Bear's Best Las Vegas

[Ben]

Well, I was in Vegas this last weekend for the porn awards. A member at my course is in the business and invited me out. But, believe it or not, that wasn't the highlight of me weekend. Working at a course that is owned by the same company, my boss hooked me up with a time at Bear's Best, http://www.nicklaus.com/design/bears...vegas/hole.php , and, well, WOW! For those of you who don't know. Bear's Best courses are a collection of 18 holes from all the courses he has designed throughout his years thrown onto one course. I played the back tees, 147 slope with a 74.0 rating.

My tee time was at 11:20. And I was greeted on the tee with a 3-club, dead into, head-wind. And this non-stop wind stayed with me for the front 9. I was 5 over after the first four holes and then stepped up to the number one handicap hole which was still directly into the wind. A not so pleasant 438 yard, slightly uphill par 4. A decent drive and somewhat alright 4-wood later, and I was pin high and 35 feet away. 2-putts later I had that behind me. Feeling good from that, I nearly chocked on the next, the 15th handicap hole, when I left my approach short sided in a deep bunker, but, thankfully, got up and down. Then I was faced with a 201 yard par-3, yet again directly into the wind, which played 225. Nothing to it though, 3-iron, one-putt and I'm out of there like a bandit! Then to a 599 yard par 5, finally down wind, which I totally screwed my drive, but still managed a birdie. Playing those four holes the way I did after already being 5 over really did a number on my confidence and focus, and I really pulled my round out of the dirt.

Holes 10-13 the wind died down to a one-club breeze. I bogeyed 10, but only because I was rushed to putt trying to play through a group.

By 14, the wind had stopped, my sweater came off, and I enjoyed the rest of the round in 75* weather. And my game really came together. I only mishit one shot, and missed one makeable birdie putt. All the other shots, were perftecly hit and right were I wanted them. I even drained a 45 foot birdie putt, which I never ever do. One of the real highlights came on the last. The 463 yard, slight dogleg right, par-4 guarded by a bunker and a lake running practically the entire right side of the fairway and the right and front of the green. Not to mention the deep bunker guarding the rest of the front of the green. Anyway. I'd played this hole before in it's original state as the 18th a PGA WEST's Nicklaus course, never succesfully by the way. After a decent drive I had 205 left in. And for the first time I was stuck behind the group in front of us cleaning up their disasters on the hole for 5 minutes. Back and forth between 4 and 5 iron, I went with the 4 to be safe, and pulled this shot off to perfection. I nice high fade putting me 15 feet long.

So, the round ended and I found myself still at 5-over. The score could have been better, sure. But, aside from my terrible start, I consider this the best round of golf I have ever played. My first full round of 2006. That can't be a bad sign!

[Sando]

I nominate this for Post of the Year Award. Any post that starts "So there I was in Vegas for the porn awards..." and then spends 4 paragraphs talking about golf is too damn funny.

Sounds like it was a great time. Sounds tough even before the wind. I've heard of that course but I've never talked to anyone who's played it.

[LarryK]

I nominate this for Post of the Year Award. Any post that starts "So there I was in Vegas for the porn awards..." and then spends 4 paragraphs talking about golf is too damn funny.

...or as Johnnie Carson once remarked to Winnie Palmer on the Tonight Show: "I bet that stiffened his putter!"

[iacas]

I nominate this for Post of the Year Award. Any post that starts "So there I was in Vegas for the porn awards..." and then spends 4 paragraphs talking about golf is too damn funny.

It's still early in the year, but I think that puts it in the lead.

[Ben]

Post of the Year. What an honor to look forward to. I how do I hope!

Anyway, here's just a few pics. Didn't think to take more.

[Maverick]

what kind of sweater were you wearing?

[Ben]

Half vip, mock turtle, pullover thingy. I can't stand wind/rain gear. The noise it makes just bugs the hell out of me.

[Rafcin]

I played BB about 3 or 4 years ago? All I remember was beautiful holes and CONSTRUCTIONS EVERYWHERE! with the heavy machinery around and dust from the sandy construction sites - I'd have to say the experience of a very nice course was a bit muffled. I bet it's nice there now... but the green fees went through the roof as well

[Ben]

Oh, I still ran into construction. Luckily only on one hole. Unluckily the hardest hole on the course. Managed a par though.