Sin City Charlotte

Wildhorse Golf Club hosting free junior clinic as part of Danny Gans' Partee Fore Kids

This just hit my in-box, guys. In conjunction with Danny Gans’ Partee Fore Kids, a celebrity pro-am memorial event, Wildhorse Golf Club is hosting a free junior golf clinic this weekend.

The clinic takes place this Saturday, Oct. 31 from 2-4 p.m. on Wildhorse Golf Club’s practice range.

Scheduled to participate:

Mike Dobbyn, World Long Drive Champion
Kim Hall, LPGA Tour
Greg Truitt, Retired Cincinnati Bengal
Paul Green, Retired Seattle Seahawk, actor
Richard Karn, actor, Al from Home Improvement
John Aylward, actor E.R.
The First Tee of Southern Nevada Staff and more

You don't have to be an Ultimate Fighter to get a golf date with Natasha at Royal Links or Bali Hai

Okay, guys, as if there wasn’t enough incentive to hire a gorgeous ParMate caddie when playing Royal Links Golf Club or Bali Hai Golf Club, here’s another one:

Natasha Wicks, who besides being a ParMate is also the latest “Octagon Girl” to grace the ring at the Ultimate Fighting Championships.

Now imagine that. You could play golf with this stunning blonde, get an autographed picture or two, then go back home, order up UFC with your buddies on TV and point out the hot babe you spent the day with while playing golf in Las Vegas.

Natasha, who is a Sin City native, actually made her debut last month in Philadelphia at UFC 101. She had to beat out 39 other girls to become the UFC’s latest “Octagon Girl.” But she hasn’t given up her gig at Royal Links and Bali Hai.

So if you call up at least a week in advance, you can still reserve a few hours with Natasha, who won’t have any trouble keeping up with you (she ran cross country at Northern Arizona University). She will keep you company, keep your score and your clubs clean, and most assuredly, keep up your morale.

In addition to golf, Natasha enjoys modeling and recently signed on as the UFC’s newest “Octagon Girl.”

Package deal: Stay at the Venetian, play 3 of Las Vegas' best golf courses from $299

I just got wind of this sweet package deal on tee times at some of the top golf courses in Las Vegas from one of the sweethearts at Walters Golf. You need to check this out, golfers. The e-mail I got reads:

Here is your chance to play three of the top 50 golf courses in American as Voted by GolfWorld Readers’ Choice 2009 for one unbelievably low price of just $299. With this package you’ll be transported to a south pacific golf paradise at Bali Hai Golf Club, voted no. 6, then journey across the pond to test your game on the best holes of the British Open at Royal Links Golf Club, voted no. 13, and finish in the Sandhills of the Carolinas at Desert Pines Golf Club.

Oh, btw, you can save an additional 10 percent if you prepay and book more than 60 days in advance.

Click here for more info or to book your Las Vegas golf trip.

If you’ve been thinking about coming to Vegas to play golf, now is the time!

Baseball's Greg Maddux calls the World Series of Golf "like nothing I've ever played before"

Greg Maddux, a familiar name in baseball, recently showed off his skills at another sport he loves, golf.

Maddux, a sure-fire bet to make the Hall of Fame, participated in the World Series of Golf held May 11th-14th at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort.

Sponsored by LasVegasGolf.com, Maddux was excited for a chance to compete in a different game. In an interview with my pal Bill Bowman, Maddux says, “It was definitely a different game of golf, or a different game of poker … it was nothing like I’ve ever played before.”

WGN is broadcasting the next episode of the World Series of Golf this weekend. Here is a complete broadcast schedule, guys. Enjoy it!

Catch Ray Romano and poker's Daniel Negreanu in the 2009 World Series of Golf on WGN

Actor and comedian Ray Romano, well known for “Everybody Loves Raymond” and the “Ice Age” movies, was one of many players who returned to the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort for another shot at winning the World Series of Golf, held May 11th-14th.

The tournament saw many familiar faces from last year, including comedians and athletes from other sports. The event, which combines golf and poker, also drew in several poker hotshots including Daniel Negreanu and Chris Ferguson, who all praised the tournament’s interesting format. WGN will air the event coverage Saturdays, with replays on Sunday, through October 4th. Here’s a schedule of the broadcasts.

