Las Vegas, Nev. (July 3, 2015)–Next time you’re looking for a little variety on the golf course, take time to check out Bear’s Best Las Vegas. The Jack Nicklaus designed course, just a few minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, is a par-72 layout that features 18 holes replicated from some of Nicklaus’ top courses in the West. When you play Bear’s Best you are playing 18 of Jack’s favorites from courses he’s designed in other locales, and a couple of those are from Anaconda in Montana. –By Bill Bowman
From the tips, Bear’s Best stretches out to almost 7,200 yards. And what a 7,200 yards it is. Featuring holes from California (such as PGA West), Arizona (such as Desert Mountain), Colorado (such as Castle Pines) and Mexico (such as Cabo Del Sol) and others, Nicklaus weaved 18 holes seamlessly into a golfing masterpiece right in the heart of Las Vegas.
While all 18 holes are gorgeous, one of the highlight holes just might be the 11th. The hole, designed after the 2nd hole at Old Works Golf Course in Anaconda, Mont., is a driveable 317-yard, par-4. That’s the good news. The bad news is bunkers surround much of the green.
And these aren’t your ordinary bunkers. These are impressive black-sand bunkers that guard the front, right and back of this green.
So the dilemma comes into play when players step onto the tee and must decide: Do I try to drive the green? Well, if you’re taking this approach, a fade is a must if players take on this shot on this risk/reward hole.
But, taking an iron off the tee will leave just a wedge into the green and also give players a great view of this contrasting hole…the stark-black sand of the bunkers and the vibrant green of the fairway and the green.
It’s an impressive hole to view and even more impressive to play. Add in 17 other Nicklaus gems (including one more, the par-3 4th, also from Old Works) and you’ve got a round of golf that will take you all around the West while still having the famed Las Vegas Strip in your sights.