I recently took a trip to Las Vegas. In fact, it was last week. It was a five day, four night golfing extravaganza, organized by yours truly. It involved golf at three great courses, Royal Links Golf Club, TPC Las Vegas Golf Course, and Rhodes Ranch Golf Course. They were all amazing, and I am going to be talking about them here, along with the other details of my trip, so the next time you book your Las Vegas Golf Vacation, you can avoid any pitfalls and problems that might be out there, and you can get a discount las vegas golf vacation, or at least play at the cheapest prices out there.
First, if you have ever been to Las Vegas, you know how expensive the courses can be, particularly if you are travelling in the winter months (September to April). The first thing you should do when planning your vacation is to try to find out when the cheapest golf course rates are for a particular day. That's right, a golf courses rates vary throughout the day, getting more expensive during peak times and getting less expensive during slower times.
So, for example, when we played Royal Links Golf Club, we looked for an off peak time. This brought a course that would regularly play in the $200 range down to $120. That is a great deal. We ended up booking a tee time for Royal Links in Las Vegas for 7:30 and 7:40 in the morning I believe. Now, that is pretty early, but we were the first off the tee box, the course was magnificent (as you'll see soon) and the price was right. What better way to start out a Vegas golf vacation?
Before we even started booking tee times, it was important to get a great price on a flight. Now, I know you might be thinking that there is no way we got a good flight to Las Vegas during March Madness weekend, but we did. They key is to look for flight specials well in advance of your trip. Months even, to catch the day that you can book your flight for super cheap. I'm from Seattle, and we just happened to catch a Southwest Airlines special to Las Vegas that was half price off a normal ticket! You just can't beat that.
I'll give you some more information in my next post. For now, on to Royal Links Golf Course in Las Vegas. For starters, this course is a Jack Nicklaus course, patterned after his favorite British Isle holes (hence the name of the course). It features holes from St. Andrews, Royal Birkdale, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, Turnberry, Royal Liverpool, Prestwick, Royal Lytham, Muirfield, and Royal Birkdale. And the holes are spot on images of what you would find in the British Isles (right down to the road hole, where you have to aim over the sign to hit the fairway). From start to finish, it is a touch of Britain in Las Vegas.
The course itself, as you might expect, was in fantastic shape. And it is actually really wide open. The fairways run out into this short, gusset type grass, making it relatively easy to hit from. That is not to say there isn't any really long grass, but to hit it you have to be pretty far off target. Once on the greens, at first they seemed a bit on the slow side. I think this was just a result of the early morning due or water they received, as they quickened up a bit throughout the day (although they were just as firm as you might expect over in Britain). Overall the Royal Links golf course was a pleasure to play.
As for the clubhouse at Royal Links in Las Vegas, all I can say is it is one piece of magnificent las vegas real estate. I don't know if it is a recreation of anything, but it was built with a European , 16th century castle feel. It has a full locker room inside, and was top notch in ever respect, including the bloody mary's. Which reminds me, if you ever play this course on your next Las Vegas golf trip, please take the time to see if Nacho is there. Nacho was the bartender at the course the day we were there, and he was a great guy. Very funny, very nice, with impeccable service. If you want to have a great time, sit and talk with Nacho a bit. He's worth your time.
In the end, I think I shot 80 for the round (my best round of the vacation), which is pretty good I think. But even better than that was the overall experience. It was the perfect beginning to a great Las Vegas golf vacation.
And one last thing, the cab ride from the strip cost about $35.00. Not too bad when splitting with 3 or 4 buddies, and the only way to travel.
Monday
Seattle Golf Vacation | Druids Glenn Golf Course
A few weeks ago, in the dead of winter, I had the chance to play Druids Glen Golf Course, located just outside Seattle, Washington. As I said, it was the dead of winter, and when we arrived we thought it was going to be a pretty great day. Until we saw the fog. It was about the foggiest I'd ever seen in person. In fact standing on the tee box, we couldn't even see where our golf balls landed! They just drifted out of sight into a cold gray mist. Thanks goodness we hit it pretty straight, or it could have been one heck of a round. Needless to say, you won't hear a lot in this golf course review about the views (although it is in the foothills of Mt. Rainier, meaning if you ever get the chance to visit when its summer outside and want to make a golf vacation out of it, it should have some amazing views).
