PRIMM VALLEY GOLF CLUB - LAKES COURSE
Las Vegas Golf Course Review 7/20/03
Introduction
Primm Valley, located an easy 35 minutes south of Las Vegas off I-15 near the California/Nevada border, is a
golf destination unto itself, with 2 Tom Fazio championship designs rated in the Top 100 Resort Courses You
Can Play (Golf Magazine). Both courses also received the 4 1/2 star rating (out of 5) from Golf Digest. The
Primm Valley Resort and Casino is minutes away, and is joined by Buffalo Bill's and Whiskey Pete's to form a
trio of properties offering a variety of accommodations, attractions, resort amenities, dining opportunities and gaming options. The Two Guys Who Golf HIGHLY
recommend a stay at any of the three casino resorts which all feature golf packages, as this is an incredibly convenient and comfortable way to enjoy the 2 spectacular
courses available here. You can find plentiful information on the Primm Valley Resorts by visiting their page in
our resort listing section under Las Vegas Golf, which includes sections for accommodations, golf facilities and resort amenities, plus a link to the Primm Valley website.
The facilities at the Primm Valley Golf Club include a full service clubhouse with pro shop, a beautiful restaurant,
lounge and outdoor patio offering gorgeous golf course views, the Primm Valley Golf Academy, and an
extensive practice area with a double-ended grass range. An expansive short game area with two bunkered
greens and two putting greens are also complimentary for guests. All carts include an ice chest. On course you
will find that the sprinkler heads provide measurements to the center of the green, and hole location information
is provided to guests in yardage booklets and also on pin placement sheets. Each of the four sets of tee boxes on the Desert and Lakes Courses also provide yardages measured to the center of the green.
LAKES COURSE REVIEW
The Lakes opened in 1997 and is the original course at Primm. A lake and river system highlight a 6,945 layout
that features generously bowled fairways that often slope towards the center, and large greens that are user
friendly - as long as you keep your approaches below the hole. This is a lush, traditional design with spectacular
views of the surrounding desert mountains. Impeccable conditioning from tee to green that can be found year
round compliment the panoramic vistas to make play on this Tom Fazio layout an experience to remember. The
bent grass putting surfaces (not often found in the Vegas area) rival in quality, any greens in the Vegas Valley!
Golfers can choose to play from distances measuring 6945 (134 slope), 6444 (126 slope), 6008 (120 slope/139
for women) and 4842 yards (121 slope). Resort golfers and average players will be pleased with the challenge
and fairness of the white tee areas. The front side plays a little longer than the back, and features water hazards
on four holes. Only one par four reaches 400 yards from the white tees, but wind is often a factor. Number one is
a score-able 4 par that bends left with an uphill approach. A tee shot placed to the right center will funnel back to
the middle and leave a fairly level lie for the second shot. Long hitters have a chance of reaching the beautiful
par five 2nd in two, with a strong tee shot placed on the top shelf of the landing area past the bunker complex.
This presents a treacherous approach hugging the waters edge on the left. A safer play is to aim for the right
center of the sloping (right to left) fairway, lay up to the right of the waterside sand trap, and plan to approach in 3.
The second photo in this review will give you an idea of what you are up against on this beautiful but difficult hole.
A rolling fairway will funnel shots towards the center on three, but the left side is the place to be for an even lie.
The two-tiered putting surface is well protected by bunkers short right. Grip it and rip it off the tee on four. Thread
the fairway bunkers and an easy downhill approach to a well bunkered green with a gorgeous mountain
backdrop is yours. The short par 4 fifth is a tight driving hole that invites a tee shot placed just short of the right
fairway trap. Approaches hit off the right hillside will funnel towards the center of the green. A beautiful par three
follows, and features a short carry over a pond, with plenty of room short on the up-slope right of the double tiered
, sloping (right to left) putting surface. Number seven doglegs right to an elevated green and is a three shot par
five for most golfers. This precedes the number one handicap of the Lakes Course, the 464 yards (from the tips)
par four 8th. The tee shot placed just short of the right fairway bunker will leave a long uphill approach. The ninth
is a simple par three, affording a good opportunity to get back on track to end the front side.
Ten is a classic risk/reward par four. Feeling chipper? Take the driver and aim for the flag. There is about 15
yards of grass behind the green for adventure seekers. With luck you will reach the landing area between the
sand traps just before the elevated putting surface. A simple chip or pitch remains. Cautious players will lay up
right of the bunkers, and approach with a high wedge to the well protected green. The ample, rolling fairway
tightens about 110 out with water along the right side on 11. Played as a three shot par five however, good
scores are possible. There is room left of the green on the tough par three 12th. A cascading steam right and a
large fronting bunker will direct many players towards the safe side of this plateaued putting complex. Thirteen
doglegs right to an elevated green, and is quite difficult from the black (453) and blue (414) tees, but much more
friendly as a par four from the whites (355 yards). A lay up to the right side of the fairway creates a great scoring
opportunity on 14, which precedes one of the most beautiful golf holes of the layout. The par five 15th presents a
wide fairway off the tee, but a creek and long bunker along the left and a pond and desert area right create a
challenging approach - great views of the clubhouse and mountains in the background here. The 16th is also
gorgeous, but tough to approach with the elevated putting surface well protected by a lone bunker left. Pay
attention to the pin placement on 17, which is the easiest hole on the layout when the flag is in the lower portion
of the green, but plays considerably tougher if it is deep or left of center. The left side of the right fairway bunker
is the place to be off the tee on the finishing hole. This challenging par four plays long with a very narrow approach to the green.
One round on the Lakes is not enough! This is one gorgeous golf course and is extremely fun to play. The lush
landscaping and conditioning, highlighted by waterfalls, streams, lakes and a forest of pine trees, makes one
forget momentarily that this course is in the middle of a desert. The service here is also impeccable. Everyone
from the head of golf operations (Mark Yelenich) to the informative and friendly rangers and service staff are
obviously happy to be here, and are thoroughly proud of the Golf facilities. The food and beverages are excellent,
and locker rooms for men and women (with showers) are on property. It took us a little over 1/2 hour to drive from
Mandalay Bay on the strip - making a day trip here completely worthwhile. Visit Primm and we guarantee you will
want to return to play these two fabulous courses again and again. With the high tech Golf Academy, this is an
ideal place to take in some lessons or attend one of the golf school programs. Primm Valley, Whiskey Pete's
and Buffalo Bills offer a great variety of amenities and are wonderful places to stay for a few nights. Informational
pages for both courses and for the Primm Valley Resort are online - in our incredibly thorough Las Vegas golf section.
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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