Las Vegas, Nev. (July 15, 2016)—There are times where the phrase ‘hidden gem’ is thrown around too much. Well, at Las Vegas golf course Cascata, both terms, hidden and gem, fit perfectly. And this Rees Jones designed masterpiece is hidden in plain sight … on the top of a mountain. –By Bill Bowman.
From the time players wind their way up to the 27,000 square foot clubhouse that is Cascata until they leave the property, they will be pampered.
The course is a par-71, 7,137-yard jewel located high atop mountains just outside of Boulder City.
And once players drive through the gate that leads up to the clubhouse and the course, they will find an 18-hole joyride over, around and through the mountainside.
Even before players hit their first tee shot, they will be treated to an experience that rivals any country club they’ve played. Walking through massive front doors, players’ senses will be bombarded as there is a stream flowing right through the clubhouse, offering a soothing feel. Stepping into the locker room, players will find their own locker, personalized with a nametag that they can take home as another memory of the experience.
On the course, a caddie will guide them around the 18 holes. And players need to pay attention because the caddies have spent hundreds of hours and rounds learning every nuance of the course. With a plethora of elevation changes and the rolling, tricky greens, their knowledge is vital.
The par-3 7th hole and the par-4 14th are two of the holes that mix beauty and challenge perfectly. Both play from elevated tees with water features and bunkering adding to the allure and the views.
The mammoth 559-yard, par-5 18th hole ends the round and unless your name is John Daly, it’s a three-shot hole so play it accordingly. Playing the hole is simple: avoid the water that comes into play from tee to green. Stay dry (and out of bunkers, of course) and you’ll have a chance to end your round with a birdie (or an eagle if your name is the aforementioned John Daly).
And before or after the round, the dining experience and choices in the clubhouse are just as over-the-top as the golf.
So there you have it–a great round of golf on a hidden gem of a golf course. And if you come away from the experience feeling like you’ve been treated like a VIP, that’s a good thing. Because to the Cascata staff, you are.