275 on longer holes). Pay attention to the placements of the tee markers on each tee box, which also provide individual measurements to the center of the green. The pin placement on the greens mimics the tee placements on each tee box. For example, if the tees are way up in the boxes, the pin will be in the front of the green...

The beginning hole is an appreciated opener - one that affords golfers a chance to get off to a good start. Number two plays into the prevailing wind and will require two good shots to reach in regulation, but is also score-able. The par three third is a beautiful hole requiring a tee shot over a pond, with some bail out room left. This is the fifth handicapped hole - pretty tough for a three par! Rolling mounds and bunkers provide the challenge on the dogleg right par four 4th, which also features a double tiered green. Number five bends in the opposite direction and provides ample room - land on the fairway and this is a very score-able par five. The sixth is rated as the number one handicap, while playing from the Black tees at 435 yards. An easy par three (17th handicap) precedes a short but tricky par four. A lay up past and left of the 150 yard stake is the recommended play off the tee on eight. Anything hit to the right will have to negotiate the water hazard that fronts the putting complex on that side. The pond on the right comes into play quickly on the finishing hole of the front, which at 571 yards is the longest hole of the layout. Play to the left center of the fairway on this score-able par five, that bends gently to the right.

Bali Hai Golf Course - $100 GIFT CERTIFICATES

5160 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89145

Opened: 2000.
Course designed by: Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt.
Course management: Walters Golf.
General manager / Director of golf: Butch Fogler.
Head golf professional: Ross McCollough.
Course record: Dan Jennings, 65.
Green Fees: $150 - $350
Tee time policy: Reservations can be made up to six months in advance with rates from $250 depending on season. Green fees include a golf cart for this course. Green fee includes golf cart and range balls.

Dress code: Golf course strictly enforces proper attire including collared shirts and shorts or slacks. Clothing that is not appropriate includes: denim shorts, denim jeans, t-shirts, swimming attire, gym shorts, halter-tops, tank tops or cut-offs. Shoes with spikes must have non-metal spikes while on the course. Any participant who does not comply with the dress code policy will need to change into the proper attire or not be able to participate in the day's play.

Note: Bali Hai Golf Club will close for overseeding on Aug. 31 and reopen Sept. 17.

BALI HAI REVIEW

Welcome to the South Pacific, Las Vegas style. Bali Hai Golf Club opened in 2000, and the Las Vegas Strip hasn't been the same since. The club is luxurious from top to bottom, inside and out. From the stunning golf course complete with brilliant white sand bunkers and thousands of palm trees, to one of the finest restaurants in Las Vegas, Bali Hai is breathtaking.

On the course, it doesn't get any better than this Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley design. The par-71 layout plays to 7,002 yards from the tips and gives new meaning to the word "lush." From the smooth bunkers to the endless foliage, a trip around Bali Hai is riveting. Palm trees and seven acres of water features -- including the 16th, a par 3 with an island green -- will tantalize golfers' senses.

Many holes at Bali Hai will mesmerize players, but the 16th is one of the most picturesque -- and potentially devastating -- on the course. One of the many signature holes, this one measures just 141 yards, but the true island green is an intimidating target. The good news is the green is larger than it appears. The bad news is there are two distinct tiers. Make sure your shot winds up on the proper level or three putts are a distinct possibility.

Getting past the 16th will leave golfers with two more stern gut-checks on the two closing holes. The 17th and 18th are beautiful and challenging as you finish off a round that won't be forgotten.

More than 100,000 plants and 2,500 towering palm trees add ambience to the course, and the pro shop keeps up the Bali Hai tropical theme with a great wardrobe selection and original works of art. The warm-up area for golfers is complete with an automatic ball teeing feature.

The elegant Cili restaurant overlooks the course and offers a private patio dining room. It's the perfect spot for that special occasion or just for a bite after the round.

Bali Hai Golf Club offers world-class golf and dining right on the Strip.

Desert Pines Golf Course - $100 GIFT CERTIFICATES

3415 E. Bonanza Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89101

Opened: 1996.
Course designed by: Dye Designs International.
Course management: Walters Golf.
General manager / Director of golf: Jim Anderson.
Head golf professional: Johnny "Utah" Sugawara.
Course record: Jim Strickland, 62.
Green Fees: $59-$150
Tee time policy: Desert Pines Golf Club is a daily fee facility. Reservations are accepted six months in advance. Rates vary from $35-$160. Green Fee includes golf cart and range balls.

Dress code: Golf course strictly enforces proper attire including collared shirts and shorts or slacks. Clothing that is not appropriate includes: denim shorts, denim jeans, t-shirts, swimming attire, gym shorts, halter-tops, tank tops or cut-offs. Shoes with spikes must have non-metal spikes while on the course. Any participant who does not comply with the dress code policy will need to change into the proper attire or not be able to participate in the day's play.

