Desert Pines Golf Club (702) 388-4400
Las Vegas Golf Course Review
Desert Pines - The "Pinehurst" of Vegas - is conveniently located just 5 miles from downtown and 9 miles from the strip
Desert Pines is a Pete Dye design and is unique to the Las Vegas area, as it is lined with thousands of mature pines and accented with thatched pine needles, colorful flower
beds and four sparkling lakes, that bring water into play on 9 of the holes. It is a classical tight layout, and is very challenging from the tips and middle tees.
The state of the art practice facility at Desert Pines is amongst the best in the valley, with a double-tiered automated driving range and two practice greens. You will not have to
touch a ball as you warm up for your round - just pick and station and slide your range card through the machine. Balls appear from the tees that pop out of ground after each shot.
The climate-controlled facility covers 20,000 square feet. The gorgeous clubhouse features a full line pro shop, with complete banquet facilities, first class amenities and spacious
lounge. Breakfast and lunch are served daily in the dining area, with wonderful views of the course and the Las Vegas Strip in the distance. Click here to visit the Desert Pines Golf Club website.
The golf course, though a classic layout, can also be considered as "target golf". There are many narrow fairways, bound by rolling mounds and "desert pines". From the tips, tee
shots look intimidating. The desert areas are well cleaned out however, and adjacent fairways often allow for effective recoveries.
The approaches are often tight, to medium sized, undulating greens surrounded by mounds and bordered by strategically placed bunkers. 150 yards stakes are visible and
should be considered as targets off the tee, and there are also scattered marked sprinkler heads. For the shorter par fours, 100 yard (red and white) stakes replace to black and
white 150 markers.Pay attention to the pin placement info, provided on each cart, as landing on the correct portion of these sloping greens will noticeably affect your ability to score
well. A players guide with hole yardages and diagrams is also available for a nominal fee. Ball and club washers are standard on every cart.
The image above features two of the "par girls" - companions available to make your round more enjoyable when you book a tee time at Desert Pines!
The first hole is a short par four that plays to a straight, narrow fairway, with a considerably undulating green. This is a fair opener. Number two plays is a par three with a lot of
room, but with mounding on all sides of the sloping green. A sand waste area on the left needs to be avoided off the tee on 3. Mounds on the right side will funnel balls back to the
fairway. There is water right that may affect the second and third shots on this pretty par five. The fourth is aptly named the narrows, as it is bordered by pines on both sides with
fairway bunkers about 100 yards out. There is also a water hazard that will affect shots hit short right off the tee. Water also comes into play on #5, as the lake extends nearly all the
way to the green. The approach must carry a deep depression that fronts the putting surface. Six is extremely tight, with an undulating fairway and mounds all around the green.
"Sidewinder" (number 7)is also tight. There is a water hazard that comes into play about 80 yards short of the green and also runs behind it on the right side. Bunkers left and deep
of the green make this a very challenging hole. The par three 8th has another water hazard right, and is followed by the number one handicap on the course. The closing hole on
the front has water right and OB left off the tee, with a very challenging approach that bends to the right. More water on the right side near the green will convince most golfers to lay
up and play for the green on their third shot on this long par four that plays from 403 (front tees) to 467 from the tips.
The back opens fairly with a tight mid-length par four with a very undulating green providing most of the challenge. Eleven is the easiest hole on the course, and is the frequent
home to the Desert Pines "Beat the Pro" challenge. You can wager up to $100 as you try to land your tee shot closer to the pin than the head pro. Win and you double your bet (in
the form of a Desert Pines gift certificate); lose and you still get a certificate worth the price of your bet. The 12th is a slight dogleg left with mounds and bunkering all along the
fairway and near the green. Mounds in the fairway and a very narrow undulating green make par a good score on the 551 yards par five 13th. This is followed by one of the easiest
par fours of the layout. Avoid the fairway bunkers and you stand a chance for a good birdie opportunity on 14. The fifteenth also plays quite short. Another lay up towards the 100
-yard marker is a good idea here. The green is double-tiered so pay close attention to the pin placement.
After a simple par three, you will be confronted with "City Hall". This long par four is tight off the tee but opens up near the 150, with a downhill approach. The finishing is a pretty
one. The "Gauntlet" doglegs to the left, with water on that side coming into play all the way to the green. This hazard makes the approach one of the most difficult on the course.
Desert Pines certainly provides a different look, compared to most of the other layouts in the Vegas Valley. With the exception of the surrounding desert mountains and views of the
strip, you will feel like you are golfing in North Carolina. It is open for public play and was in wonderful condition when we played in early June. Come out early and use their state
of the art practice facility. A sandwich or beverage in their comfortable lounge is also recommended.
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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