Watch the World Series of Golf on TV (WGN America) beginning Saturday, July 11

This Saturday, WGN America will begin airing coverage of the 2009 World Series of Golf. The show begins Saturday, July 11 at 1 p.m. EST.

The 3-day event was held in May at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort. Competitors - and those of us who walked the course during the event - had a ball (though I still can’t believe Greg Maddux, who was playing for LasVegasGolf.com, blew it on Day 1).

Here’s the complete schedule, guys:

Saturday, July 11: 1 p.m. Eastern
Sunday, July 12: 11 a.m. Eastern
Sunday, July 19: 11 a.m. Eastern
Sunday, July 26: 11 a.m. Eastern
Sunday, Aug. 2: 11 a.m. Eastern
Sunday, Aug. 9: 11 a.m. Eastern
Saturday, Aug. 15: 1 p.m. Eastern
Sunday, Aug. 16: 11 a.m. Eastern
Sunday, Aug. 23: 11 a.m. Eastern
Sunday, Aug. 30: 11 a.m. Eastern
Saturday, Sept. 5: 1 p.m. Eastern
Sunday, Sept. 6: 10:30 a.m. Eastern
Saturday, Sept. 12: 1 p.m. Eastern
Sunday, Sept. 13: 11 a.m. Eastern
Saturday, Sept. 19: 1 p.m. Eastern
Sunday, Sept. 20: 11 a.m. Eastern
Saturday, Sept. 26: 1 p.m. Eastern
Sunday, Sept. 27: 11 a.m. Eastern
Sunday, Oct. 4: 10:30 a.m. Eastern

Hit Royal Links to get a taste of Turnberry and the British Open

So the British Open comes to Turnberry in two weeks. To those of you traveling to the cradle of golf for the tournament, I hate you! :-) To those of you who, like me, will be watching from your living room, there’s still hope for experiencing the majesty of Turnberry in person – and without even leaving the U.S.

That’s right, Royal Links Golf Club in Las Vegas has two holes inspired by Turnberry, so you can channel the pros in America’s golf capital.

No. 14 at Royal Links honors Turnberry’s 15th hole, filled with pot bunkers and undulation.

My girlfriend and fellow golf blogger Dot loves 14.

For me, though, the next hole is the kicker. Inspired by No. 5 at Turnberry, Royal Links Golf Club’s 15th hole is a narrow, par-5 dogleg left with an elevated tee and green. Brutal, yes, but what better way to experience, up close and personal, this year’s British Open?

To book at round at Royal Links, call (866) 456-9912.

Stay (at the Mirage) and play (at Bali Hai, Desert Pines, Royal Links)!

Like birthday parties? Well, The Mirage’s 20th is going to be off the hook. This year marks the 20th anniversary of The Mirage in Las Vegas, and to celebrate the hotel and casino has partnered with Walters Golf to offer special stay-and-play golf packages.

Book at least three nights at The Mirage and get up to a 40 percent discount on rounds at Bali Hai Golf Club, Royal Links Golf Club and Desert Pines Golf Club. For golfers, it’ll be the bash of the year.

Click here for more information.

Adam Scott in the Qatar Masters (and: now I know why he never calls)

Las Vegas resident Adam Scott will play in the Qatar Masters on the European Tour this week. He’s gunning for his third W in 3 appearances at the event.

I just read that photographers snapped pics of Scott with Kate Hudson
on a beach in Hawaii when he was there for the Sony Open. That answers the question of why he never calls me when he’s back off the road (ok, almost never).

Also in the field at the Quatar Masters, btw will be Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson.

Las Vegas resident Adam Scott finishes T2 at the Sony Open

Congrats to Las Vegas’ Adam Scott who tore it up in the final round at the Sony Open in Honolulu yesterday. His six-under-par 64 was good enough for a tie for second (with David Toms).

Here’s what Adam had to say after the round.

Desert Pines Golf Club wins "Best Value" award

One of my favorite Las Vegas golf courses, Desert Pines Golf Club, has just gotten an award!

