GolfNewsRI

I had the opportunity to play TPC Las Vegas in mid-February (or at least ½ of it).  TPC LV used to be a PGA Tour stop, but that is no longer the case. TPC Summerlin, right up the street,  has replaced it as the local Tour stop (Shriners Children’s Open). 

The new Summerlin event is not a marque PGA Tour event and the total pursue is only $7 million. By way of example, the Travelers in Cromwell, Connecticut, has a total pursue of $20 million.

My initial phone interaction with the course was not terrific. I experienced a little bit of apathy mixed in with a little rudeness, but my visit exceeded my expectations.

Las Vegas weather at this time of year is not fantastic – usually mid 50’s to high 60’s – but this was not a usual day.

We stayed at the Bellagio and took a cab for the 8.8 mile trip from the Vegas Strip.  

We got financially smoked for $75 for the 20-minute cab ride to the course in the Summerlin (planned community) area.  We learned our lesson and took an Uber back to our hotel for about $30.

There was an expectation of potential rain for our noon tee time, so we decided to call the course and move our tee time earlier. They could not have been more accommodating. The tee sheet is visible online, and was open that day.

We arrived at the course and were warmly greeted by all. Our clubs, delivered by Ship Sticks, were on a cart and we were given instructions where to find the range – hit until we’re happy and then come to the first tee.

The range is quite nice, and the nearby outdoor speaker system is blaring the best warm up music ever, mostly 80’s rock.  We were not sure that we wanted to actually play the course or just hit balls on the range to the great music.   

Like lower-end TPC network courses, you have to hit off mats and use Pinnacles.  

Other than that, I found that range useful and in great shape.

We checked in with the starter, who could not have been more friendly. At our revised tee time at 10:00 a.m., the weather was perfect for someone who had just left Rhode Island, plentiful sunshine, high 50’s and zero wind.

As I stood on the first tee viewing the beautiful venue and enjoying the mountain views, I was in a great mood and smashed my first drive of the day down the left center of the fairway. 

I had only 135 yards in and proceeded to shank my 9-iron approach into the desert!  I re-dropped – shot over the green and struggled to a double.

The second hole is a beautiful par three with a long-forced carry where there is no way to retrieve your ball if it doesn’t carry.  I hit a beautiful six iron that drew a shade too much and missed the green. To the generous drop area I go and hit a nice chip and then blow the 5-footer and get another double.

I finally settle down and really enjoy the layout. The interactive hole map on the golf cart is top notch and I always know where I am and what distance to play. 

The greens are beautiful and true. I would say the biggest obstacle to a good score is me not allowing for the additional carry due to the lighter air (Vegas is about 2,000 feet above sea level) and overshooting greens.  Most of the greens are elevated and up and downs are a real challenge. 

As we make the turn a foursome lets us play through,  one of the few groups on the course).  

They are particularly slow, are hitting from the back tees and I am thinking none of them have the courage to speak up and suggest to the other three that hitting from 7,200 yards and having no clue where the ball is going may not be the best course of action.  

We find that they are all friends from Kansas City and are wearing many, many, many Chiefs clothing accessories.  And then as we look to hit our approach shots from the middle of the 10^th fairway, all hell breaks loose with the weather.  We did not get the 30% chance rain that was expected at noon.  

We got a huge snowstorm that took all thought of continuing the round out of the discussion  for us.  The wind picked up to 40 mph and the snow was hitting us sideways and it hurt our face like hell.

As you can see from the attached course data information which outlines the expected course conditions, including green speed, high temperature, wind speed and chance of rain (none), we and the course were completely caught off-guard when the snow came. 

One employee who had been at the course since 1994, said he had seen occasional, but very rare, snow flurries, but never saw a situation of a totally  unexpected snow shower.  I guess this was Vegas’s version of the Blizzard of ’78.

We went back to the clubhouse and quit and the pro shop gave us a refund of ½ off paid greens fees in golf shop merch credit which we already had spent – it was a nice gesture.

We decided to have lunch. The food and service was fabulous and we called an Uber and started to head back to get ready for the Bruno Mars concert that night (I am pretty sure that I am the only person in the Western World who doesn’t think he is the Cat’s Pajamas it was OK…). 

As we were are getting ready to leave, we say hi to the foursome finishing on 18 that let us play through at the turn.  They actually played the back nine in a near blizzard.

 Maybe the greatest golfing feat I’ve seen in recent memory. I am assuming that they made some kind of adjustment to more appropriate tees or they would have all froze to death out there due to overexposure to the cold.

The green fees run from about $175 to $270 for LV visitors and about $150 for Clark County residents.

We agreed that TPC Las Vegas is a great layout (we can vouch for the first nine), and golfing experience and we would definitely play again.