As you can see from the course layout, taken from the course website, Druids Glen Golf Course is pretty traditional in its layout. It incorporates some water, some slight doglegs, and for the most part is pretty straightforward. There are no gimmicks or tricks, what you see is what you get. I will point out, however, that this course has two of the hardest par 3s I've ever played. The first, hole number 3, from the blue tees, has a very long carry over water (185+ yards). It is a fun little hole with a bail out area to the right. The second is number 6, definitely the longest par 3 I've ever played. Because of the fog and the cold temperatures, we had to hit driver into this hole! A par 3! But it made for a little bit of fun.
As for course condition, Druids Glen was very nice, particularly for a public golf course. The fairways were nice and grown in (although, like most Seattle golf courses, you get tight lies almost everywhere you go). And the rough was nice as well. If you've read about my other golf vacation spots, whether in Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, or even Kansas, you know I love and really appreciate good greens. There is nothing better than rolling a put on a nice, slick green. And overall, these greens were at least adequate in that department. In the winter I have to give the grounds crew a little slack. With the amount of water the courses get, it makes it hard to keep the grass as short as it would be in the summer.
Overall, I'd recommend this course to any golfer wanting to get in some great Seattle golf. The price is right, the course is in great shape, and it's a place you can have a lot of fun. I think I shot about 84-85 on that day (the weather and my out of nowhere slice are my excuses). Once the weather gets a little better I'll definitely be back out there to give it another shot.
If you are thinking about taking a golf vacation, consider the Seattle area. They have great links golf courses, great public golf courses, and courses located at all edges of Seattle. And in the summer, the weather doesn't get any better.
Next time you are in the Great Northwest, check out Druids Glen golf course. If this golf course review didn't convince you to give it a shot, take a look around, everyone will be high on this course.
As you can see from the course layout, taken from the course website, Druids Glen Golf Course is pretty traditional in its layout. It incorporates some water, some slight doglegs, and for the most part is pretty straightforward. There are no gimmicks or tricks, what you see is what you get. I will point out, however, that this course has two of the hardest par 3s I've ever played. The first, hole number 3, from the blue tees, has a very long carry over water (185+ yards). It is a fun little hole with a bail out area to the right. The second is number 6, definitely the longest par 3 I've ever played. Because of the fog and the cold temperatures, we had to hit driver into this hole! A par 3! But it made for a little bit of fun.As for course condition, Druids Glen was very nice, particularly for a public golf course. The fairways were nice and grown in (although, like most Seattle golf courses, you get tight lies almost everywhere you go). And the rough was nice as well. If you've read about my other golf vacation spots, whether in Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, or even Kansas, you know I love and really appreciate good greens. There is nothing better than rolling a put on a nice, slick green. And overall, these greens were at least adequate in that department. In the winter I have to give the grounds crew a little slack. With the amount of water the courses get, it makes it hard to keep the grass as short as it would be in the summer.
Overall, I'd recommend this course to any golfer wanting to get in some great Seattle golf. The price is right, the course is in great shape, and it's a place you can have a lot of fun. I think I shot about 84-85 on that day (the weather and my out of nowhere slice are my excuses). Once the weather gets a little better I'll definitely be back out there to give it another shot.
If you are thinking about taking a golf vacation, consider the Seattle area. They have great links golf courses, great public golf courses, and courses located at all edges of Seattle. And in the summer, the weather doesn't get any better.
Next time you are in the Great Northwest, check out Druids Glen golf course. If this golf course review didn't convince you to give it a shot, take a look around, everyone will be high on this course.
Wednesday
Kansas Golf Vacation | Rolling Meadows Golf Course
If you ever find yourself in Kansas for any reason, and think you can't turn it into a mini golf vacation, you are mistaken. There is great golf to be played in Kansas, no matter where you are in the state (and there is a lot of room out there for you to "be). As I've already pointed out earlier, in the Kansas City area, there are great public and private courses, including Tomahawk Hills Golf Course and Wolf Creek Golf Course (the only course I've played and one of the few remaining in the country that is truly a men only golf course); in Topeka there is Lake Shawnee Golf Course, and a little further west, right along I-70, is Rolling Meadows golf course located in Junction City, Kansas and Indian Hills Golf Course in Chapman, Kansas.
