Just Like the Course You Grew Up On

Course Spotlight

Boulder City

Just like the course you grew up on

Story by Bill Bowman

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that are the most satisfying. From a nice walk on the beach to a candlelit dinner, it’s amazing how something so simple can be so enjoyable

Well, add a round of golf at Boulder City Golf Course to that list of simple pleasures.

“Everyone tells us that this course reminds them of the course they grew up playing on,” says Tony Fiorentini, head golf professional. “The front nine opened in 1972 and the back nine opened in 1985. You can’t build them like this anymore. It brings back memories for them.”

The layout is a Billy Casper/David Rainville design. And you know the old saying, you can’t see the forest for the trees? Well, this course fits the bill as thousands of mature trees (ash, olive, palm, pine) line every fairway and add to the challenge.

The course, located about 30 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, plays 6,606 yards from the tips. Players may not look at that length as a great challenge. They better look again. Seven of the par 4s stretch out to more than 400 yards.

“All the holes are very playable,” Fiorentini says. “I’ve been here for 21 years and the course has just gotten better. And the trees have definitely gotten much bigger and come more into play. The trees and the greens are the real defenses of the course. The greens are fast and slope from back to front. They can be tricky and are faster than they look.”

The course starts off giving the players a chance to score on the first hole, a 489-yard, par 5 hole. Avoid the trees off the tee (this course is tree-lined from start to finish so finding the fairway is a must) and players will have a chance to get home in two.

There’s also that risk/reward element out here: The drivable par 4. This one’s the eighth, a short 275 yards off the tee. But it’s all carry. And before you start salivating too much, take into consideration that there are two lakes and a stream awaiting errant shots, so accuracy is a must. A tip: Hit an iron or hybrid off the tee and set yourself up with a nice wedge for a shot at a birdie. Plus, you’re likely to save a golf ball.

“There’s water to the right as well as in front and behind,” Fiorentini says. “It’s almost like a peninsula. For the long hitters, we invite you to go for it. Eagle is certainly a possibility. And even if you lay up, you’ve got to hit the fairway because the trees on the left come into play. It’s definitely a great golf hole.”

Overall, Fiorentini says golfers will love the course at Boulder City as well as the laid-back atmosphere.

“It’s wall to wall grass out here,” he says. “Plus it’s a great value and it’s playable. That’s why people like it. And it’s a different atmosphere and lifestyle. Everyone knows everyone else and it’s just a friendly environment.”

The 5,000-square-foot clubhouse is a spacious place to grab a bite to eat or a drink or sit down for a relaxing breakfast or lunch. Got a special occasion coming up? The staff can handle everything from the food to the drinks to the cleanup. No muss, no fuss—just a great time.

Boulder City Golf Course

One Clubhouse Dr., Boulder City

702-293-9236

www.bouldercitygolf.com