It’s the only place I know where you can drop down and get to Heaven.

Most people know of Park City, Utah for one thing. Skiing. You know, the greatest snow on Earth. Well, it’s all that and more if bulleting down black diamond runs is your thing. Holding the 2002 Winter Olympics here was a no-brainer.

But, as a lifelong skier, summer in Park City just didn’t register.  Well, put simply, I was mistaken.

Not only did my wife and I fall in love with the sheer beauty and charm of Park City, we ended up building our dream home where we now live. It was the greatest decision of our lives.

In short, Park City is hands-down one of the hippest yet quaint towns I’ve come across in quite some time. Whether you are schussing down some famous Park City powder or teeing off from the tips with the Wasatch Mountains staring you down, Park City is a must visit for everyone at least once.

Dining is a marvelous experience in Park City. My suggestion is to walk up and down Main Street. You’ll satisfy your taste without starting up your engine, plus there’s nothing better than finishing a good meal, then strolling the streets on a crisp summer’s eve, puffing on a cigar and spending a few bucks in the local shops.

Of course, a major criteria for yours truly is the golf.  The region is blessed with a plethora of great golf courses, but the diamond in the rough may well be The Jeremy Golf & Country Club.

When Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay designed the course in 1981, golfers from all over the world have fallen in love with its charm.  And, it’s easy to see why.

Arnie and his army designed the course in one of the most beautiful settings in the West, the high foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. Using beautiful East Canyon Creek as both a companion and, occasionally, an adversary, the sprawling, gently rolling course offers a diverse challenge for every level of golfer.

No matter what the handicap you play to, you’ll quickly agree on one thing…The Jeremy is a  championship test of golf in the truest sense.

The Jeremy is one of the most challenging courses in the state with the Blue Tees rated at 73.6. The fairways are dressed in pine, aspen trees and low brush, with almost every hole well-bunkered.  The course generously rewards accuracy from the tee, but isn’t too punishing if you miss a fairway or two.  The lush bent grass greens are slightly larger than average in size, however you’ll need to consider their diabolically placed bunkers when you get close.

The front nine eases you nicely into play with a chance to get off to a good start.  Then, comes No. 4 and 5, a Par 3 and Par 4 that hits you between the eyes if you’re not careful.

The fourth hole measures 193 yards and has an elevated tee some 150 feet above the putting surface.  Club selection is key.  Miss left or long and you’re toast.  Miss short and good luck getting up and down for par.  Great hole.

The fifth, which checks in at 460 yards, offers another elevated tee and demands an accurate drive in order to set up the approach.  You then must softly land a downhill, traditionally downwind second shot to a green that runs away.  Take par and run for the hills, which surround you on both sides.

The front side ends with a great risk/reward Par 5.  A good drive sets you up with a hybrid or long iron into a green flanked on the front, left and right by the river that runs throughout the most of the course.  Find the putting surface and you could throw two circles around a number on the scorecard.  But, find the water and the dreaded box will show up on your card.

The back side has a great mix of holes, one being the Par 4, 12^th at a mere 458 yards.  A good drive is a must, but the approach must be accurate or one of the three massive bunkers that surround the green will swallow it up.  Par is a great score here.

At 515 yards, the Par 5, 16^th is reachable in two, but trouble is everywhere.  Water down the left on the drive, down the right on the second and five bunkers guarding the green are calling your ball’s name.  You might want to tackle this one with three shots.

Finally, the 18^th at The Jeremy is possibly the toughest hole in all of Utah.  Uphill and usually into a prevailing wind, the 442-yard, Par 4 plays more like 490.  A good drive is a must and it’s doubtful an iron will be in your hand for the second.  Four bunkers guard a tiered green that slopes from back to front.

All in all, The Jeremy Golf & Country Club is where it’s at.  And, if you’re in Utah or visit Park City often, the club is running a screaming deal on membership.  For as little as a $1,000 initiation fee, you can play this marvelous tract all summer long.

