Golf in Las Vegas: Lessons Learned

Every time my group takes a trip, we find out some nuances of the destination the hard way - through experience. Then on a second trip to that same location everything goes much smoother. It is for that reason that I recommend using an experienced golf packager wherever possible. Here are a few things we learned while on our recent golf trip to Las Vegas that may be helpful to you when you go:

Every putt on every green is influenced by the Stratosphere in the middle of the strip in Las Vegas. Putts will either break that way or be offset to some degree if breaking away from it. Putts are speedier than normal heading in that direction and slower than normal going the opposite direction.

Every trip to Las Vegas should include one day where you don’t play golf. There is just so much to do and see that you are cutting yourself short by using half of a day, every day, to play golf, especially if you like to gamble in the evening. That leaves little or no time for much else.

Golf in Las Vegas is not cheap. Hey, it takes quite a lot of capital to grow grass in the desert.

The ball flies a little farther. I was about a half club longer with my irons.

The ball spins less. Only a well struck short iron into the wind will stop near where it lands. Downwind or with mid/long irons, fuggetaboudit!

The ball tends to land softly in the desert. You would think that there would be more of a pinball effect because of all the rocks, but that was seldom the case unless there was a direct hit.

Check your scorecard for local rules. Some Las Vegas golf courses had a special one for taking relief from the desert with a one-shot penalty.