Course Spotlight Winter 2015 - Conestoga Golf Club

Conestoga Golf Club

A fun and challenging golf journey

Story by Bill Bowman

From start to finish, Conestoga Golf Club will take players on a golf journey they'll never forget.

The first hole at this Gary Panks designed course in Mesquite, Nevada, is like the first part of any trip…nice and level with an opportunity to work out any kinks. It gives players a chance to make sure they have not forgotten anything and gets them ready for the trip ahead.

The next six holes take players down, around and through canyons forged from the Abbot Wash by Mother Nature. There’s an island green on the second hole perched some 120 feet below the tee box. There are arroyos, rock outcroppings, beautiful elevation changes and doglegs. Just about everything a good journey—and a great golf course—can offer.

“The first seven holes are definitely our most targeted golf holes,” says Travis McDowell, general manager. “They play through the Abbot Wash and are definitely the meat of the golf course. They are a good combination of holes with elevation changes from tee to fairway and from fairway to green.”

This 7,232-yard course (from the tips and just over 5,000 yards from the forward tees) has just enough bunkering and water features to add oohs and ahhs to the journey.

McDowell was quick to pick out his favorite hole on the course: the par 3 No. 2. “It plays downhill to an island green, desert style,” he says of the green that rises above the desert floor. “It’s just a fun hole and with seven different tee boxes it can play anywhere from 100 to 200 yards. And it’s got great views of the Arizona Strip mountain range as a backdrop.”

After the first seven canyon holes comes the resort-style portion of your golf round. From No. 8 through No. 18, players will find wider fairways, large greens and a couple of holes that will impress players as much with their beauty as their challenge.

The two holes at the turn, No. 9 and No. 10, will show the brilliance of the course. These are the only two holes where water comes into play and that’s an understatement.

The 9th hole is a brute. At 595 yards, it’s a daunting task for a par 5. Add in six bunkers (three guarding the green) and a huge pond (also guarding the green on the left side) and you’ve got a golf hole for the ages

Then there’s No. 10. It’s a par 3 that plays to 198 yards from the tips. And it’s all over water. Bunkers short and long add to the challenge.

“The difference between us and other desert courses is we don’t have the great forced carries,” McDowell says. “That makes it a much more enjoyable experience. Players just need to pick the right set of tees to make the approach shots more manageable and they’ll have a great time.”

It’s not just the golf course that will ‘wow’ visitors. The clubhouse is also nothing short of amazing. The spacious golf shop can outfit any golfer with everything from clubs to clothes to gear. The 1880 Grille will cater to every taste, with a menu from wraps to salads to chicken to burgers…and the list goes on. With a wide variety of libations and big-screen TVs, it’s also a great spot for sports fans.

“It’s just a fun club for players of every ability, or people looking for a fun environment to grab a bite and an ice cold beer with friends,” McDowell says.

Conestoga Golf Club

1499 Falcon Ridge Pkwy., Mesquite

702-346-4292

www.conestogagolf.com