It’s the deal of a lifetime.

By LARRY FELDMAN

Designed by renowned course architect Doug Carrick and opened in 2010, The Ridge Course at Predator Ridge has quickly made a name for itself as one of the top courses in Canada. Located in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, often referred to as Canada’s Napa Valley, the course plays 7,123 yards from the tips and is defined by its beautiful natural topography, majestic views of Lake Okanagan and long, scenic fairways. With a rating of 73.8, the layout provides a good challenge for low-handicappers, but is very playable for recreational golfers, as well. The property features 36 holes of championship golf as well as a world-class resort that includes a state-of-the-art fitness center, gourmet restaurant and a network of trails for hiking and biking. Visit predatorridge.com.

A commitment to the environment along with an abundance of natural beauty adds to the overall quality of a visit to charming Stevinson Ranch

The Savannah Course at Stevinson Ranch features a blend of wetlands, wildlife and rugged terrain.

By ALEX SMOLINSKI

Stevinson Ranch Golf Club in California’s Central Valley has a pleasant mixture of tradition and forward thinking. Some of that was by design, courtesy of architects John Harbottle III and George H. Kelley, and part of it was borne of necessity.

“First of all, we’re out in the middle of nowhere; it’s a true country ranch atmosphere,” course marketing director Jim Francesconi said of the layout that features wetlands, wildlife and rugged terrain. “We’re always having fun here, trying to not take things too seriously. Drink, be loud, have fun. When you walk in, you know you’re going to have some fun at Stevinson Ranch.”

Course management is, however, serious about being a steward of the environment. That’s why they recently formed a partnership with Cenergy Power, a leader in solar solutions. The company’s photovoltaic systems provide clean power to the clubhouse and lift pump and generate more than 300,000 kilowatt hours of solar power per year, the equivalent of eliminating 460,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

“To my knowledge, we are the only course in the country that is solar powered,” said course assistant manager Ryan Bloms, adding that the $1 million project is already saving the facility on energy costs and that it hopes to be self-sustaining within seven years.

The par-72, 7,180-yard Savannah Course, which was the first in the state to become a Certified Audubon Signature Cooperative Sanctuary, has also received national recognition among public courses for its overall quality, conditions, practice facility and service.

The facility’s three-bay indoor/outdoor Performance Center uses computer and video technology to evaluate swings and determine which clubs are best for players. A launch monitor also is used to analyze ball flight and further illustrate the cause and effect of swings and routines. Private lessons, club-fitting sessions and golf fitness programs also are available. In addition, The Golf Academy at Stevinson Ranch offers stay-and-play golf schools for up to three days and three nights and two-hour clinics for golfers of all levels.

For lodging, the ranch is home to 22 furnished cottages, with each including a satellite TV and complimentary wireless Internet access. The country charm at Stevinson Ranch is also perfect for almost any size wedding because of the spacious, beautiful grounds and experienced staff that can work with couples on all of the bridal details.

For more information, visit stevinsonranch.com.

A variety of top golf courses adds to the draw and spectacular options awaiting visitors to the San Diego region

By JOEL BEERS

Maderas Golf Club flows through the rolling hills of north San Diego County. (Aidan Bradley)

The greater San Diego area has a lot to boast about, from its impeccable weather, vibrant downtown and harbor to pristine beaches, top universities, theaters and museums.

And then there’s golf.

The region has played host to the U.S. Open, scores of PGA Tour events, is an epicenter of golf equipment manufacturing and has spawned such legendary players as Billy Casper, Gene Littler, Phil Mickelson and Craig Stadler.

Approximately 95 golf courses are in the sprawling county, which stretches from the Mexico border to the south, the Salton Sea to the east and Orange and Riverside counties to the north. And while courses are liberally scattered across the vast territory, the highest concentration is within a 30-minute drive of downtown San Diego.

