No matter if you’re a Las Vegas resident or a vistor to our fine city, you probably know there are thousands of impressive activities that should be on your to-do list up and down the famed Strip.
Golfers should make sure playing Bali Hai Golf Club is near the top of that list. Bali Hai, which is a Schmidt/Curley designed layout that opened in 2000, is on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip and is one of those layouts that isn’t your everyday golf outing. “Golfers who play Bali Hai will have an overall experience that is very memorable,” says Alex Canetti, Director of Sales. “They will just have a great day of golf on a great course.”
Drive up to the course and you’re immediately transported to a tropical oasis in the middle of the Vegas desert landscape, escaping the glitz and glitter of the Strip. Reaching just over 7,000 yards from the tips, Bali Hai is a layout that is both beautiful and a challenge—a great combination that keeps golfers coming back. Add in some 2,500 palms and another 4,000 trees that line fairways to go along with seven acres of water features, and the course just gets more stunning. And then there are the bunkers that are brilliant-white and perfectly placed to guard fairways and greens as well as offering a nice contrast to the lush green of the fairways.
Canetti says it’s the staff’s attention to detail that makes Bali Hai a must-play in Vegas. “We have about 40-50,000 rounds of golf played here every year. For the staff to keep the course in outstanding shape every day is just another reason why we have many players and groups that keep coming back.” He mentioned other factors that add to the enchanced ambience including caddies, carts equipped with GPS and Blue Tooth speakers, and USB ports for charging phones.
“We’re just a full-service course. And it’s that service that sets us apart from most other golf courses.”
While all 18 holes offer their own beauty and challenges, it’s the final three-hole stretch that really ups the wow factor as well as the challenge. “The last three holes are definitely great ones,” according to Canetti. ”From the island green on 16 to the very challenging 18th, it’s definitely an impressive way to finish the round.”
Start with the par-3 16th that features an island green. While it plays to just 141 yards from the tips, it’s not the distance that provides the challenge. It’s the water that is seemingly everywhere. Add in the clubhouse dining area where you may have a group of lunching fans you weren’t expecting, and it turns out to be more of a test than it appears. “That’s a fun hole,” Canetti says. “I’ve hosted corporate outings there and we turn it into a kind of Phoenix Open-style. We’ve got a DJ there and everyone’s watching the golfers try to attack the pin. It’s a lot of fun.”
Then comes the big challenges, the 17th and 18th holes. Both are par 4s that reach PGA TOUR lengths from the tips. Take on this challenge at your own risk. The 17th plays uphill, adding to the difficulty. A large green is welcoming, as many players will have a long iron or hybrid in for a second shot. It’s a nice warmup for the finale. Ah yes, the finale. The 18th hole is a stunning, yet diabolical hole and one of the best finishing holes around. At 486 yards, the length alone makes it a tough hole. But there’s plenty more that will test players as they make their way home. Start out with avoiding bunkers off the tee—and they come into play both left and right.
Then comes the second shot, which is both challenging and beautiful. The shot will be into a green that is guarded by a deep-blue pond and a beach-like bunker. Don’t be fooled: The pond and bunker may be beautiful but they are also there for a reason as they offer great protection for the putting surface.
It’s a golf hole where par is a welcome score. Put a birdie on the scorecard and you’ll cash in a skin from your group.
Before or after the round, make sure to check out the Tiki Sports Bar. “The Tiki Sports Bar is formerly The Cove,” Canetti says. “We’ve enclosed it and made it a state-of-the-art sports bar. There are TVs everywhere, and it’s just a great spot for golfers to relax and enjoy themselves.”
From breakfast burritos before the round to burgers and wings after the round, it’s got that sports bar vibe golfers love. Oh, and don’t forget the desserts that range from Chocolate Decadent Cake to New York Style Cheesecake to a cookie platter.
We’re not done yet. There’s more. If you’re looking for that ideal spot for that special day, whether it’s a wedding, a retirement party, a banquet, or any other outing, Bali Hai’s world-class restaurant, Cili, is now the resort’s site for just such occasions.
Golfers can also book package deals to get the most bang for their buck, combining their hotel stay and golf rounds with one-stop shopping with Bali Hai’s services.
In the end, Bali Hai Golf Club isn’t just another round of golf—it’s a golf experience that will tantalize all your senses. “You’ve got an award-winning golf course right on the Strip,” Canetti says. “It’s a Vegas-style golf experience for our guests and one they won’t forget.”