Note: Desert Pines Golf Club will close for overseeding on Sept. 12 and reopen Sept. 24.

DESERT PINES REVIEW

Nearly 4,000 mature pine trees, imported white sand and abundant water features make Desert Pines feel like a course cut right out of the Carolinas. The Dye Designs layout plays 6,810 yards from the back tees. Pine trees shade the roughs on virtually every fairway, water comes into play on half the holes and more than 60 bunkers -- many framed with Pete Dye's trademark railroad ties -- really tighten up the course. Greens are further protected by their smaller size and severe greenside undulations.

The four par 3's measure 156 to 252 yards. The green on the 180-yard eighth hole is half surrounded by a lake right and bunkers front and left; so there's little room for bailout. The three par 5's are not lengthy, but they're all tight. The 535-yard third hole plays slightly downhill, so it's reachable in two; but there's a white sand waste area all along the left side on the drive, and from 150 yards out, a pond on the right stretches all the way to the green, where a bunker left can swallow bailouts.

The par-4 holes offer the full gamut of tee shot options. Three of the par 4's measure 341 yards or less, while six play more than 425 yards. The closing holes on each nine are ranked as the course's toughest.

The par-4, 467-yard ninth hole is handicapped No. 1. Two large bunkers left challenge the tee shot on the slight dogleg right, while a lake on the right runs from 140 yards out all the way to the long but narrow two-tiered green, which the water half surrounds. The approach shot also must avoid a long greenside bunker left. Tough par!

On the par-4, 466-yard 18th, a long bunker right is in play on the tee shot, while a lake runs along the left side the rest of the way to the two-tiered green, which is further guarded by large bunkers left and right.

A fully automated, two-tiered practice and teaching facility features 58 covered stalls with individually controlled heaters for winter and misters for summer. For sustenance before or after play or practice, Duffer's Bar & Grill offers a nice variety in an expansive clubhouse with great mountain views.

Royal Links Golf Course - $100 GIFT CERTIFICATES

5995 E. Vegas Valley Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89122

Opened: 1998.
Course designed by: Dye Designs International.
Course management: Walters Golf.
General manager / Director of golf: Matt Tripp.
Head golf professional: Matt Tripp.
Course record: Tiger Woods, 67.
Green Fees: $95-$200
Tee time policy: Reservations are taken up to six months in advance. Forecaddies are available upon request. A forecaddie service gratuity of $25 from each golfer is customary upon completion of round. Green Fee includes golf cart and range balls

Dress code: Golf course strictly enforces proper attire including collared shirts and shorts or slacks. Clothing that is not appropriate includes: denim shorts, denim jeans, t-shirts, swimming attire, gym shorts, halter-tops, tank tops or cut-offs. Shoes with spikes must have non-metal spikes while on the course. Any participant who does not comply with the dress code policy will need to change into the proper attire or not be able to participate in the day's play.

Note: Royal Links Golf Club will close for overseeding on July 30 and reopen Sept. 7.

DESERT PINES REVIEW

Royal Links Golf Club offers a unique experience from the moment players drive through the gates and up to the castle clubhouse. On the minutely detailed course (right down to the gorse), players can forget where they are and get lost in golf lore.

From the start, the castle's lighting and décor -- complete with elegant paintings of ancient players and clubs -- and its cozy feel make players feel as though they've been transported to one of the hallowed sites of the British Open. The clubhouse includes a golf shop stocked with high-quality merchandise, art and collectible items and the superb Stymie's Pub, with its fieldstone fireplace and other touches of an English Tavern.

Heading to the first tee, players will cross a replica of the Swilcan Bridge and feel as though they have just jumped across the pond to play some of the world's finest golf holes. Players are accompanied by professional forecaddies to enhance the Scottish experience. Built to honor the game's history, the layout is inspired by famous holes from the British Open rotation courses. The "Road Hole" from St. Andrews (the 10th at Royal Links), the "Postage Stamp" from Royal Troon (the eighth), the 10th hole at Royal Lytham (the first), and revered holes from Carnoustie, Muirfield, Royal Liverpool, Turnberry, Prestwick and Royal Birkdale inspired the layout. Located just 15 minutes from the Strip, Royal Links in 1999 was voted one of GOLF Magazine's "Top Ten You Can Play." Besides great golf, players also are offered free lessons in golf history.

The par-72 course reaches 7,029 yards from the tips, but five different tee boxes give everyone the chance to play. Dye Designs International designed the layout, which features 108 pot bunkers and, in keeping with tradition, no water.

The four par 3's offer the exact distance as the real British courses do: from the bunker-surrounded 153-yard eighth hole, inspired by the famed "Postage Stamp," to the bunker-fronted 223-yard 17th, inspired by Royal Troon's 17th.

The par 4's and 5's also offer nearly the exact hole designs and distances of the originals.