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Was in the second group of the Guru Plays today with MrKich, Sixpez, and LarryTee. Great group as always at these GK plays. Agree with everything Phil said regarding conditions although I will say that the course was a little too soggy for my liking but I totally get it as it is the desert and the course is green and lush everywhere! It was my first time playing Rio Secco and if not for the knowledge of my playing partners, it would have been a real struggle today. Lots of forced carries and some blind tee shots but the layout is really fun! Top notch facility in Vegas and easily in the upper echelon of public courses here. Highly recommended and can't wait to play it again.
11 Likes.
Back out at Reflection Bay today and you would never even know that there was a huge deluge yesterday afternoon. Course has drained extremely well! Most everything from my previous review in February still holds true. The only variances would be the greens being softer and much more receptive now that we're into spring/summer. They have fully healed from aeration about a month ago and even though they were needle punched yesterday, they are rolling smooth and quick. Happy to report coots have headed out for the season and as such, all fairways are now really lush and full. Cut down short to allow for nice roll out but still have a nice cushion underneath. Rough remains thick and will require your full attention. Bunkers and tees still good/great as well. Service here is super friendly and helpful.

Summer rates go into effect next month for those looking for the best deal. New carts scheduled to arrive in the fall with GPS. They're needed as the current fleet is way past their expiration dates.
11 Likes.
Had a buddy in town visiting so we got out to RR early Monday morning at 7:15. Check in at the shop was quick, friendly, and efficient. Their outside services had several people out sick that morning so one poor guy was pulling carts, loading bags, & starting all by himself. Despite all that he was really friendly and things were running on time. Kudos to him!

Tees- Above average coverage with only one box that I can remember not being flat. Normal damage on the par 3s and short 4s.

Fairways- Really lush and full coverage as is to be expected right around March Madness in Vegas. Cut semi-tight allowing for some nice roll out.

Rough- Lush and pretty thick. Balls could easily sit down and require some strength to get back into play.

Bunkers- Was in a couple and they had nice soft sand. Didn't see any issues with other players in the group either.

Greens- I'd say they were above average as well. Different mixes of grasses that gives that splotchy look. Some greens early in the morning were bumpy but that might have been an issue of maintenance not getting to them yet because as the day went on, they got progressively smoother and quicker. They held well and were rolling at a medium pace.

Overall RR is a fun track to play. Beware though houses are on the majority of holes. Most are set back far enough as to not be an issue but I can definitely see some wayward shots sending some warning shots across the bow. The layout itself is a nice mix of holes. You have reachable par 5's except #9 which is 571 yds from the blacks. Par 4's are a nice variety of longer holes and shorter risk/reward challenges. Par 3's are really fun. Although they're all similar in distance, they are all very fun and picturesque. One is all carry over a lake and another is surrounded on both sides by sand and waterfalls. Really strong set of par 3's in my opinion. Saw the beverage cart out a few times. RR doesn't get the acclaim as some of the other courses in the valley, but I'd highly recommend it and you can usually get some good deals here unlike many other courses in Vegas.
10 Likes.
Played today with fellow GK'er Matt, mpisarski01 with a nice local deal for $65 teeing off at 8:15am. We were a twosome following a 3-ball, with another twosome behind us. Around the 8th hole we asked the twosome behind to join us as we had been waiting on the group in front on every hole. Once we did that, the POP smoothed out a bit.

The course in very good shape right now although the fairways were a little tighter than we've normally seen here. But with that said, they were still excellent and allowed for a good amount of roll. Yellow tees had good coverage and were flat, no issues. Was in one bunker and it was fine, although one that Matt was in had no sand. Rough was manageable but could easily grab your club if you're not careful. Greens were the highlight as they were firm (allow for release), putting fast, and rolling sooo PURE! Really fun to putt on.

One note I hope might be addressed in the future, a set of tees or combo set between the blacks (7009 yards) and the yellows (6483 yards) would be really appreciated. 6700-6800 yards would sweet!

Weather ended up being the overall winner today! Started out overcast with a consistent 10-15mph wind. We could see that the mountains surrounding the valley were covered by storm cells. Around the 5th hole the sun came out and it was really nice...for a while. About the time we got to 12/13 the cells moved in and we got some rain. Said rain eventually gave way to sleet, which then turned into hail. But that cell moved out shortly thereafter and luckily we got the play the signature island hole 15 in nice weather. To which, Matt promptly stiffed his shot to about 18" for a tap in bird. Then after we hit our tee shots on 16, all HAIL broke loose as it started coming down to point that we were getting pelted everywhere. A few 40mph gusts combined with the ice pellets was not that fun and slightly painful! It did however make for a really nice photo op as the course quickly became a White Wonderland. Alas, that was enough for us and our playing partners and we decided to call it a day. For this reason I didn't rate the course but I would say it's a solid 8/10 and always recommended, provided the weather cooperates. Thanks Matt for a fun and memorable round!
11 Likes.
Took advantage of February resident rate special today and got out to Reflection Bay for the first time. The course winds through some very impressive homes and spills out onto the shores of Lake Las Vegas making for some spectacular scenery! Love that the area is completely away from the city allowing for a peaceful day. I was met at my car by a friendly girl that took my clubs and loaded them onto the cart while I went to the pro shop to check in. I was told that they always pair you with a cart partner unless you want to pay extra for your own cart? Odd but no big deal.