And, this course review is even a little sweeter. It is actually my home course. At Rolling Meadows in Junction City I took my first golf lesson, hit my first golf ball, and learned how to play the game. It didn't happen until the summer of my freshman year in college. My mom got into golf and bought my step-dad some golf lessons. Because I was back for the summer she asked if I wanted to go to. I didn't have anything else to do, so I tagged along. As all of you golfer's know, it only takes one good hit of a golf ball to get hooked, and that is what happened to me. Now on to the course.
One of the great things about this golf course, and one of the nice things about a mini-golf vacation in Kansas, is that golf here is dirt cheap. I think in the summer time (the rates are the same all year round) it costs around $38 for 18 holes and a cart. And after twilight (which at this course gives you plenty of time to play 18, and it's an all you can play twilight, so if you get done early you can start around again) the rate is closer to $20 with a cart. You really can't beat that deal.
Now, on to a little bit about the course. Rolling Meadows is a public course, owned by the city of Junction City, so the clubhouse isn't going to knock your socks off. It has two levels, the upper level reserved for tournament gatherings and things of that nature. The lower level houses the pro shop, concession area, and restrooms (so go down the stairs and around the corner to check in when you get there). There is an adequate stock of beer, soda, and hot dogs, so you should be able to remain hydrated and full, but other than that, there isn't much to offer. I am not even sure if they have a set of rental clubs (but let's be honest, if you are a golfer you are bringing your clubs around with you anyway - I know I do...).
When you finally get to the course, you will see that each nine starts with a par five. And, as a little historical aside, the front nine used to be the back nine. It plays great either way, but it is interesting to note when you are out there playing. Back to the course. There are several water holes on the course, and along the outskirts is out of bounds and hazard that can get you into trouble if you aren't ready. From the tips it can play pretty long, so if you want a challenge, back it up and see if you've got game.
The condition of the course is usually decent. Rolling meadows recently changed out its fairways to introduce zoysia grass, which is much more resilient in the Kansas heat and humidity than Bermuda, or any other grass for that matter. When out there on the course you should be at least satisfied with the course of the fairways. Once you get on the greens, be prepared for a slightly slower than normal roll. I love fast greens and much admit I'm disappointed at the speed of these. But, it is a public golf course, and a dirt cheap public golf course, so you kind of have to take what you can get.
Overall, I'd say this course is about a 7 out of 10. It is a great value, is usually in good shape, and is really a joy to play (number 14, an elevated par 3, is one of my favorites, as is number 10, a reachable par 5). You will be challenged on some holes and have some risk reward on others.
Just remember, the next time you are out looking to have a golf vacation in Kansas, don't forget to take a look at Rolling Meadows Golf Course. You won't be disappointed.
And, this course review is even a little sweeter. It is actually my home course. At Rolling Meadows in Junction City I took my first golf lesson, hit my first golf ball, and learned how to play the game. It didn't happen until the summer of my freshman year in college. My mom got into golf and bought my step-dad some golf lessons. Because I was back for the summer she asked if I wanted to go to. I didn't have anything else to do, so I tagged along. As all of you golfer's know, it only takes one good hit of a golf ball to get hooked, and that is what happened to me. Now on to the course.
One of the great things about this golf course, and one of the nice things about a mini-golf vacation in Kansas, is that golf here is dirt cheap. I think in the summer time (the rates are the same all year round) it costs around $38 for 18 holes and a cart. And after twilight (which at this course gives you plenty of time to play 18, and it's an all you can play twilight, so if you get done early you can start around again) the rate is closer to $20 with a cart. You really can't beat that deal.
