Wolf Creek

[Inferno2ss]

My brother and I are going to be playing Wolf Creek and Conestoga in a few weeks and was wondering if people who played it might have some advice for us to make the experience more enjoyable.

With all the huge elevation changes seems like it could be difficult to figure out what club to use relative to what we normally hit.  

 

[Club Rat]

Both courses have several holes with tight target areas which lead to big trouble with very little margin for error.
You enjoy the layout and challenge and scenery with the elevation of these desert courses.
Club selection will not be much difference than ball flight in Denver courses.
They play similar to mountain courses in Colorado with elevation layouts.
When tee boxes are higher than fairways, the ball is in the air longer which lead to more carry.
Fun courses, enjoy ...

[Inferno2ss]

The course was incredible, one amazing view after another.

I really enjoyed the layout as well, where else you going to play anything like it. 

The greens on the other hand were extremely difficult for me, not use to playing on greens that are an 11 or 12 and struggled to control the speed of my chips and putts.  

Still managed to grind out an 86, with 41 putts, so can't complain too much.

View from hole #1

Edited October 23, 2019 by Inferno2ss

[Patch]

I agree with what @Club Rat posted. I have played Wolf several times over the years. Conestoga not so much. 

Back a few decades ago,  when I was younger, and a lot more bullet proof,  I actually shot a 75 on Wolf Creek. 

I consider these courses different than what I might consider a "traditional" course, because the many blind shots encountered as they wind through canyons. 

Be aware there are sign posted OB areas, that are considered "sensitive", where tresspassers are not allowed to recover balls. Marshals (retirees) enforce these areas if they see someone on them. It's an EPA thing. 

Holidays, and weekends can offer up slower play sometimes. 

Because of some of the higher, hill top tee boxes, wind is usually a factor. This is also true for some of the canyon fairways.

Some of the climbs from the cart path to the elevated tee boxes can be a small chore for those golfers not in some sort of decent physical shape. 

Also, be advised that Mesquite NV is a retirement community. More than once, I have run into locals, who think tourists on "their golf courses" are a problem. Very arrogant asses some are. This is the main reason I don't play Conestoga much. 

Two great, novelty courses that will test one's golf talent, and stamina.

All this said, imo, the Casablanca course is the better course of the three. It's a better value. 

 

[Inferno2ss]

Conestoga was nice, not quite as spectacular as Wolf Creek but really enjoyed the layout of the course.

More of a traditional course, but in fantastic shape with some interesting holes.

Overall a fantastic trip, sure we will be back to tee it up again. 

[David in FL]

I played Wolf Creek years ago and loved it.  Unusual because as a resort course it was still a wonderful test of golf without resorting to “all we’re missing is a clown’s mouth” goofiness.

highly recommended.

[Inferno2ss]

1 hour ago, David in FL said:

I played Wolf Creek years ago and loved it.  Unusual because as a resort course it was still a wonderful test of golf without resorting to “all we’re missing is a clown’s mouth” goofiness.

highly recommended.

Yea, that it is a good way to sum it up.  It looks more daunting than it is, you just have to play under control in my opinion.  

Having a GPS or range finder with slope is a huge help as well.  

[Yukari]

It's one of my favorite courses in Mesquite.  I play about at least once a year there.  If you are not one of the first few groups, be prepared for a long (~5 hour) round.  But it is still enjoyable as the views are spectacular.

Rather than Consetoga, I would recommend Falcon Ridge.  It's a relatively new course in Mesquite and is as good as Wolf Creek, IMHO.

[klineka]

I played Wolf Creek last week and had an absolute blast.

Everything from the course to the staff to the clubhouse was excellent. 

We were a twosome and did not get paired up so the started told us we could hit as many balls/extra shots as we wanted as long as we kept up with the group in front of us and didn't hold up the group behind us. Pace of play wasn't an issue at all, finished right around 4:30 which felt perfectly fine. 

Definitely wasn't used to hitting approach shots with such severe elevation changes so hit the wrong club a few times, but also hit the right club a few times too.

Had numerous drives go 300+ and a couple out past 325 due to the extreme downhill slope from tee to fairway.

The greens were tricky to read but they rolled nice and the fairways were pristine.

We started on hole 10, took me a few holes to feel comfortable but when I did I played pretty well. Some highlights include:

• Driving it 315 on the 17th hole, a par 5, and hitting a 5 iron to 30 feet from ~200yds to be on in 2 and two putting for birdie
• Driving it onto the 18th green, a par 4, ~275 uphill, 3 putted for par from 50 feet over and down a massive ridge
• On hole 1 hitting a high soft flop shot over a greenside bunker landing on a downslope rolling to 5 feet and made the putt for birdie
• On hole 2 hitting one of the coolest looking approach shots I've ever hit, a super low (maybe just a bit higher than head high) wedge from ~50yds to a back pin, took one hop and stopped on a dime near the hole. My playing partner was up at the green and said it was one of the coolest shots he's ever seen in person because he thought it was going to release and go through the back of the green.
• On hole 4 took a ridiculous line off the tee that I only knew was possible from playing the course a few times on Playstation prior to the trip. Nearly drove it onto the green, hit it ~270 uphill and completely blind but hit the exact target line I was aiming for.

Overall I think it was absolutely worth the cost, especially at least one time. I will probably give a few other courses a shot before playing Wolf Creek again but I do want to give it a a go again. I definitely would not hit driver as much next time as I did this time and will make sure I have a range finder that has the slope option next time.

View from #5 tee. Hit Driver, 8iron into a par 5. Can cut a significant amount of length off this hole with a proper tee shot. I aimed at the middle right fairway bunker which was ~305 to reach it and I hit it about 5 yds short of the bunker.

 

View from #7 tee. ~275 carry over the water to the green, I barely carried it by a few feet.

 

View from my tee shot on 17.

 

My line on 4. Just managed to cover that bunker.