Tee time was 850 as a single and was paired up with a fun threesome teeing off about 5 minutes late. Once on the course, our POP was 4 hours flat with very little waiting and never seeing the group behind us.

Course conditions were borderline excellent all the way around.

Tees- Flat, good coverage, minimal divots. Could use a trim in some spots but that's being nitpicky.

Fairways- Deep emerald green with beautiful mow patterns like you see on TV. They were good to hit from other than the holes nearest the lake that were thinner due to those d%mn coots!

Bunkers- Beautiful white sand bunkers framed by a ring of dormant rough surrounding them for that cool contrasting look. They have a good amount of sand in them. No issues there.

Rough- Similar to the fairways, deep green and lush everywhere other than where the birds congregate. Not very long but thick enough where your ball might settle to the bottom at times to make for a tougher recovery.

Greens- Super firm and not holding all that well. Better to aim for front of greens to allow for roll out. I have a high ball flight and only the wedges would stop within 15 feet of where they landed. Never had to fix a ball mark as you couldn't really make one. Chips and pitches would run out as well. They did putt very nicely at a fast pace!

Overall it's really fun course to play and very fair. No GPS onboard so BYO. Visually deceiving for first timers off the tee. If you're striking the ball well, you'll score. On the other hand, bad shots will be punished by numerous hazards. Good mix of wide open and tighter holes to make you think. For a Nicklaus course, the greens at are Reflection Bay quite tame. There are no crazy undulations or breaks. What you see if what you get. I can definitely see myself coming back here again as long as they keep offering deep discounts for locals. But even at rack rate, it's recommended in it's current condition.
19 Likes.
Was back in So Cal for the weekend and was able to get out to Glen Ivy on Saturday. Original tee time was 833 but a frost delay backed everything up by about 1.5 hours. Once we got going we found the course to be in typical winter condition. With the dry winter that meant the course was playing firm and fast.

Tees- Fine enough with good coverage
Fairways- Nothing great to look at but enough coverage and padding to hit from considering the time of year and lack of water. But beware that balls are running forever. Especially the downhill holes. #16 in particular, which always boosts the ego with it's severe downhill sloping fairway, was interesting to say the least today. Our entire group managed to find the fairway with our tee balls. All four ended up rolling down to the front of the green somewhere around 100-125 yards past where our shots originally landed.
Rough- Mix of lush and dormant. Areas that did have good coverage were very manageable and in some instances provided better lies than the fairways.
Bunkers- I was in 2. One was good and the other was thin. Enough said.
Greens- Best part of the course both visually and in playability. Held shots well and rolled smoothly at a nice consistent med-fast speed.

I've always loved the layout of this course. For the most part it's well kept but sad to see the lake on 16 completely bone dry and how much lower the remaining lakes have gotten but it's totally understandable with the lack of water. Cart girl was around several times and POP was 5 hours which obviously isn't great but with the morning frost delay, they were doing their best to play catch up all day.
16 Likes.
Day 2 of the GK Guru plays NV/AZ brought us to Laughlin Ranch. I had previously never even heard of this course but in the lead up to today I had been doing my research and it looked amazing. Let me tell you something, the pictures don't do this place justice. It's beyond what you've heard or have seen in pics. A true must play if you're in the area.

Tees- Level, lush, and minimal damage. Great!
Fairways- Perfect. No really...there's literally nothing to complain about. They're beautiful to look at and even better to play from. They were like carpets and you'd almost feel bad taking divots. Almost ;)
Greens- Held all shots like darts but were smooth and true rolling at med-fast speeds. Really nice surfaces to play on.
Rough- Dormant bermuda but they still had some bite to them as there were several occasions where our balls would nestle down to the bottom.
Bunkers- The only weak spot as they are thin and full of pebbles/small rocks but Chris, the owner & GM, told us after the round that they're in the process of renovating them and adding new sand. Once they're done, I have no doubt they'll be awesome.

The layout of the course has you playing up or down, toward or away from the Colorado River. Spectacular views are everywhere! This course will reward good shots and punish poor ones but most holes have generous landing areas off the tees.

Carts are new gas powered carts that have GPS and USB plugs onboard. They're super quiet for being gas. The clubhouse is super impressive with a full service spa, banquet facilities, restaurant, bar, gym, etc...A true all in one destination. The slate burger after the round was so good! All employees that we encountered were super friendly and seemed genuinely happy to work there. So refreshing to see! Laughlin Ranch is a course that I fell in love with right away and I can't wait to be back!
23 Likes.
Day 1 of a back-to-back GK Guru outing had Johnny, Matt, Ron, & myself at Coyote Springs. There's something about these middle of nowhere courses (Rams Hill, Paiute, etc) that are truly hidden gems. They warned us that the course was not in its prime shape but I'd have to respectfully disagree. If this isn't their best, then I can't wait to see that!

