Course Source: Bali Hai
COURSE SOURCE
IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Bali Hai Golf Club, Las Vegas.
THE LAYOUT: From the well-appointed rooms at Mandalay Bay, the only championship course located right on the Las Vegas Strip is hard to miss - a lush tropical paradise in the middle of the desert that you can literally carry your clubs to.
Located on the South end of the Strip, Bali Hai Golf Club embodies the adult playground that is Las Vegas. From the South Pacific theme to the "ParMate" caddies available to shepherd golfers around the course, there is an undeniable upscale but laid back vibe from the time you arrive at the Polynesian hut that doubles as the starter's shack.
Don't be mistaken, Bali Hai packs a very serious and thoroughly enjoyable golf experience.
The Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley designed course opened in 2000 with seven acres of water features, white sand bunkers and thousands of palm trees - not to mention one-of-a-kind views of the strip as you traverse the beautiful layout.
At 6,601 yards (70.2/125) from the gold tees and 7,002 (73.0/130) from the tips, Bali Hai isn't dauntingly long on the scorecard. But it's deceptive in that five of the Par-4s play between 440 and 466 yards, and if the winds pick up as they're known to do, many holes are a long iron or hybrid away even with a corked drive.
Bottom line, Bali Hai is a unique luxury resort style experience. You can be wayward with your tee shot on most holes and still find grass, but multiple bunkers dot every hole, elevation changes make club selection important and water comes significantly into play on eight holes.
GENERAL MANAGER: Butch Fogler
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: One of Bali Hai's best assets is the variety - no two holes feel the same, and the Par-3s are especially memorable. The 164-yard ninth is a true challenge if the pin is tucked on the left side, forcing a full carry over water, with sand over the back. The 165-yard 11th often features a two-club headwind, and the 224-yard 14th is a bear despite playing downhill.
Like most courses, the Par-5s are the scoring holes. The best designed is the 527-yard 15th; "Mandalea" is a dogleg left that is reachable in two and features one of the best views of the strip.
Forecaddies are complimentary, with a $50-per bag tip the norm. They're not necessary as long as you have a rangefinder or GPS - it is a fairly straightforward resort course - but local knowledge is handy on several of the more difficult Par-4s.
With deep, hard white sand bunkers protecting virtually every green and several long irons required, potential blowup holes litter Bali Hai if you leave yourself short-sided in a head-high trap.
Don't get lulled to sleep by your first sweeping view of Mandalay Bay on the tee box at No. 8. At 464 yards, it's the second longest longest Par-4 on the course and is the No. 1 handicap despite playing downwind. "Upaway" also serves its name justice, with the 458-yard Par-4 13th playing back into the wind and difficult for many average handicappers to reach in two.
Most will point to the Par-3 16th as the signature hole, and it's hard to argue with the 123-yard island green with the restaurant as the backdrop that is also featured in the popular "World Golf Tour" video game. But the truth is Bali Hai has several memorable holes - including the Par-3 No. 6 that we carded our first hole-in-one on.
The back nine ratchets up the difficulty level with four of the most difficult holes lying in wait on the final third of the course, highlighted by a score-busting 1-2 punch to close.
The Par-4 17th is aptly named "Ambush," and plays 456 yards from the gold tees. The ambush can come in the form of the wind, which can stretch this into a hole requiring a pair of Nick Faldo-esque "career" shots for a birdie look. Most likely the third shot is with a wedge in your hand trying to navigate the tiered green to salvage a decent par putt.
Survive that and you're treated to arguably the best designed hole on the course. The closing 18th, "Kuda Bay," plays 466 yards from the golds. Palm trees protect the left side and a bunker 285 yards out on the right side is imminently reachable downhill and downwind - not to mention jail when having to carry all water to the green.
Even a straight drive leaves an approach shot into a small green surrounded 300 degrees by sand, which is in turn protected by water. Considering the typically hard and fast greens found in Vegas, anything more than a short iron is nearly impossible to hold the green, and we watched more than one group hack their way back and forth from sand to sand.
OTHER COURSES IN THE AREA: Walters Golf has three outstanding and unique golf courses in Las Vegas. Royal Links is 10 miles from the strip and is a tribute to some of the most iconic links holes from around the world. Desert Pines is a Dye designed resort-style course also a short drive from the Strip.
Rees Jones designed a pair of gems in Rio Secco in Henderson and Cascata, about 30 minutes outside of the city featuring a 418-foot waterfall.
TPC Las Vegas has featured PGA and Champions Tour stops, while Las Vegas National is close to the strip and offers little trouble off the tee for golfers looking for a less stressful experience.
WHERE TO STAY: If you're in town for multiple rounds, stay at one of the hotels affiliated with Walters Golf, including Aria, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Luxor and the Stratosphere. Numerous stay-and-play packages are available, along with discounts for playing multiple Walters Golf courses and very good replay rates. The staff is very accommodating in arranging additional tee times at any of the three courses. http://www.waltersgolf.com.
On the web: http://www.balihaigolfclub.com