Now, on to a little bit about the course. Rolling Meadows is a public course, owned by the city of Junction City, so the clubhouse isn't going to knock your socks off. It has two levels, the upper level reserved for tournament gatherings and things of that nature. The lower level houses the pro shop, concession area, and restrooms (so go down the stairs and around the corner to check in when you get there). There is an adequate stock of beer, soda, and hot dogs, so you should be able to remain hydrated and full, but other than that, there isn't much to offer. I am not even sure if they have a set of rental clubs (but let's be honest, if you are a golfer you are bringing your clubs around with you anyway - I know I do...).
When you finally get to the course, you will see that each nine starts with a par five. And, as a little historical aside, the front nine used to be the back nine. It plays great either way, but it is interesting to note when you are out there playing. Back to the course. There are several water holes on the course, and along the outskirts is out of bounds and hazard that can get you into trouble if you aren't ready. From the tips it can play pretty long, so if you want a challenge, back it up and see if you've got game.
The condition of the course is usually decent. Rolling meadows recently changed out its fairways to introduce zoysia grass, which is much more resilient in the Kansas heat and humidity than Bermuda, or any other grass for that matter. When out there on the course you should be at least satisfied with the course of the fairways. Once you get on the greens, be prepared for a slightly slower than normal roll. I love fast greens and much admit I'm disappointed at the speed of these. But, it is a public golf course, and a dirt cheap public golf course, so you kind of have to take what you can get.
Overall, I'd say this course is about a 7 out of 10. It is a great value, is usually in good shape, and is really a joy to play (number 14, an elevated par 3, is one of my favorites, as is number 10, a reachable par 5). You will be challenged on some holes and have some risk reward on others.
Just remember, the next time you are out looking to have a golf vacation in Kansas, don't forget to take a look at Rolling Meadows Golf Course. You won't be disappointed.
Thursday
Indian Hills Golf Course | Chapman, Kansas
Although I don't live in Kansas anymore, I've still got some great courses lined up to review, including Indian Hills Golf Course in Chapman, Kansas. This course, however, is unlike almost all of the other courses I've reviewed because it is truly a small town golf course. You won't see any signs that women aren't allowed to play golf, that pants are required, or even that jean shorts aren't allowed! It is the kind of course where you can truly get out, let your hair down, and play a pretty fun little golf course. Hunker down for a great golf course review.
The first thing you notice when pulling up to the golf course is that it truly is a municipal golf course - the roads are gravel! Once you get to the clubhouse, you might be surprised to find that it serves multiple purposes. If I remember correctly it is also used as a meeting house for some things, and they might even rent out some space to other business (they weren't open when I was there). Needless to say, this is a bare bones clubhouse. I don't even think they had any equipment. They did have logo balls, and, as you might expect, the beer was dirt cheap!
The staff was very courteous, even though they had no idea who we were (we live in the town over). In some cases, you might expect a little hostility to the out of town folk. But they were nothing but kind and courteous. Maybe we caught them on a good day!
The first thing you'll notice about Indian Hills Golf Course is the lack of trees. I think it was cut out of a wheat field or something, so there is no trouble, and no shade in those hot summers. The scorecard shows the distances to the holes (it is a relatively short course, depending on which way the wind is blowing, and it can really howl out there), but I didn't find them to be very accurate. If you come here, you definitely want to bring your golf GPS. With it you'll have no problem knowing how far you need to hit your golf ball.
The condition of the course was decent considering where we were. The fairways were a little thin and the greens a little slow, but for $30 (golf AND cart!) I couldn't complain. Even made a couple of long putts if I remember correctly. Overall Indian Hills Golf Course was a fun little course.
If you are ever in Chapman, Kansas, check out Indian Hills Golf Course. It won't knock your socks off, but it will definitely get that golf fix you're looking for (if, for example, you're travelling across the country).
Think I'm wrong? Leave your comments and let me know what you thought about Indian Hills Golf Course.
The first thing you notice when pulling up to the golf course is that it truly is a municipal golf course - the roads are gravel! Once you get to the clubhouse, you might be surprised to find that it serves multiple purposes. If I remember correctly it is also used as a meeting house for some things, and they might even rent out some space to other business (they weren't open when I was there). Needless to say, this is a bare bones clubhouse. I don't even think they had any equipment. They did have logo balls, and, as you might expect, the beer was dirt cheap!
