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May 8, 2007--Painted Desert Golf Club will always be remembered for being first, but even though it was the first true desert golf course in the Las Vegas Golf Region, it still stands the test of time today. Painted Desert Golf Club was designed by accomplished golf course architect Jay Morrish after he left working side-by-side with legendary player and developer Jack Nicklaus. The course was opened in 1987, a few years before the Las Vegas golf boom would hit full swing. "The owner, Max Cole, had already decided where the holes would be laid out, so we worked within his guidelines to create the course strategy and philosophy," says the semi-retired Morrish about the Painted Desert course that was built as the centerpiece of a master-planned living community. "We knew that the course was going to be a daily fee so we made sure it was user friendly by staying away from creating deep bunkers or other tough design elements. We also left the front of the greens open, but also designed them so there would some tucked-away pin positions if you wanted to create a little bit more challenge."
 Morrish vividly remembers having to drive "forever" to get to Painted Desert during the design and construction process, but finds it rewarding that today the course is almost in the middle of town. He also remembers not understanding what was just on the horizon for the area.
"I didn't have a clue back then how the Las Vegas growth would explode with such great passion," says Morrish, who years later would assist Dave Druzisky with the design of Las Vegas golf course DragonRidge Country Club. OFFICIAL PAINTED DESERT GOLF CLUB WEBSITE The 14th hole at Painted Desert Golf Club is a player's favorite. The reachable, 292-yard par 4 (creating a reachable par 4 hole on every course is a typical Moorish design feature) plays over a beautiful lake to a challenging green. Painted Desert Golf Club Las Vegas Golf Stay-and-Play golf packages Morrish is also pleased to hear that the course, a modest 6,830 yards by today's length standards, has stood the test of time. The course record is "only" 63, set by PGA Tour player Robert Gamez, and was recorded many years ago. Painted Desert's intriguing hole layouts help it maintain its validity. "I like good players to have to think when they play a golf course," Moorish says. "I don't want people to just go out and hit it a mile and then hit it again, without thinking." In the 1960's, Morrish served a four-year apprenticeship under Robert Trent Jones and then worked for a little while with George Fazio. In 1972, he went to work with Jack Niclaus and was a key component in all of Nicklaus' courses until 1982 when he left to start his own firm. He formed a partnership with Tom Weiskopf, and the two created more than 20 golf courses together. These days, Jay consults on projects for his son, Carter, who is carrying on the family name in golf course design. Today, Painted Desert is professionally-operated by Eagle Golf.
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