Beware the cost
of getting to the
course in Las Vegas

By Murray Anderson,
Contributor

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 4, 2003) -- Las Vegas is where someone can be whisked away to Venice, Paris, New York City or ancient Rome all for a few dollars in a taxi, driving down the famous Las Vegas Strip.

But try getting taken to a golf course around the Las Vegas Valley and expect to pay a high price to your friendly taxi driver. Round-trip fares to some Clark County courses can cost into the triple digits.

At the same time, if you want to play a course within a close proximity to the Strip, expect to pay exorbitant green fee.

• Bali Hai Golf Club • Las Vegas National Golf Club • Stallion Mountain Country Club • Desert Pines Golf Club

The most expensive jaunt from the so-called Strip's center is a round trip to Primm Valley Golf Club. You'll travel 82.8 miles round trip at a cost of $161.80.

So for visitors to Las Vegas without a car, figuring out the cab fare is important when choosing a golf outing in town.

Bali Hai Golf Club

"Our location is absolutely great," said Scott Ahern, head golf professional at Bali Hai. "We probably get five or six golfers a day that get off that airplane and come here immediately and want to play."

Located on the south end of the Strip, Ahern said he gets calls from visitors in their rooms at the Mandalay Bay who look out their windows and yearn to hit the fairways.

While getting to Bali Hai is not costly, the green fees can be. The rate to play the resort course is $245 during the week and $295 on weekends. A twilight rate is offered after 3 p.m. with green fees $169 during the week and $199 on the weekend.

The 3-year-old Bali Hai offers excellent customer service, a course that is always in great condition and some great views of the Las Vegas Strip.

"Probably 85 to 90 percent of our players are resort guests so we have had to develop a reputation of taking care of the guests how they expect to be taken care of," Ahern said. "We want to exceed their expectations when they come in. We're not in the 'no' business. If a guest wants something and we don't have it, we'll do whatever we can to get it for them."

What Bali Hai offers is 2,500 mature palm trees, seven water features and some great par-3s. Of the five par-3s on the course, four bring water into play and the one that doesn't measures 250 yards from the back tees.

No. 16 measures only 141 yards from the tips but requires a soft touch to stop on the island green. A large bunker sits behind the green and any shot that comes up the slightest bit short is going to be in the drink.

And if the island green didn't make the average duffer grip his club a little tighter, the club's patio dining is just behind and to the right of the green, giving each golfer a personal gallery for one hole.

Las Vegas National Golf Club

This might be one of the last public courses standing that gives golfers the feel of "Old Vegas."

The course has been home to PGA and LPGA events and the classic homes that surround the course just give off the Vegas vibe.

Located just 7.2 roundtrip miles from the center of the Strip, a round-trip cab ride costs $18.60. Green fees to play the 6,815-yard par-71 course are $99 on weekdays and $80 after 2 p.m. weekdays. Weekend green fees are $150 and $90 after 2 p.m.

Las Vegas National has five par-3s that will test any golfer and its par-5s aren't incredibly long, giving accurate hitters a solid chance at birdie.

Large trees accentuate the doglegs and there is out of bounds along many of the '60s era homes that are lined by fences.

There is no better testimony to the challenge at Las Vegas National than the fact that when Tiger Woods won his first tour event here with a 19-under total at a tournament played over several courses, he shot just 1-under here.

Stallion Mountain Country Club

With 54 holes of golf, Walters Golf, owner of Bali Hai, has its second course on the list of closest facilities to the Strip.

Stallion Mountain offers three courses in its Citation, Secretariat and Man O'War tracks. And while the club is a private facility, it is accessible.

The club is a 14-miles round trip from the Strip and costs $29.60 for a taxi.

Citation is a 6,676-yard, par-72 layout with generous landing areas and views of Sunrise Mountain throughout the 18 holes. Green fees for the Citation course are $115 during the week with a twilight rate of $80 after 2 p.m. and $145 on weekends with a twilight rate of $95.

Man O'War measures 6,849 yards from the tips and features undulated and well-guarded greens. The par-72 course was the site of Chip Beck's 59 in the PGA's 1991 Las Vegas Invitational. Green fees are $135 during the week with a twilight rate of $85 after 2 p.m. and $175 on the weekend with a $100 twilight rate.

Secretariat is the longest course at the club, measuring 7,223 yards. With holes playing over lakes, there are definite risk and reward shots on this par-72 course. Green fees are $145 during the week with a $95 twilight rate after 2 p.m. and $195 on the weekend with a $110 twilight rate.

At this first of the Walters Golf courses, Bill Walters used his vision for Las Vegas to turn an area famous for dilapidated housing, vacant lots and gang turf into a bit of "Pinehurst in the desert."

Desert Pines opened in 1997 and features 4,000 pine trees, narrow fairways and true-rolling greens. The par-71 course measures about 6,800 yards and causes golfers to think while they are out there. Fairways are narrow, water is plentiful and some of the short par-4s tempt big hitters to let one rip for the green.

The round-trip cab ride to Desert Pines costs $38.20 and the distance from the center of the Strip is 16.6 round-trip miles. Green fees to play Desert Pines are $135 during the week with an $85 twilight rate after 2 p.m. and $175 on the weekend with a $100 twilight rate.

"Our location is a big selling point for us simply because of cab fare for the tourists. Cab fare from the Strip to here is about one-third of what it is to the golf resorts on the outskirts of town," said Butch Fogler, general manager at Desert Pines. "It can cost about $100 to get to some of the courses around here."

Yet another Walters' facility, Royal Links takes golfers across the pond to give them a distinct British Open feel. Links golf in the heart of Sin City.

The 7,029-yard, par-72 course is a golf history lesson. Tributes to St. Andrews' Road Hole and Royal Troon's famous Postage Stamp are found on the course. Monuments throughout the track pay tribute to some of the great moments in British Open lore.

The cost to get to Royal Links from the center of the Strip is $39.40 (17.4 miles) for a round-trip cab ride. Green fees at Royal Links are $225 during the week with a $135 twilight rate after 2 p.m. and $250 on the weekend with a $155 twilight rate.

Stymie's Pub is found in the castle-styled clubhouse and it serves British fare and offers a taste of an authentic English tavern.

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.