CASABLANCA GOLF CLUB
Las Vegas Golf Course Review - 02-25-03 - Photos updated May, 2006
The CasaBlanca golf club has a catchy name - designed to illicit the notion that golfers will want to "play it again".
As a resort links style golf course, we found the CasaBlanca to be a great compliment and much needed
component in the entourage of premier courses that comprise the "golf mecca" of Mesquite/St. George. Wolf
Creek and the Oasis/Vistas are spectacular desert canyon layouts; as are the Entrada and Coral Canyon in
nearby St. George. The Palms in Mesquite is a combination Florida style/desert canyon design. Out of all the
layouts in the area however, the CasaBlanca most fits the "resort course" classification and is an important piece
of the puzzle in making the Mesquite golf experience complete. This Curly Schmidt design is set amidst a desert
landscape of sagebrush, tumbleweeds and palms - with unique wetlands running alongside the fairways of many
holes. As with all the other courses in the area - the vistas feature the surrounding mountains, which can only be
described as spectacular. Water comes into play on thirteen holes as this course meanders along the Virgin
River. The natural areas that run adjacent are protected - meaning "stay out...do not go looking for your ball" due to the sensitivity in relation to the abundant wildlife that call these areas home.
A new beautiful clubhouse has recently opened, providing a pro shop with clothing and golf accessories, and a
dining area for breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages. The outdoor patio features outstanding views of the
course and surrounding mountains. Top amenities are available here, including plastic golf cart covers for
inclement weather, and air-conditioned carts for summer play. The practice green is huge, and is conveniently
located on the way to the first tee. A spacious grass range is also on property, along with a short game area for
chipping and sand practice. All said - CasaBlanca Golf Club provides an experience that will satisfy both "resort"
as well as serious golfers. It is a fine compliment to the CasaBlanca Hotel-Casino-Golf-Spa Resort - a first class
property that provides the finest accommodations and amenities in the Mesquite/St. George area. The 500
room hotel offers standard rooms, suites and poolside bungalows. An RV Park with all the hook-ups is also on
property. The resort features 40,000 square feet of casino space, a variety of restaurants and lounges (including
breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets), an intimate showroom for name entertainment, a gorgeous tropical pool
area and a full service spa and salon. 10,000 square feet of meeting space is also available for meetings and corporate events.
The par 72, 7,011 yard Cal Olson designed CasaBlanca was in absolutely incredible condition - from tee to
green during our visit in late February. The course is well marked with sprinkler heads measured to the center of
the green complimenting the 100/150/200 yardage plates on the fairways AND cart paths. Great job with the cart
path yardage markers! We wish more courses would adopt this feature...Red, white and Blue flags indicate the
day's pin placement - our favorite system. Once on the green, the surfaces were immaculate and true rolling, with
mild undulations. Overall - great course features, service and a high degree of playability. The five sets of tees
range from 7036 to 5209 yards, and are amply named Hearts (forward tees), Diamonds, Clubs (mid tees at
6109 yards), Spades and Double Spades (tips). The slope here varies from 130 at the tips, to 115 from the forward tees.
The front side opens up with some desert type holes - demanding some reasonably length carries over washes
and natural areas. Number one plays slightly downhill with a generous fairway - a good opener. The par 5
second is also very playable, especially if you approach it as a three-shot hole. Avoid the fairway bunker right
and enter the green from the middle to left side of the fairway. A greenside bunker and water hazard on the right
are trouble. The short par four third is an easy hole if you can feather your tee shot to the fairway in front of the
huge bunkers on both sides of the green. Long hitters may be tempted to go for it off the tee, but an accurate
long iron or fairway wood will leave an easy approach and a possible birdie opportunity. After a fairly simple par
three, with a short desert carry, you will confront the number one handicap, a long (466 from the tips) par four that
seems to play even longer. Length is important off the tee and accuracy is needed on the tight approach. A
short desert carry awaits on the 3-shot par five 6th. This hole plays uphill with numerous fairway and green-side
sand traps. Water plays a prominent role in the design of holes 7 and 8. Shots approaching the putting surfaces
on the mid range par 4 and long par 3 must steer clear of the lake along the right side. The large bunkers green
-side right may actually help keep your ball dry here. The ninth is an easy closer, as long as you can avoid, once again, the water hazard that creeps near the fairway about 100 yards out.
Water continues to be a factor off the tee and near the greens on the par four tenth and par five eleventh. Ten
plays downhill with a tight approach, and 11 presents a snaking fairway that narrows in stretches. Par is a good
score on this hole which should be played as a three shot par five. The fairway is quite open off the tee but
steadily narrows from 100 yards in on number 12. Avoid the bunker complex on the right, and this number six
handicap becomes a whole lot easier. Straight, long hitters are presented with a classic risk/reward opportunity
on number 13. At just 308 yards from the tips, it is entirely possible to reach the green off the tee. An accurate lay
up will leave an easy approach and a good birdie or par opportunity. Another good birdie opportunity is available
on the par three 14th, which varies from 210 to 115 yards in distance. The longest hole of the layout follows on 15
. Played cautiously from the left side of the fairway, this is another good opportunity for par or better. A pond is in
play along the left and front of the mid range par three 16th - a difficult number ten handicap. This sets you up for
what we found to be the most challenging hole of the layout. Length is needed off the tee here, as wetlands on
either side "choke" the fairway, making the approach a demanding test. A mid or short iron is the preferred club
of choice here as you attack the green, as there is little room for error. We estimated that more balls are lost
here than on the rest of the course combined...remember to heed the signs and stay out of the natural areas.
Eighteen leads back to the clubhouse in stylish fashion. Avoid the fairway bunker on the right and the four that surround the green, and a good score is possible to finish your day.
At $90 weekdays and $100 dollars weekends in prime season, CasaBlanca is a good bang for the buck -
especially for such a well conditioned course featuring nice variety in a beautiful setting. "Play it again" is an
ample motto - that we are sure many visitors will follow. If you have not been here in the past couple of years, play
it again soon, as CasaBlanca - just like the movie - seems to get better as it gets older. Great accommodations/golf/spa packages are available at the CasaBlanca and (its sister property) and the Oasis
Resort. Call the pro shop directly for reservations, or call Golf Mesquite (888-711-4653) to book accommodations or stay and play packages in Mesquite/St. George.See links below for more info:
Visit the TGWG page for the CasaBlanca Resort, which is part of the Mesquite/St. George section of our Las Vegas golf destination site - click here
Click here for Golf Mesquite - providing information on Stay & Play packages in Mesquite, Nevada.
View the Two Guys Who Golf Detailed Listing Page for this course with a link to its website (if available): click here
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