Las Vegas, Nev. (July 31, 2015)–For Las Vegas residents, as well as visitors, there are a few must-haves when it comes to golf courses. Las Vegas National Golf Club fits the bill for all players. Hundreds of shade trees that accent a unique and historic layout? Check. Conveniently located? Yep. Money-saving golf deals? Oh, yes. Plus the course management is blending the history with the future by completing several enhancements and improvements to the course and facility. –By Bill Bowman
Las Vegas National opened its doors in 1961. That year it was the host course of the LPGA Championship, a major for the ladies. The course was also one of three used when Tiger Woods won the Las Vegas Invitational, his first victory as a professional (he shot one-under par 70 that day). The course, designed by Bert Stamps, is a par-71 layout that plays to 6,721 yards from the tips, and it is home to some of the most challenging par 3s in the city.
Reserve your Las Vegas National Golf Club tee times today.
“We’re one of the older courses in Las Vegas,” said Coy Wood, general manager. “There’s a lot of Las Vegas golf history here. There are a lot of homes where the stars used to stay and play (think The Rat Pack). And it’s where they shot scenes for the movie ‘Casino’ (including landing an airplane on the first fairway). And the course has been the host to dozens of LPGA and PGA TOUR tournaments.”
Las Vegas National is also home to the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame museum-style exhibit which traces the history of the sport in Las Vegas with a timeline as well as historic mementos.
Wood and his staff want players to realize that just because you’re in the desert, you don’t have to play desert golf all the time. “We’re an oasis-style golf course; we’re all grass,” he said. “Players love to play here. We get a lot of repeat players. Plus, it’s one of the closest courses to the Strip.”
The staff has completed and continues to plan more improvements. Every green has been enlarged, trees and Oleander bushes have been added, tee boxes have been rebuilt…all in an effort make sure players enjoy the course and their day. There are now more than 1,400 trees lining the course as well as nicely-placed bunkering, streams and ponds.
While the course tips out at 6,721 yards, there is plenty of challenge. “The 6th hole (a par-4 at 440 yards) is one of the toughest in Las Vegas and our par 3s are all very challenging,” said Wood.
And if just playing the course isn’t enough to entice you to play, golfers can check out the GolfBoards. These surf board type vehicles let players and their clubs surf their way around the course. “We have 20 of them,” Wood said. “They are very popular, especially with the 20, 30 and 40-year old-crowd. They like them a lot.”
Overall, Las Vegas National showcases the history of Las Vegas golf, on the course as well as in the clubhouse.