Nevada Golf Trip - Mequite Area?

[delav]

Looking to plan a trip in March to Mesquite for a golf trip with my dad.  Can anyone recommend any must-play courses in the area, or great places to stay?

Thanks!

[PhilsRHman]

I can't offer much beyond Wolf Creek. But no matter what package you book, this is an absolute must play. It's unlike anything else I've ever experienced. The elevation changes, the tees on cliffs, fairways bounded by rock walls. I would never call it the best course I've ever played, but it's absolutely the most exciting, unique and fun.

I'll be in Vegas in mid March and will be driving up to Mesquite for the day to play Wolf Creek. I'd like to do a Mesqite trip sometime, but when I've priced it, the Vegas hotels are so much cheaper, and I know the courses around Vegas better so I always end up there. I'd be curious what people have to offer about the golf in Mesquite and see how it compares to places around Vegas like Paiute, etc.

[Leftee]

Wolf Creek is awesome. Golf Digest described it as "Otherworldly" and I agree.

[delav]

Thanks for the replies guys!

We've heard from another friend that Wold Creek is quite an experience, so it's on our list for our final round.  Package prices aren't too bad in Mesquite.  We're deciding on 2 other courses, which will likely be Conestoga and Coyote Springs.  I've read that Coyote Springs is a real bear of a course, we may swap it for something more forgiving in the end.  Anyone play here?

All in all, 4 nights, 3 rounds for 2 guys is ~ $900 at a mid-level resort/casino, which seems reasonable.

[inthehole]

I've been to Wolf Creek - simply an amazing desert course !!!!

[Ben]

I'm another vote for Wolf Creek. Haven't played there personally but have heard nothing but "you must play this course" I have played the Casablanca course and one other that they play in the Nevada Open. Skip those two.

[delav]

Man, thanks for the great replies guy.

I'll be sure to update this thread after the trip with plenty of pictures and reviews.

A bit of a tangent here... The handicap says 2.0, but having not swung anything longer than an 8 iron in the basement (thanks Omaha for no practice facilities), I'm expecting my ballstriking and tee shots to be a less than ideal.

Any ball recommendations for these courses and climate?  I've been playing the ProV1x, but given these tougher courses and the rusty swing, I really wouldn't mind saving a few clams in route to a likely 80-something round.

[SteelCitySlice]

I'm not one to do destination golf trips (have never been able to afford it!) but a few years back I was in Mesquite for business and stayed at the newly opened Falcon Ridge Hotel.  I get into my room and look out the window and notice the Falcon Ridge golf course across the street.  No intention of playing golf on this trip as I had no sticks or anything, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity.  So I went out and played 9 late in the day, bought a glove and a hat in the pro shop and rented clubs.  Hands down the best courses I've ever played...fantastic views and a great course layout...and this was their off-season, so the course wasn't even in the best shape (they were closing down at the end of the week to get ready for the start of the season)!

Go into work the next day, and talking to a few guys at the company I'm working with about the course...well it turns out the guy that owns the company I'm working with is also part owner of the course and hotel.  Got another full round and TaylorMade R7 rentals for free that weekend.

Anyway, great course, I would highly recommend playing there!  Again, I don't usually play at destination type courses, so my opinion might be a little off, but thought I would throw it out there as another option for you.

[princekr]

Hola

The last two years my son and I have played in the Duel in the Desert Golf Tournament run by The Golf Channel Am Tour.

I would add the Oasis - Palmer course to your course rotation. We played there in early February and enjoyed it.

Falcon Ridge is always fun and Wolf Creek is a blast.

Don't expect much in the way of nightlife or a great selection of restaurants.

[sabram]

Originally Posted by delav

We've heard from another friend that Wold Creek is quite an experience, so it's on our list for our final round.   We're deciding on 2 other courses, which will likely be Conestoga and Coyote Springs.  I've read that Coyote Springs is a real bear of a course, we may swap it for something more forgiving in the end.  Anyone play here?

Wolf Creek is a must play. Coral Canyon is in nearby St George's Utah and is also an excellent choice. Here is a link to my pix of Wolf Creek and Coral Canyon. http://sports.webshots.com/album/557768692fBmMJz

The Chase at Coyote Springs is an excellent course and not that tough from the right tees. It is not as unique as Wolf Creek but does have great secenery. It is in the middle of nowhere and an hour drive from Mesquite. Here's a link to my pix of The Chase at Coyote Springs: http://sports.webshots.com/album/572996717coTLEe

[delav]

The Mesquite trip was great!

We got skunked on weather (50s with high wind and some rain) but ended up with a few nice days on the course.  Conestoga is worth skipping, but The Chase course at Coyote Springs and Wolf Creek was some of the most exciting golf i've played.

Weather was poor during our round at Coyote (25 - 35 mph wind) and scoring was tough that day.  As a result, the camera stayed in the bag.

Our final day we were able to get a break in the weather, 60 degrees and no wind.  Here are pictures of my dad and I from Wolf Creek.

View from #2 teebox, after climbing several hundred stairs from the cart path (above).

Hole #7, 308 yards with a very shallow green and a large canyon after those fairway bunkers.

Hole #8, 224 yard par 3.  Water in front and left.  Double bogey here I come.

View from the 10th Green.

Hole #15.  377 yards with 220 carry to the fairway.

View from clubhouse.

Tee shot on #5.  Strange capture from the iPhone.

[plugged]

How in the world do they perform maintenance on Wolf Creek?  Looks like playing in the Himalayas.

[delav]

Originally Posted by plugged

How in the world do they perform maintenance on Wolf Creek?  Looks like playing in the Himalayas.

As I was playing, I was constantly wondering the same thing.  Many of the fairways and tee boxes seemed impossible to get to, but the course was in amazing shape.

[sabram]

Originally Posted by plugged

How in the world do they perform maintenance on Wolf Creek?

Not just maintenance. How did they build it?

[delav]

Originally Posted by sabram

Not just maintenance. How did they build it?

I asked the bartender after the round what was involved in creating the course.  Apparently the construction took nearly 10 years, and helicopters were primarily used to remove and redistribute rock and dirt.  Playing the course, there aren't any real roads connecting any of the holes so much of the maintenance equipment travels along the fairways.

The cart paths were terrifying to drive as well.  The course requires you to sign a liability release to play there, as 6 people have died while driving carts on the paths.

[fairwayguy2]

The second hole you have to climb a steep,narow path up to a tee box on a cliff.   It is like one of those calenders with the fake golf holes but in this case it was real.  Some of the guys we played with had a tought time getting a little vertigo looking off the tee.  I pull a drive hard left and thought Ii was in trouble but wound up cutting the corner to about 135 yeards to the green.   Hit the green which was huge and promptly 4 putted.  Over all we had a great day on a breathtaking course.