Tees- Perfectly flat with minimal damage and full coverage
Fairways- Insane! Condition-wise there's not much to complain about. Lush, pretty firm, provide good roll on drives, and good cushion underneath. BUT...the mounding. OH MY the mounding! I've never seen fairways with so many mounds, swales, hills, etc. I think Ron and I got seasick driving on these things! In typical Jack fashion, the fairways are pretty generous.
Rough- Semi-dormant and pretty easy to hit out of. Again, full coverage and no issues. Their color contrasted nicely with the deep green fairways.
Greens- Huge green complexes that were mostly smooth and held most shots nicely. They looked faster than they played. Medium speed at best but I suppose that's ok considering the crazy undulations that most of them have! Jack Nicklaus at his evil best.
Bunkers- I can give a definitive review on these since I found almost every one of them on the course today. They all had soft sand and some had too much sand leading to some semi-plugged and plugged lies in our group today. There are so many bunkers on each hole that you'd better have your sand game on point before coming here. A couple on the back 9 were being worked on and were GUR while they add new sand to them.

Overall the layout of this course is truly incredible. Course knowledge is a must here! With so many humps and bumps in the fairways, it was really hard to get an idea of how far it was to certain hazards. To be honest I don't know if the sprinklers had yardages on them since we all had our own GPS devices. No GPS on the carts but yardage books are available in the clubhouse. Speaking of carts, gas powered ones here and it's needed as the amount of land this course encompasses is gigantic. No way an electric cart would make it through a round. There are some seriously long drives from the clubhouse to the range to the first tee and back. The course does not return to the clubhouse at the turn. Cart girl was out and about and we must've seen her around 6-7 times today. Service was great on all levels. Yes the location is remote but it's an easy drive at just an hour north of Vegas. Do yourself a favor and add it to your must play list in the area! Can't wait to go back again soon. Thanks Johnny!
19 Likes.
Played in the Rams Hill outing yesterday with many other GK'ers. Always great to see so many friendly and familiar faces. I'm sure everyone else has touched on the conditions which were amazing as we've come to expect here. This is my 5th time playing the course and the more I play it, the more I can really appreciate all the subtle nuances that went into the design and allow players several different options to play most of the holes. I find myself falling in love with this course more and more each time I play it (although I dread the trip out more and more too lol!) The green complexes are huge for the most part but with all their undulations and backstops, they allow for a variety of ways to attack them and get close to the pins. Service at all levels was fantastic. Huge shout out to Johnny for setting this up and the team at Rams Hill for welcoming us every year. Already looking forward to the next one!
17 Likes.
Last round of 2017 was Saturday 12/30 at MD with an early AM tee time. Was originally supposed to be paired with a threesome at 750am but I got there early and starter said I could go if I was ready. So with that I was off the first tee at 730am sharp. It was cold but thankfully not cold enough for any frost delays. Playing through a couple of groups on the front and then having the rest of the course to myself, I was able to cruise around in 2 hours and still had time to spare for the breakfast menu at the Butterfly Grill (highly recommended!).

I'm happy to report that the course is back to its usual great conditions. All aspects were good to great with the highlight being the greens which have fully recovered and are winter fast! Beware anything from above the hole. They held full shots quite well but chips and pitches tended to run out a bit. Fairways aren't quite as firm as you'd expect but still provide some roll out while providing a nice soft cushion underneath to hit from. Wasn't in any bunkers but they looked fine. Rough was lush and consistent but not very penal. Not much else to add compared to previous reviews. Service at all levels was great. Not sure if there was a beverage cart today since I was done by 930 lol. Always recommended if you're in the area!
14 Likes.
I was very fortunate to be invited to play in a tournament here Monday by GK'er allan_grant. Thanks again Allan! Although I grew up literally 5 minutes from Hacienda, Monday was the first time I had ever played it and wow what a treat it was! I've always heard great things about the course and driving by so many times, I was always envious of those that have played it. There's not much to add to previous reviews regarding the conditions. They are what you would imagine for a country club. Fantastic throughout! Tees were like greens. Fairways like carpets. Rough was lush although since we were playing a scramble, we only encountered it once or twice all day. Greens were posted at 10.5 on the sign and I'd say that was accurate. They were pretty firm though. Often taking one big hop before the ball would dig in. They were smooth and a pleasure to putt on. Just ask Allan, he didn't miss a putt all day lol! Only encounters with the bunkers was fishing a couple of wayward shots out but they seemed perfect as well.

The layout of the course is really nice. A lot of variety of holes from long to short, risk-reward, uphill, downhill, dog legs, generous landing zones and a couple that will make you think about where to place the ball. It really had it all. If you have the chance to play Hacienda Country Club do yourself a favor and DO IT!!!
10 Likes.
After finishing my round on the Old Course I decided to take advantage of the $10 replay for the Challenge Course. Nothing much to report as the course is in it's usual good to very good condition all the way around. Only complaint is a minor one. Since they added the second larger hole on every green a couple years ago for newcomers, I find that the standard holes are always in the same spot on the greens now. While the course is super fun and challenging for a Par 3 course, I wish they would move the holes around a little more to add some variety.
5 Likes.
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