Greenskeeper.org, a popular west coast golf social network with more than 35,000 members, has awarded Desert Pines as having the BEST Value ‘Worth The Green Fee’ in ALL of Southern Nevada for 2008. The company gave Desert Pines the honor after analyzing the last 12 months of online survey ratings submitted by users and staff of Greenskeeper.org.

Guys, On your next Las Vegas golf vacation don’t even think about missing Desert Pines Golf Club! You can book a round by calling (866) 456-9912.

VIP Golf Academy experience touted at TedMag.com

A shoutout by Ed Henkes, national account manager for FCI-Burndy, to the VIP Golf Academy just got some play at TedMag.com.

Henkes on the VIP Golf Academy experience: “Our sales guys said [we] couldn’t have done anything better to improve relations. This really brought them together.”

(BTW, as I wrote here, you can read BusinessWeek’s article about the VIP Golf Academy experience at: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_45/b4107080286571.htm)

A great deal on Las Vegas golf! Play Bali Hai, Royal Links, Desert Pines for $125 each

Check this out! Thanks to this special offer, you can play all three of the Top 50 public golf courses in America - Bali Hai, Royal Links, and Desert Pines - for just $125 each!

In the 2009 Golf World Readers’ Choice Awards, these 3 classic Las Vegas golf courses each finished in the top 50, with Bali Hai coming in at no. 6, Royal Links Golf Club finishing 13th, and Desert Pines Golf Club ranked 50th (Click here to see the complete list).

(BTW, here’s another deal on Vegas golf. You can book tee times at Bali Hai, Royal Links G.C. or Desert Pines G.C. 45 days or more in advance and pay at the time of booking to get an additional 30 percent off whatever rate you’re quoted - whether it’s been already discounted or not.)

Heading to Las Vegas to golf? They're dealing at the Revere Golf Club!

Guys, have you been thinking about playing the fabulous Revere Golf Club? Now would be a great time.

No matter how much money you have, nobody likes to spend more than you have to, which why I’m always looking for deals. Buy two pairs of shoes and get one pair free - I’m all over that.

So why should golf be any different? At the Revere Golf Club, which features some of the most spectacular holes and views of any golf course in Las Vegas, you can save a little money simply by booking your rounds online.

Right now, if you reserve your tee time online, you can get some pretty sweet deals at Revere Golf Club’s Concord and Lexington golf courses. For example, if you book a morning tee time (before noon) for two or more players, Revere will pick up your cab fare to and from the hotel.

Or if you book a twilight tee time online, you can get free rental clubs and receive a two-for-one drink coupon, perfect for enjoying the Las Vegas sunset either from inside the Revere’s panoramic clubhouse or out on the patio.

And to top it off, if you book an online morning tee time, you can get a free breakfast or lunch.

When booking, just use promo codes REVERE2 for the free transportation, REVERE3 for the free rental set and two-for-one drink coupon, and REVEREDINE for the free breakfast or lunch.

Tell ‘em Charlotte sent you! ;-)

BusinessWeek showcases VIP Golf School in Las Vegas

A recent article in BusinessWeek titled “Golf School as a Tool,” suggests that instead of taking employees and clients out for a golf retreat, a golf school might be a better option. Why? Because, unlike playing golf, which can sometimes lead to frustration and tension, golf schools promote a sense of bonding and accomplishment. Plus, golf schools these days, like businesses, are becoming more flexible in dealing with a tough economy.

In one example, the story illustrates how a national account manager, Ed Henkes, used a corporate outing at the VIP Golf School in Las Vegas to mend a damaged relationship between his sales people and a client.

Henkes sprang for the equivalent of a “corporate buddies trip” to Las Vegas. After three days of on-course instruction from the VIP Golf Academy’s teaching staff, everyone was on the same page again. “Our sales guys said [we] couldn’t have done anything better to improve relations,” Henkes recalls. “This really brought them together.”

Well-run golf schools have a low instructor-to-client ratio, working on key fundamentals that many players have never begun to master - all in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. No matter what your skill level, you walk away with a sense of accomplishment at the end, something that’s often evasive when playing a difficult golf course for the first time (plus, you don’t lose any golf balls.)

For more info on VIP Golf Academy, click here. Or call (800) 679-2916.

You can read the BusinessWeek article at: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_45/b4107080286571.htm