The Crossings at Carlsbad features a 28,000-square-foot clubhouse overlooking the ninth hole.

Let’s start our journey in Carlsbad, a seaside town about 35 miles north of downtown that is also home to heavyweight golf companies Callaway, TaylorMade, Cobra and others. It also has one of the most scenic municipally owned courses in the state, as well as one of its finest high-end golf resorts.

The municipal is The Crossings at Carlsbad, which opened in 2007. The Greg Nash design runs through coastal terrain, including canyons, and stretches 6,835 yards from the back tees. Five bridges help players traverse the canyons, which are linked to a three-mile hiking trail. Ocean views can be seen from each hole on the front nine, while the back nine winds through canyons with multiple forced carries. After opening, the course was named one of the top 10 new courses to play by a national golf publication.

Fives miles south is La Costa Resort and Spa, a regular entrant on national lists of top golf resorts. The facility, which includes a hotel and spa, opened its first 18 holes in 1965 and added nine more in 1973 and a final nine in 1984. It has hosted numerous PGA Tour events, including the Accenture Match Play Championship, and also hosts the LPGA Tour’s Kia Classic. Following a renovation of the guest rooms and spa in 2011, La Costa embarked on a full remodel of the North Course and four holes on the South Course. The new Champions Course plays 7,172 yards for professionals but includes five other sets of tees, including one for families that maxes out at 4,356 yards. The South Course, which is the site of the Kia Classic, is 7,077 yards from the tips. An array of golf packages, including stay-and-play options, are offered throughout the year.

The Champions Course at La Costa recently underwent a complete redesign.

For a golf facility that won’t stretch the pocketbook, the Welk Resort is about 10 miles north of Escondido. An 18-hole executive course, The Fountain, and a par-3 course, The Oaks, are on the property, which bears the name of legendary entertainer Lawrence Welk. The executive course is 4,000 yards from the tips, so it won’t test your long game, but David Rainville’s design features lots of trees and water, including a lake on the par-3 first hole shaped like a champagne glass.

Our northernmost option is Arrowood Golf Course, located in Oceanside about 13 miles north of Carlsbad. Designed by Ted Robinson Jr., Arrowood is a 6,721-yard track with elevation changes, tricky bunkers and two of the best finishing holes in the region – Nos. 16 and 18 – that feature greens guarded by lakes.

The city of Poway, located inland about 30 miles north of San Diego, features two stellar public tracks. Maderas Golf Club is a Robert Muir Graves and Johnny Miller-designed course that flows through the rolling hills. Three lakes, five waterfalls and 40 acres of natural wildflowers contribute to the ambiance of the course, which measures 7,167 yards from the back tees.

The North Course at Lake San Marcos is a parkland-style track built in 1963.

About 10 minutes north of Poway is Escondido, which has two courses designed by David and Harry Rainville. Escondido Country Club was founded in 1962 as a private course, but it turned semi-private in 2010. At only 6,140 yards from the tips, the course’s length isn’t tremble-inducing, but the greens are fast and subtle and a creek winds throughout the layout. Even though it’s on hilly terrain, the course is very walkable.

Nine miles west of Escondido is Lake San Marcos Country Club, a private resort course situated alongside a lake. The North Course, which opened in 1963, is a parklands design that plays 6,426 yards from the tips. There’s also a 2,700-yard par-58 track that is open to the public.

There are three other top-notch properties a little farther south.

Steele Canyon features three distinct nines designed by Gary Player.

In Jamul, about 20 miles east of downtown San Diego, is Steele Canyon Golf Club, a facility with three distinct nines designed by Gary Player. The course, which opened in 1991, features elevation changes on the Canyon nine, a working ranch setting on the Ranch nine and streams and woodlands on the Meadows nine. All three are par-35 layouts, with the longest being the Ranch at 3,535 yards.

