Vegas Golf Insider

The newest golf event to be hitting the Las Vegas area is going to be hosted by none other than entertainment superstar Justin Timberlake. The event will be named the “Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open,” and will take place October 13 – 19 at TPC Summerlin. Recently, Timberlake has played in the U.S. Open Challenge, and hosted the ESPY’s, showing that he loves his sports, and is trying to get more and more involved in that world.

The dedication Timberlake is showing for this event is astounding. He has already donated some of his own money to get the event going, and is reaching out to many big names in the sports as well as entertainment world to come participate. On top of the golf event, he will be performing in his very own concert on October 17th at Planet Hollywood.

The total purse for this tournament will be $4.1 million, paying out $738,000 as the top prize. Past winners of the tournament include George McNeill, Greg Norman, Stuart Appleby, Bob Estes, Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk.

For those planning on attending the event you have a few options for your viewing pleasure. Spectator tickets start at just $10 a day for grounds admission, and week-long passes are available for $75. TPC Summerlin has another option for the highest quality in golf viewing pleasure; THE HILL, is a 22,000 sq ft. facility that overlooks the 16th, 17th and 18th holes. Just a few of the amenities that spectators taking advantage of THE HILL can enjoy include several high end restaurants, plasma TVs, and plush comfortable seating. To score one of these passes it will cost you $25 a day or $100 for a week-long pass. Prices that are well worth it to enjoy yourself in comfort and class.

For more information, as well as the opportunity to purchase tickets, please visit the Shriners Hospital web site at http://www.jtshrinersopen.com/shriners.html.

One of the world’s largest golf conventions is coming to Las Vegas. The 2007 PGA Fall Expo will take place September 10-12 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, right in the heart of the city. The presence of many top PGA professionals as well hundreds of golf product manufacturers and retailers will make the expo a pretty interesting place to be.

Here’s a short list of cool things you can do at the 2007 PGA Fall Golf Expo:

* Preview merchandise from over 400 golf vendors, including names like Nike Golf, Callaway, MacGregor, Etonic, Bobby Jones, Antigua, Cutter & Buck, Wilson, Bugatchi, PING, Fila, LIJA, Jamie Sadock, Izod G, and Bobby Chan… just to name a few.

* Test the newest cutting-edge equipment from 40+ top golf manufacturers at an event called the “Las Vegas Demo Day” taking place on Monday, September 10th.

* Network and have fun with other golf fans at the House of Blues reception taking place on Tuesday, September 11 at 5:30 pm.

And yes, you can even play golf… at the 2nd Annual PGA Fall Expo Golf Tournament. It takes places at Royal Links Golf Club and just $150 gets you in the tournament and all special events.

There are just a few days left until the top names in golf manufacturing and golf retail return to Las Vegas for an event that has experienced fast growth andvigorous support. If you’re in the business of golf you should definitely plan to attend!

Learn more at www.pgaexpo.com

Las Vegas golf courses are doing their part to conserve one of Nevada’s most precious natural resource: water. According to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas area courses have converted over 18 and a half million square feet of grass — about 425 acres — to “water smart” landscapes since 2001. This has resulted in water savings of approximately 1 billion gallons per year!

Currently, eleven golf courses in and around Las Vegas are making landscape conversions that will save even more water in the future. The City of Henderson is undertaking large water-smart landscape conversions at its municipal Wild Horse Golf Course. The popular Angel Park Golf Club is converting 70-acres of its course to be more water-efficient while Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club is in the process of making major changes involving turf removal, pond improvements, and moving irrigation lines.

Besides landscape conversions, Las Vegas golf courses use cutting-edge technology to conserve water. On-site computer systems monitor daily weather conditions as well as moisture evaporation levels to determine when and how to irrigate course grasses and other plants. Special sprinkler and irrigation systems that can precisely control watering times and coverage are also used.

According to Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club superintendent Jon Valentine:

“Golf courses are the most judicious business about the way they use water,” said Valentine. “We don’t just set a timer and walk away. Water conservation is one of the biggest parts of what we do every day.”

via: snwa.com

The Bali High Golf Club sets itself apart from other courses in the Las Vegas Valley. The course is situated directly off the Las Vegas Strip making it one of the closest golf courses to the casino action.

Bali Hai is a par-71 course that stretches 7,002 yards from the tips and offers some of the best scenery Vegas has to offer. The course is only seven years old and has already found its place among the great courses in Las Vegas.

The course lets the everyday golfers ease into play and heats up with tougher holes and more challenging shots as the day goes on. One of the most notable holes is the 468 yard par-4 3rd hole that has a creek running the entire length of the right-side. It’s not always best to favor the left of this hole though because of the massive bunker followed by a long group of trees. The straighter the better on this hole or else you will be fishing in no time.

One other somewhat challenging hole worth mentioning is the par-3 number 16 with its island green. Selecting the right club on this hole may be the most important decision you will have to make. More often than not there will be a rear pin placement which is tougher than you think. If you try to lay up on the front of the green this will leave you with a hefty uphill put that could make that chance at par disappear quickly. Precision is key because you don’t want to hit it short, too left or too right because that water is not giving that ball back. Of course there is the rarity that you hit a line drive too far directly into Cili, Bali Hai’s world class restaurant. It’s a surprise that the restaurants diners won’t expect and one that you don’t want to explain.

This is just a taste of what Bali Hai has to offer. The course is spectacular, the views of the Strip are breathtaking, and the feel of the course brings you in for an amazing experience. Bali Hai is also one of the best kept courses in Las Vegas, so there are no worries about dried out greens sky-rocketing your ball in all directions, if that’s the case you may just need to rethink the way you putt. It’s a game of changes and Las Vegas keeps you guessing at every turn.

For those Las Vegas tourists who just want to get away from the strip for a day and want to experience the real Las Vegas, Paiute Golf Resort has what you are looking for. The resort is about 30 minutes from the constant hustle of the Las Vegas Strip, and seems to be out in the middle of nowhere. Step off one of the three courses and you enter the infamous Nevada desert.

The three courses that make up Paiute Golf Resort, Wolf, Snow Mountain and Sun Mountain, have aspects that can cater to every type of golfer. Designed by Pete Dye, one of the most influential golf course designers of the 20th century, all three courses challenge in their own way, beginning with Wolf, which is the toughest course of the lot. With this course you will need that driver to make it through all 7,604 yards, making this course the longest in Nevada.

For those not looking for quite a long day, Paiute has the Sun Mountain course, which is the tamest of the three and hailed to be one of the best scenes in Vegas. The course is set on the exterior rim of the grounds and away from the interior of the resort hailing some of the most breathtaking views of nature. The layout of the course has a more natural feel, and the terrain remains somewhat untouched allowing for a smoother day of golf.

Finally there is the Snow Mountain course, the original course on the Paiute resort. This remarkable course features 7 holes with water hazards, and dogleg finishing holes causing the average golfer to play a little more strategically. Whichever course you may choose to play, you won’t be disappointed by all that Paiute has to offer.