PRIMM VALLEY GOLF CLUB - LAKES COURSE (702) 679-5509
Las Vegas Golf Course Review
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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