About seven miles north in El Cajon is Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort, which includes 54 holes, a 100-room hotel and a 120,000-square-foot casino nearby. Once known as Singing Hills Country Club, the three tracks include the 6,687-yard Willow Glen, the 6,682-yard Oak Glen and a par-3 course called Pine Glen. The longer courses opened in the late 1950s but received a redesign from Ted Robinson following flooding in 1978 and 1980. The facility has hosted Junior World Golf events, the San Diego Junior Amateur and was a qualifying site for the U.S. Public Links.

Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort in El Cajon is the only 54-hole facility in the region.

About 18 miles south of Steele Canyon is Salt Creek Golf Club in Chula Vista. With mountain views and its location near a wildlife preserve, the 6,889-yard course has a different feel from most of courses on our list. With a course rating of 73.4 from the tips, it also presents a formidable challenge, but generous fairways can reduce the bite.

FYI

Arrowood Golf Course
arrowoodgolf.com
(760) 967-8400

The Crossings at Carlsbad
thecrossingsatcarlsbad.com
(760) 444-1800

Escondido Country Club
escondidocc.com
(760) 743-3301

La Costa Resort and Spa
lacosta.com
(760) 438-9111

Lake San Marcos Resort
lakesanmarcosresort.com
(760) 744-1310

Maderas Golf Club
maderasgolf.com
(858) 451-8100

Salt Creek Golf Club
saltcreekgc.com
(619) 482-4666

Steele Canyon Golf Club
steelecanyon.com
(619) 441-6900

Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort
sycuanresort.com
(619) 442.3425

The Welk Resort
welkgolfsandiego.com
(760) 749-3225

To book your San Diego golf vacation, call (800) 577-3787 or visit golfhubvacations.com.

The phrase “links like” gets tossed around a lot even though it’s nearly impossible to replicate unless you’re in Scotland and the sea is nearby. Cal Olson, however, has designed a pretty neat version of such a layout in Lake Elsinore, where the town’s namesake lake is a good substitute for one of the key ingredients of a links course. The stunning layout with views of the Ortega Mountains and Cleveland National Forest fits into the landscape with its natural mounding, rolling terrain and three miles of Scottish-style burns. Odd-shaped bunkers also abound, and there are enough twists and turns to challenge all golfers while stoking their senses and imagination, which, if you close your eyes, could involve a trip to the British Isles. Visit linksatsummerly.com.

Save the date!  April 30 at the venerable Mission Viejo Country Club.  $125 includes golf, cart, range balls, barbecue lunch, post-round appetizers with wine/liquor tasting and lots of raffle prizes. Click HERE to sign up today!

A top-notch golf course and upscale resort await discovery in a secluded location just south of the border

Seven holes play alongside the Sea of Cortez at the Peninsula de Cortes Golf Club.

By Dave McKibben

One of golf’s best-kept secrets is a Nicklaus-designed course tucked a few yards from one of the world’s most pristine beaches.

Unless you live in Arizona, you’ve probably never heard of Puerto Peñasco, a sleepy fishing village four hours south of Phoenix and Tucson and across the Gulf of California from San Felipe. The Peninsula de Cortes Golf Club and accompanying Mayan Palace resort are even more remote, sitting 20 miles outside of town off a dusty two-lane road.

Until recently, Puerto Peñasco has been known for its enormous shrimp and extreme tidal range. But in the past few years the place many Americans call “Rocky Point” has become more accessible to Southern Californians. A Mexican coastal highway that opened southwest of Yuma a few years ago has sliced nearly three hours off the eight-hour drive from San Diego and a new airport will soon offer commercial flights from the U.S.

As Puerto Peñasco becomes less secluded, Arizonans like Gregg Hayes realize the days of three hour-rounds and sub-$80 green fees are probably coming to an end.

“This has got to be one of the most hidden secrets in the Southwest,” said Hayes, who played junior golf in Southern California. “I’ve played most of the Nicklaus courses in Cabo and you’ll pay up to $250 a round there. This place is as good or better as any of those courses.”

