COURSE REVIEW

Like sand? Head to the desert-heavy Arroyo golf course at Red Rock Country Club in Las Vegas

By Mike Bailey,
Senior Writer

LAS VEGAS - If you like sand, you'll love the Arroyo Course at Red Rock Country Club.

Photo gallery: Arroyo Golf Club at Red Rock Country Club Visit Arroyo's official web site Course review: Siena Golf Club in Las Vegas Trying to book a large golf group in Vegas? No problem

The Arnold Palmer signature golf course has close to 100 bunkers, but even more importantly, some 40 acres that used to be irrigated turf have been returned to the desert - ergo more sand ... and rocks and cacti.

The truth is the sand doesn't really make Arroyo, the only course at Red Rock Country Club open to the public, all that difficult. (The Mountain Course at Arroyo is private.) It just makes it more striking, nestled in the natural landmark of Red Rock Canyon. The bunkers, though plentiful, are shallow and generally not difficult to play from, and the new desert landscaping shouldn't come into play if you're smart and moderately skilled.

The turf-reduction program is part of a partial renovation of the four-year-old layout that also includes new drainage and irrigation and some new areas of turf. The result is a golf course that has evolved for the better in a short amount of time.

"It's in the best shape it's been in since we opened," says Thom Blinkinsop, regional general manager for Red Rock Country Club.

Playing at 6,857 yards to a par-72 from the back tees, the Arroyo Course isn't overly long and not particularly tight either. Keeping the ball in play is fairly easy for most players. Couple that with superb conditioning, and the Arroyo Course, which is situated in the master-planned community of Summerlin, is enjoyable for all skill levels.

Many of the recent changes occurred on the back nine, but both nines are strong. The first hole is the longest on the course, a 580-yard par 5 that gets you warmed up in a hurry. And the seventh is a downhill 210-yard par 3 with water to the right of the green. The seventh is both picturesque and potentially profitable. For an extra $5, players can enter a hole-in-one contest that pays $10,000. But, as they say in the old sweepstakes contests, "you have to enter to win."

"Just the other day, we had a guy make a hole-in-one there," Blinkinsop says.

But he didn't pony up.

Last year, a woman aced the seventh hole at Arroyo's sister course, nearby Siena Golf Club, which runs a similar promotion. It occurred on July 7, 2007. She used a 7-wood.

Only in Vegas.

Back to Arroyo, though. While the golf course is very playable, it certainly isn't a pushover. You find that out from the very first green, one of the largest on the course and perhaps one of the most undulated. Hit the wrong portion, and if the greens are speedy, avoiding a three-putt will be top priority.

Still, there are plenty of opportunities to score. The course presents several risk-reward opportunities, and there is no better example now than the reconfigured 16th hole, a 530-yard par 5 reachable by long hitters.

Before, the 16th provided little risk. Players could hit whatever they wanted on the second shot without fear of reprisal. Now there are two arroyos that cross the fairway. The first one should be out of play for most golfers, but the second one figures into the second shot. Players can lay up short of the second arroyo for a longer, but safe third shot, carry the arroyo to a lay-up spot short of the green, or go for the gusto.

"It gives you two or three different options on the second shot," Blinkinsop says. "Before you could just blast the second shot. Now you actually have to think about it."

The 17th, a 370-yard par 4, also provides risk where there was little before turf was removed and replaced with desert in front of the green. Before, players could blast their tee shots over a bunker on the left side and be left with a very short pitch shot to the green. When the hole played downwind, some players could even come close to the green. Now, the fairway runs out around 240 yards off the tee, which means most players, if they are smart, should hit a fairway wood or long iron off the tee to set up a short-iron approach.

The 16th and 17th are great lead-ins to the finishing hole, a 401-yard par 4 with water to the right and fairway bunkers that can come into play off the tee shot. Hit it in a fairway bunker and finding one of the smallest greens on the course is a challenge.

After the round, players can enjoy a country club feel in the Arroyo Grill, which features a full bar, appetizers, salads and entrees. The grill is also open for breakfast, and there are both men's and women's locker rooms to use before and after the round to give the daily-fee player the country club-for-a-day feel.

March 31, 2008

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.