FEATURE STORY

Las Vegas golf: Act now to score tee times during Super Bowl weekend

By Mike Bailey,
Senior Writer

Can't make it to Arizona for the Super Bowl? Las Vegas is the next best thing, especially with tee times at excellent golf courses such as Desert Pines and Rio Secco Golf Club still available.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - In a sense, the end of the football season is really the beginning of golf season in Las Vegas. Although there are plenty of good days to play golf in Las Vegas during the winter, the first week of February means spring is just around the corner.

"Pardon the pun, but the Super Bowl really kicks off the golf season," said John Sugawara, head professional at the Pete Dye-designed Desert Pines Golf Club. "There's a little bit of a lull during the second week of February, but after that it's non-stop until the middle of June."

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That lull is preceded by Super Bowl mania. At night the high rollers and celebrities pack the casinos and sports books. During the day, many pack Las Vegas' best golf courses.

Few would argue that if you can't be at the Super Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., this week, Las Vegas is the next best thing. In fact, many say that there is no better place to spend Super Bowl week than in Sin City.

Especially if you like to put a few bucks on the big game.

According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, approximately $93 million was wagered legally last year on Super Bowl XLI, which Indianapolis won over Chicago 29-17 in Miami. Estimates are that this year's tilt between the heavily favored and undefeated New England Patriots and the New York Giants could attract more than $100 million in bets, which would be a new record.

That means a lot of traffic in Las Vegas this weekend. Last year at this time, there were more than 289,000 visitors here during Super Bowl weekend, with similar expectations for this go-round. And while this week isn't the busiest time of year for the city, it isn't too shabby. Occupancy rates at Las Vegas' hotels are expected to be in the 92 percent range, a figure most destinations envy.

"There are many different reasons people come to Las Vegas," said Kris Tibbs, senior research analyst for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. "Not all of them can be attributed to the Super Bowl (this week). But obviously some of them come out for that atmosphere."

Many of them are high rollers who love to play golf, said Charles Packard, head golf professional at Harrah's-owned Rio Secco Golf Club. Packard and his staff specialize in catering to their needs.

"They gamble and they want to play golf," Packard said. "We make sure their needs are taken care of."

It's not exactly impossible to get a tee time in Las Vegas during the days leading up to the Super Bowl, but they do go fast. Two weeks out, Rio Secco was completely sold out on Saturday, almost exclusively to their big money hotel guests, but a smattering of times was still available for Friday. Desert Pines was also filling up fast during the days leading up to the Super Bowl.

"We are ridiculously busy," Sugawara said. "Tee times are at a premium."

Other popular Vegas plays with available tee times are TPC Las Vegas, Siena Golf Club and Revere Golf Club.

Because of demand, green fees are also slightly higher in many instances. But with those higher rates, there are some perks. Rio Secco, for example, is giving all its players this weekend a special gift bag and complimentary food and drink.

"This year, we're giving them a logoed barbecue set, along with some coasters," Packard said. "And the coaster holder is actually a putting cup that you can use in your office or home. And we're throwing in lunch (or breakfast). So for their money, they're actually getting something they can walk away with."

Your best bet at many courses is for game day. At Las Vegas National, for example, tee times on Thursday, Friday and Saturday were disappearing quickly, but a week or so out, many Sunday times were still available. The same was true at Rio Secco, which will have an 8:30 shotgun start Sunday morning and offer a free breakfast buffet as well as the gift package. Desert Pines Golf Club will use a split tee start early Sunday morning in an effort to get everyone around before kickoff at 3 p.m.

Sunday presents playing opportunities, no doubt, because revelers wouldn't mind sleeping in a bit or recovering on Sunday morning. Or maybe they just want their rest before the big game. In any event, there are times available for a quick round.

"We'll be slammed on Friday and Saturday," said Matt Utter, director of sales at the 27-hole SilverStone Golf Club in northwest Las Vegas. "But Sunday might be light."

Sounds like a great way to start the golf season.

January 28, 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.