Puerto Peñasco plays at over 7,100 yards.

And probably just as challenging. Blind tee shots, uneven lies, pot bunkers and sloped greens will test the serious player on the 7,100-yard layout. But four sets of tee boxes, generous fairways and receptive greens give high-handicappers a fair shot at par. Of course, when the winds begin howling across the Sonora Desert and onto the Peninsula de Cortez, length of round, lost-ball count and score can add up quickly.

The 388-yard, par-4 third is the signature hole and No. 1 handicap, thanks to an uphill, blind tee shot and a 20-yard gap to a large green on the water. The 425-yard, par-4 13th gives No. 3 a run for its money, however, with a blind tee shot that hides a bunker in the middle of the dogleg-left fairway and a false-front green that awaits your approach. Unless the wind is behind you, it’ll take a driver and a hybrid to reach in two.

If you’re distraught over your score or your dwindling supply of golf balls, it’s hard to stay stressed for long. Seven holes play alongside the Sea of Cortez where dolphins are known to frolic close to shore.

On May 18, the three-day Uniting Nations Cup returns to the Peninsula. The match-play competition between amateurs from Mexico and the U.S. was started by club officials last year to build goodwill between the neighboring nations.

FYI
The resort offers three nights lodging, four days of unlimited golf and all meals for under $400 per person. A two-night package is priced under $300. For more details, contact golfpuertopenasco@grupovidanta.com.

The Lake Course at San Francisco’s Olympic Club is recognized as one of the country’s top layouts today and of all time. That’s because of the venue’s history and the private club’s ability to upgrade. The Olympic Club hosted U.S. Opens in 1955, 1966, 1987 and 1998 and will do so again in June. The Lake Course has changed significantly since the ’98 U.S. Open, when Lee Janzen finished at even-par 280 to beat Payne Stewart by a stroke. A renovation project lengthened and widened the course a bit, with many trees and overgrown brush removed. The course will measure 7,145 yards for the pros in June, substantially longer than its 6,797 yards 13 years ago. Some of the extra yardage is at the par-5 16th hole, which can be lengthened to 662 yards if the USGA is feeling overly diabolical. The Olympic Club also has two other layouts – the Ocean Course, with four holes along bluffs above the Pacific Ocean, and the nine-hole, par-27 Cliffs Course that is perhaps the most scenic venue of the three. Tickets for the U.S. Open, which will be held June 11-17, are available at usga.org.

When it comes to golf in the Las Vegas region, variety is the spice of life.

Angel Park offers spectacular views of Red Rock Canyon and the Las Vegas Valley.

By Joel Beers

Everyone knows the big three G’s of Las Vegas. It’s Glitz, Glamour and Gaming. But there’s a fourth G-word that also attracts a great deal of attention: Golf.

Nearly 100 courses, ranging from opulent private clubs and lavish high-end public courses – such as Shadow Creek and Wynn Las Vegas – to more affordable courses line the Las Vegas Valley and surrounding environs.

Whether a traditional desert target track or a tropical oasis, the 11 courses we’re featuring represent what makes the golf experience in the region so unique. From stellar mountain, desert and Las Vegas Strip views and immaculate course conditions to layouts ideal for scratch golfers and high handicappers alike, golfers from every background will find something to enjoy in Sin City.

And although the first part of the year is peak season for Vegas-area golf, there is a way to save a little bit of money by taking advantage of the deeply discounted twilight and super twilight rates each of our courses offer.

Angel Park Golf Club
(888) 446-5358 • angelpark.com
Just the facts: The Palm Course is a par-70 layout that stretches 6,500 yards from the back tees. The Mountain Course plays to a par 71 at 6,772-yards from the tips.
Why you should play: It’s one of the most complete golf facilities in Las Vegas, including two Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay-designed courses, a 12-hole short course, and a natural-grass putting course. At 3,000 feet elevation, it offers dramatic mountain and city views. The Palm course is less visually striking than the Mountain track, as well as shorter, but it requires several forced carries and three of its par-3s measure more than 200 yards. The Mountain course has longer par 4s and numerous elevation changes, making it a tougher test.
Bet you didn’t know: The Cloud Nine short course is lighted, allowing for night play.

