Course Spotlight
Golf Summerlin
Three Courses to Play
Story by Bill Bowman
Photography provided by Golf Summerlin
You’re a golfer in Las Vegas—or better yet, you live here—and you’re looking to tee it up over a few days. With more than 50 golf courses in and around the Vegas area, picking a course to play can be a daunting task.
We’re going to make it a little easier for you. How about 54 holes of affordable, scenic, and impressive golf—all right in the middle of Las Vegas. And all 54 holes are within a driver and five-iron of each other. Welcome to Golf Summerlin and not one, not two, but three golf layouts designed by famed architects Billy Casper and Greg Nash that will test everyone from beginners to the pros. And it’s all right here within 15 minutes of the famed Las Vegas Strip.
Intrigued? We thought you would be. The Golf Summerlin trio of courses includes Highland Falls, Palm Valley, and Eagle Crest. Highland Falls and Palm Valley are traditional 18-hole layouts, while Eagle Crest is an 18-hole executive course. Donny Long, Director of Golf operations, says there are a few simple reasons to check out the Golf Summerlin trifecta of courses. “The conditions of all three golf courses are outstanding. If people haven’t played here before, they’ll find three very challenging golf courses with impressive views.”
Grab your clubs…and your camera…and let’s get to that first tee.
Highland Falls
This layout is the shorter of the two regular 18-hole layouts and plays to just 6,512 yards from the tips. But if you think this yardage will make this course a pushover, think again. Elevation changes along with plenty of water and bunkers will test golfers of every ability. With multiple sets of tees, players can find the perfect distance for maximum enjoyment on the course.
This layout also features one of the most stunning views any golf course in Vegas has to offer.
On the tee of the par-3 14th, which plays to 206 yards from the tips, players will actually look down to the green. Golfers’ eyes will also be attracted to an enticing sight in the distance as they take in the entire Las Vegas Strip right before their eyes.
Getting back to play on the course, Long says that Highland Falls will also force players to have a strong game plan in place. “Especially on the back nine, players will need to really think about every shot. Holes 10, 13, 15, 16 and 18 are especially challenging. And they need to plan course strategy. ‘Do I hit driver here, or do I lay it back and play it smart?’ It’s a course that also has elevation changes along with water and bunkers so it’s got a little bit of everything that golfers want. And some of the views they will see are some of the best around.
Palm Valley
This one is the longest of the three courses at right around 6,900 yards. Despite being longer in length, there are still scoring options on this layout, especially starting and finishing the round.
The first and 18th holes, both pars 5s, are grip-it-and-rip-it holes and at around 530 yards, players will have the chance to get home in two and set up eagle opportunities—if they dare.
But, let’s take a minute to talk about one of the more challenging holes on the course, that same 18th hole. It’s possible to get home in two and be putting for an eagle on this closing par-5. That’s the good news. The bad news is that getting home in two is quite the challenge. The hole is a severe dogleg right and many players will try to cut off as much of the dogleg as possible. That’s where the trouble comes into play. There is water on the right if players cut off too much yardage. Oh, there’s more. Avoid that water and more water comes into play on the approach shot, as a pond guards the right side of the green along with two bunkers and desert area. Suddenly this finishing hole just got a little more challenging.
Long also added that there’s a different kind of challenge at Palm Valley that will test players.
“Palm Valley has bent grass greens ,while Highland Falls and Eagle Crest have Bermuda. It adds up to a different experience and completely different golf courses which is a nice change for players.”
Eagle Crest
This executive course is an ideal layout for those looking to get in a quick 18 holes. With 12 par 3s and six par 4s, the course should be easy. Well, we’re here to tell players it’s still a solid test of golf. The par 3s range from 115 yards to a jaw-dropping 224 yards and will give players a lot of chances to work on that short game.
Course designer Casper has said in past interviews that players shouldn’t overlook the challenge of this layout just because it’s an executive course. “You can take any hole from this course, put it in the middle of a championship course, and it would fit right in,” he says.
The third hole is an ideal example. The par-3 plays just 135 yards from the tips. The green is guarded by a couple of bunkers short and left along with a handful of trees. A pond off to the right can come into play and continues to the back of the green. It’s an impressive looking hole with just enough trouble in play to get players’ attention. In the end, it’s a straightforward course that lets players enjoy the game—something every golfer wants to experience.
“Eagle Crest is by far the most difficult executive course in Las Vegas in my opinion,” Long says. “If you think it’s not a challenge because it’s an executive course, you need to come out and play it. It’s a good test and you’ll still use every club in your bag. And, it’s just a fun layout.”
The Verdict
Long says there are golf courses around with bells and whistles that will attract players. But if they are looking for great golf, they need to make the trip to play one, two, or all three Golf Summerlin courses and find out for themselves about these stunning courses. “Give us a chance,” he says. “The superintendent and his staff always have the courses in great shape. There are great views of Las Vegas and the price-point is fair whether you’re a local or a tourist. Come out and play…we promise that you’ll be back.”
