RHODES RANCH GOLF CLUB
Las Vegas Golf Course Review 7/16/03 - Photos updated May, 2006
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.
The back side begins with a narrow par four, which invites a tee shot aimed at the 150 yard stake. On 11, a lay
up just past the 150 is recommended while avoiding the water hazard and bunkers along the right. The fairway
from tee to green is narrow on the par five 12th. Two accurately placed shots may create a good birdie
opportunity here. 3 is also very score-able, as the narrow, mounded fairway will funnel slightly off line tee shots
towards the center. The par three 14th, as the 18th handicap, is the easiest hole of the layout. Take enough club
however, as it plays all of the distance advertised. The wide fairway on 15 slopes left to right creating some
approach shots with the ball below your feet, and plays to a double tiered green. There is plenty of room for error
on the beautiful par three 16th, as the pond short of the putting complex should not come into play. Number
seventeen plays to an open, rolling fairway, with a grass swale fronting the green, and is followed by a pretty and score-able closing hole. Avoid the pond about 50 yards out and a low number is possible.
We found this layout to be incredibly enjoyable. At 6900 yards, it is a challenge for scratch golfers, and at just
over 6000 yards, can be played skillfully by the average player. It is an aesthetically pleasing layout AND... rates
at Rhodes Ranch are extremely reasonable for Vegas golf - with seasonal fees in the $100-$160 range.
Residents get a price break on this beautiful course, which affords the golfing public an opportunity to book tee
times 60 days in advance, and to play at a facility that offers private club amenities. Visit their comprehensive website for info on the community and golf, or to book online.
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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