Arroyo Golf Club at Red Rock
(866) 934-4653 • thearroyogolfclub.com.
Just the facts: It’s a par-72 that plays 6,883 yards from back tees.
Why you should play: This Arnold Palmer Signature golf course, which lies alongside the gorgeous Red Rock Canyon, opened in 2003. It’s part of Red Rock Country Club, the centerpiece of the master-planned Summerlin Community, which also hosts an adjacent private club. Daily-fee golfers can enjoy the same service, conditioning and clubhouse of the private club’s members. It’s another generous course in terms of landing and bailout areas, but its 68 bunkers, many of which surround the green complexes, do present ample challenge.
Bet you didn’t know: This is one of only three public Las Vegas courses designed by the legendary Palmer.

Badlands Golf Club
(702) 363-0754 • badlandsgc.com

Canyons, arroyos, and washes await golfers at Badlands Golf Club.

Just the facts: There are three nines here, the longest 18-hole combination measuring 6,935 yards.
Why you should play: To begin with, its looks. The Johnny Miller-Chi Chi Rodriguez designed courses, which blend seamlessly with the numerous arroyos and washes, look as if they were carved from the canyons at the base of the Red Rock Mountains. It’s also a thinking player’s course, set up to ensure that you just can’t grip it and rip it from the tees in hopes of making par.
Bet you didn’t know: Everything breaks toward the Stratosphere, the towering hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, which can be seen from most spots on the course.

Bear’s Best Las Vegas
(702) 804-8500 • bearsbestgetaway.com
Just the facts: The par-72 course plays 7,194 yards from the back tees.
Why you should play: Jack Nicklaus has designed 275 courses around the world, and he duplicated 18 of his favorite holes at this course. The holes were chosen from esteemed courses such as Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain, the Palmilla Golf Club in Los Cabos and Colorado’s Castle Pines.
Bet you didn’t know: You begin and finish the course on the 1st and 18th holes of the private resort course at PGA West, the same holes professionals have played for years as part of Coachella Valley’s annual PGA Tour stop.

The Legacy Golf Club
(888) 446-5358 • thelegacygc.com

The Legacy features sloping, contoured fairways with a blend of natural desert terrain.

Just the facts: A par-72 layout that stretches 7,233-yards from the back tees.
Why you should play: Designed by Arthur Hills, this is a blend of Scottish links-style golf and desert terrain. From the tips, it can be a daunting challenge, as four holes play longer than 500 yards, including the 594-yard 14th. It hosts annual qualifying for the U.S. Open, so it’s a course that will test even a scratch golfer’s mettle and require most golfers to use every club in their bag.
Bet you didn’t know: The par-3, 193- yard 10th hole has a set of four tees each shaped like a symbol from a deck of cards.

Primm Valley
(702) 679-5509 • primmvallegolf.com

Primm Valley features two Tom Fazio-designed courses, The Lakes and The Desert.

Just the facts: The Desert Course is 7,131 yards from the back tees, while the Lakes Course tops out at 6,945 yards. Both play to a par of 71.
Why you should play: Located at the California state line, both of these Tom Fazio-designed courses rank among Nevada’s best. The Lakes track, considered a working-man’s Shadow Creek, is tropically themed, with water on 12 holes and pine tree-lined fairways. It gets most of the pub, but the Desert course is no slouch.
Bet you didn’t know: Fazio has more golf courses on the list of America’s top 100 courses than any other designer.