The staff was very courteous, even though they had no idea who we were (we live in the town over). In some cases, you might expect a little hostility to the out of town folk. But they were nothing but kind and courteous. Maybe we caught them on a good day!
The first thing you'll notice about Indian Hills Golf Course is the lack of trees. I think it was cut out of a wheat field or something, so there is no trouble, and no shade in those hot summers. The scorecard shows the distances to the holes (it is a relatively short course, depending on which way the wind is blowing, and it can really howl out there), but I didn't find them to be very accurate. If you come here, you definitely want to bring your golf GPS. With it you'll have no problem knowing how far you need to hit your golf ball.
The condition of the course was decent considering where we were. The fairways were a little thin and the greens a little slow, but for $30 (golf AND cart!) I couldn't complain. Even made a couple of long putts if I remember correctly. Overall Indian Hills Golf Course was a fun little course.
If you are ever in Chapman, Kansas, check out Indian Hills Golf Course. It won't knock your socks off, but it will definitely get that golf fix you're looking for (if, for example, you're travelling across the country).
Think I'm wrong? Leave your comments and let me know what you thought about Indian Hills Golf Course.
Monday
Seattle Washington Golf Course Review | Bellevue Municipal Golf Course
Seattle Public Golf | Bellevue Washington Municipal Golf Course
I had the pleasure of playing another of Seattle's area public golf courses the other day and thought I'd let you know about it in case you ever thought of playing Bellevue municipal golf course.Bellevue municipal golf course, located at 5500 140th Ave NE Bellevue, WA, is a great little course, for a great price that anyone should play (particularly if they have a free afternoon during the week - it is much less crowded and the pace of play is much faster). Here is my Bellevue municipal golf course review.
First, unlike Jackson Park Golf Course and West Seattle Golf Course, Bellevue Municipal is not technically located in Seattle. It is a short jaunt across the 520 bridge, putting it about 15 minutes outside downtown Seattle (in good traffic). It is easy to get to and fairly easy to find (the turn into the course comes up quick so be careful).
Once at the course, you will immediately notice the club house is built for a municipal type experience. It isn't flashy, isn't big, doesn't intimidate, and isn't necessarily inviting to hang out in post round (although we did - it was necessary so we could count up all the dots and tallies on our scorecard). But it was serviceable enough for the course, and it certainly didn't detract from the experience.If you are going to play golf in Seattle after mid-October, you better be ready for two things: (1) chilly starting temperatures; and (2) nearly a 100% of at least a little rain. The day we played Bellevue, these two rules didn't disappoint. On the first tee the temperature was a balmy 39 or 40 degrees (although it did warm all the way up to 45 by the time we were done!) and it spit rain at us throughout the day. I've found the best way to combat this is to walk (plus it is significantly cheaper). On this day we walked all 18 holes at a cost of $27.
The practice facilities are average at best. There is a natural grass range, a putting clock, and a short game area, though when I played the driving range was matts only (something I despise - being from Kansas, we could hit off the grass nearly year round). The putting green provided a pretty good indication of the actual speed of the greens.
The course condition was pretty good considering the time of year we played. Because it is constantly damp throughout the winter, it is nearly impossible for the course to heal the way it should. This means occasionally we ran into dead spots on greens and fairways, and the greens themselves were often looked like they had been through a lot of rounds. But, as you can see from the picture, the course generally is beautiful, with old growth forest and mountain views throughout. This is the first tee looking down the fairway.As I said before, the greens were pretty beat up, from foot traffic and too much rain, but in spite of that they rolled decently. The greens were slower than I like, but provided a reasonable challenge considering the temperate circumstances. I distinctly remember dropping a couple of fairly long putts to win or push holes on this course. For this to happen the greens must be pretty forgiving!
Overall I'd give Bellevue Municipal golf course in Bellevue Washington a 7 out of ten. It was a very fun course to play, would be a great place to take someone who is still in the beginning stages of golf - there are very few trouble spots, particularly in the slicing zones. And it's cheap to boot. If you are ever in the Seattle area and want to play some fairly cheap vacation golf, look up Bellevue municipal golf course. You won't be disappointed.
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