LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Jan. 28, 2019)–Where can you please several Nicklaus hole from his top courses all in one place? At Bear’s Best Las Vegas, you get the chance to play golf in Vegas while taking on golf holes from some of designer’s best work in the West and Mexico. This signature course replicates 18 of Nicklaus’ best golf holes from some of his masterpieces–and they all come together just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. –By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
“It’s definitely a unique golf course,” said Jim Stanfill, general manager. “Players get to play golf holes from all over the Southwest. One of the favorite things about the course is it fits the Las Vegas personality perfectly. On the Strip you’ve got Paris, you’ve get Egypt, you’ve got New York. It’s a nice marriage with Las Vegas.”
Bear’s Best opened in 2001 to rave reviews and it’s gotten better with age.
The course features more than 60 bunkers that will challenge players’ accuracy and shot-making skills but water comes into play just twice–on the opening and closing holes–of this 7,194-yard beauty.
In between, golfers will find severe elevation changes, dramatic black-sand bunkers on two holes (replicating bunkering from Old Works in Montana), pine trees (on a hole representing Castle Pines in Colorado), impressive risk/reward holes and an 18-hole joyride. That trip will take players from California to New Mexico, from Montana to Arizona, from Colorado to Mexico–all without leaving Las Vegas.
With water on the first and last holes, Stanfill hopes players notice Nicklaus is giving them fair warning as the course opens and closes with tremendous challenges.
“The water on the first hole puts them on alert right away,” he said. “Plus you’ve got your typical risks with the bunkering around the green. And on 18 it’s not enough that there’s water down the entire right side…it’s that you’ll be dropping in the bunker that’s also down the right side. It definitely adds to the challenge of a great finishing hole.”
But overall, Stanfill points out the course is filled with everything golfers look for in an outing: a variety of challenges, stunning views and quality course conditions.
“It’s just a fun and enjoyable course to play,” he said.