Rhodes Ranch Golf Club
(702) 740-4114 • rhodesranch.com
Just the facts: The course plays 6,905 yards from the back tees with a par of 72.
Why you should play: Located just 15 minutes from the Las Vegas strip, this Ted Robinson Sr.-designed track features a set of par 3s that the famed designer called perhaps the best grouping of short holes on any of his courses. Its stellar conditions and risk-reward holes make it a favorite for Vegas locals, as does its tropical theme, with scores of towering palm trees flanking the fairways.
Bet you didn’t know: Stay-and-play packages with neighboring Southpointe Casino start as low as $110 per night during the week and $140 on weekends.

Siena Golf Club
(888) 689-6469 • sienagolfclub.com
Just the facts: A par-72 layout that plays 6,843 yards from the tips.
Why you should play: Designed by Schmidt-Curley Designs, this course opened in 2000 and has grown into one of the most popular Vegas tracks for locals and visitors. Though its rolling fairways are generous, shotmaking is at a premium, with nearly 100 bunkers and six water features. The facility also includes a Tuscan-style 13,500-square-foot clubhouse and a gourmet bistro overlooking Lake Siena.
Bet you didn’t know: You can play both Siena and its sister course, Arroyo Golf Club, for a total of $174 through March 12 if you play both within five days.

Silverstone Golf Club
(702) 562-3770 • silverstonegolf.com

Silverstone Golf Club offers 27 holes with panoramic views of Sheep Mountain.

Just the facts: There are three nines, the longest combination of which measures 7,159 yards from the back tees.
Why you should play: The three nines, designed by Bob Cupp, carry most of their bite in the long par 5s, with a nice blend of longish and shorter par 3s and par 4s. The Mountain nine, with its subtle elevation changes, is the toughest of the three. A 35,000-square-foot clubhouse is one of the region’s finest.
Bet you didn’t know: The par-5 fifth hole is the longest in Nevada at 653 yards.

Stallion Mountain Golf Club
(702) 547-6250

Water comes into play on nine holes at Stallion Mountain, including the par-3 17th.

Just the facts: A par-72 course at 7,351 yards from the back tees.
Why you should play: For starters, it’s finally open again. After being closed for nearly four years, the course re-opened under new ownership and management in July, and course conditions are immaculate. The original design of former PGA Tour player Jim Colbert and architect Jeff Brauer is intact, as are the views of the Strip and Sunrise Mountain. Accuracy and length are important, but you’ll run into most of your problems on the well-protected tiered greens.
Bet you didn’t know: Stallion Mountain hosted Golf Channel’s Big Break II.

Tuscany Golf Club
(702) 951-1500 • tuscanygolfclub.com
Just the facts: A par-72 layout that plays 6,906-yards from all the way back.
Why you should play: This sister course to Rhodes Ranch was also designed by Ted Robinson. Since opening in 2004, the course has earned plenty of accolades from regional and national golf publications. It’s very playable from the forward tees, but strategic bunkering makes playing from the tips a challenge for even the best of players.
Bet you didn’t know: The Par-4, 404-yard ninth hole is one of the toughest in Las Vegas. There’s water on the left and a pond rests to the right of the small green. The par-4, 440-yard 18th is also a bear, since the green is guarded by water on three sides.

The Bayonet and Black Horse golf courses on the Monterey Peninsula are ready to step into the spotlight once again as host site of the 2012 PGA Professional National Championship in June. The 36-hole facility in Seaside, Calif., was recently part of a $13 million renovation project by architect Gene Bates, who modified fairways, changed some routing and added and reshaped bunkers. The courses are the official site for the PGA Tour’s second stage of Qualifying School as well as the Champions Tour Q-School. It also was the host site for the 2010 U.S. Open qualifier. The Bayonet, which opened in 1954, is a classic, tree-lined 7,104-yard course that offers expanded views of the bay. The Black Horse, which opened in 1967 and plays 7,024 yards, has been transformed from a series of tightly treelined holes to a more open and flowing environment. Both par-72 courses are steeped in military history and were created on the site of the former Fort Ord. For more information, visit bayonetblackhorse.com.