Trend - The Surfboard Has Arrived in Vegas

Trend

Surf History

Embrace Future at Las Vegas National Golf Club

Story by Brian Hurlburt

You can’t help but wonder what Arnie or Jack would think about the up and coming new thing in golf: the Golfboard. Hanging ten is now in style at one of Las Vegas’ most historic golf courses, Las Vegas National Golf Club.

You can now surf your way around this oasis in the desert—located just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip in a historic Vegas neighborhood—and experience the future of golf while you bask in the history of a course where the legends of the game have won LPGA Tour or PGA TOUR events.

The Golfboard is the brainchild of self-described snowboard addict Don Wildman, founder of Bally Total Fitness, who had the original idea to use an electric skateboard to ride the steep slopes of his local Malibu course as a fun way to ‘get in some turns’ during the summer months. His passion turned into a business and, early on, the concept was also embraced by surfing superstar Laird Hamilton. What they have come up with is a new, fun and innovative way to play golf that adds excitement and can shave a lot of time off of a round of golf.

This writer, on a recent afternoon and with no golfers in front of our group, played 9 holes in 53 minutes at a pace that wasn’t rushed in the least. With the Golfboard—there are 20 available to rent daily at Las Vegas National—golfers can ride up to the fringe and right next to the tee box and go many places that carts are prohibited. Plus with each player in the group taking his or her own Golfboard, every golfer goes directly to the ball to play a shot, then moves on quickly.

"We are always looking to attract new players to the game and bring new excitement to golfers who love the game, and offering the Golfboard is a perfect way to accomplish our goals,” says Las Vegas National General Manager Coy Wood. “The Golfboard is thrilling for golfers plus it can speed up the game in addition to being just plain fun. Plus, Las Vegas is the perfect place to launch a new product like this, and we are thrilled to have them here at Las Vegas National Golf Club, one of the most historic golf courses in Las Vegas. So we are embracing the future while we still honor the tradition of the game."

Among the legends who have won at Las Vegas National are LPGA Tour Hall of Famer Mickey Wright, PGA TOUR all-time great Jack Nicklaus, and a guy named Tiger Woods. Now you can not only walk in their shadows, but surf along with them.

The future is now at Las Vegas National.

Las Vegas National

1911 East Desert Inn Rd., Las Vegas

702-734-1796

www.lasvegasnational.com