Boulder Creek Golf Club is one of just a few golf courses in Las Vegas that has three nine-hole tracks for golfers to choose from. Designed by Mark Rathert, each of the nine holes has it's own distinctive personality. Depending on which set of nines you play the golf course can stretch to as much as 7,600 yards.
Recently I had the opportunity to play the Eldorado Valley and Desert Hawk courses. The Eldorado Valley golf course is the only nine that doesn't have water on it. All of the golf courses have sparse trees but the Eldorado Valley nine is the closest to a links-style golf course you will find at Boulder Creek. This nine plays over 3,700 yards from the back tee. Although there is no water on this track, there are plenty of desert areas that can play havoc with the golfer.
One of the most difficult holes on this side is the par-4 5th hole which plays from 398-482 yards. The tee shot is the most important shot on this hole. The hole is a very slight dogleg right but your tee shot must favor the left-hand side of the fairway. The best target is toward the cart path on the left and hit a fade.
You had better hit your tee shot solid because you have to carry a desert area before hitting the fairway. This tee box has a tendency to aim the player right into the desert area so be sure to check your alignment before hitting the shot. Once in the fairway, the player will be left with a long iron into a large green.
You will have to fly the ball to the hole as the green is slightly elevated with a large slope in front of the green. The key to playing this hole is being below the hole location. This green slopes from back to front and balls hit to the back of the green will face a very slippery putt. If you happen to miss a ball around these greens, beware - the Bermuda grass is very thick and difficult to hit from as the ball tends to nestle to the bottom of the grass.
The Desert Hawk golf course sets a completely different tone for the golfer. Right from the starting hole it is obvious that this is a much different nine holes. This nine is defined by water hazards and long forced carries and is the longest of the three nine-hole golf courses.
The 7th hole really defines this side and is one of the hardest holes on the golf course. This hole plays 487 yards from the back tee and gives the players several options from the tee. Players are forced to make a choice about hitting the right or left fairway. Certainly the right fairway gives the player a shorter shot into the green, but the carry over the desert is much longer.
Most players will want to hit toward the bunkers on the left side of the fairway. A well struck tee shot will leave the player a long iron into a large green. Playing from the left fairway brings the bunkers on the left-hand side of the green into play. From the right fairway these bunkers are less of a factor.
If the pin is in the back of this large, undulating green there is a real possibility that you could three-putt. If the wind is blowing on this hole, as it often does, par is like making a birdie.
Boulder Creek Golf Club is in great condition. The greens are running about 9-10 on the stempmeter and the fairways have started to come back from the overseeding process. Although the bunkers can be quite challenging, they are maintained very well. Be careful of some of the high lips on these bunkers, if you hit the lip you might find the ball behind you in the same bunker. Located a short 30 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, this golf course is well worth the drive out to Boulder City.
