Evidently, 36 holes on 2 award-winning layouts were not enough for Pete Dye or the Las Vegas Paiute Indian Reservation. Opened in 2001 as the 3rd 18-hole layout on the property, the Wolf course quickly and for good reason bullied its way to the front of the pecking order. If Dye’s one regret in building the first two courses (Snow Mountain and Sun Mountain, respectfully) was that they were more user-friendly than his reputation might suggest, he has more than made up for it with the design of his newest effort.
Stretching as long as 7,604 yards from the furthest of five sets of tees, the Wolf is as bold as it is long. It features a remarkable amount of land movement and genuinely imposing par 4s highlighted by two brutal closing holes. Needless to say, the player who survives 18 holes here with a score anywhere resembling his/her normal tally has done quite well.
Getting beat up is not why people plan to spend a day in Vegas at the golf course (that’s what the blackjack tables are for…) and for all the “take” in the Wolf course, there’s certainly plenty of “give” as well. The par 5s provide a much-needed breather and birdie opportunities (or eagle, as this author proved on the reachable 3rd hole), and the par 3s each call for well-struck but not overly demanding iron shots. Some will scoff at the almost comically out-of-place 15th (an island green par 3 reminiscent of Dye’s more famous version at the PGA West Stadium course) and yes, seeing such a concoction here seems odd. The great thing about it, though, is that we’re in Las Vegas and that means that everyone’s entitled to a guilty pleasure. The 15th hole is just that – putting a ball on the green and walking off with a par (or birdie) is something you can brag about to your playing partners and it makes for an interesting photo opportunity.
If you asked me to name a weakness of the Wolf, I’d point to the overly contoured fairways – dips, humps, and mounds can be of great strategic value on a course like this, but they’re a bit overdone resulting in fairways that feature a strong element of randomness (and not in a good way) that really isn’t necessary given the natural pitch of the land.
Immune to this small complaint, a couple holes to note are the reachable par 5 6th which falls down the hill and tilts gently to the left. The hole lays out a host of options, each with its clearly visible merits and dangers. Two holes later is the terror-inducing par 3 8th which dares the player against even for a second considering playing anywhere other than the extreme left edge of the green. Its visual intimidation is only enhanced by the view from the tee, easily one of the most spectacular on the property, that makes finding the necessary focus a challenge.
Proving themselves equal to the task of maintaining such an excellent course, the grounds crew has done well to have the golf course in absolutely immaculate condition. This praise does not mean the fairways are the greenest, most lush and carpet-like surfaces you’ve ever seen (they aren’t) but I would gladly trade in grass that merely looks pretty for turf that plays appropriately. The Wolf course plays like an absolute dream: Rough is not overly penal while still making you think about how to avoid it, and both the fairways and greens are healthy, firm, fast, and true. You will most certainly roll your fair share of lag putts 5-10 feet by the hole, but the fortunate flipside is that you will likely find yourself making the dicey comebackers and dropping mid-length putts (or at least burning edges) more often than normal.
Off the course, the Las Vegas Paiute resort features a lavish clubhouse complete with panoramic views overlooking the Snow Mountain course and an attractive open-air floor plan in which the pro shop, lobby, restaurant, and bar smoothly flow into one another. Men’s and women’s locker rooms are large and comfortable, and the service is attentive and friendly.
Barely a half-hour from the strip, the Las Vegas Paiute resort feels worlds away from the congestion of the city and the mind-numbing sameness of the suburbs that infect many of the other area courses. There’s not a home to be found on any fairway here, and the only detail that betrays Paiute’s remote setting is the occasional glimpse one steals of the Stratosphere tower lurking the distance. Given the quality of the golf, the clubhouse facilities, the stunning scenery, and the “away from it all” feeling that is fairly rare around these parts, I heartily recommend the Las Vegas Paiute Resort to anyone looking for a round (or three) as part of their Vegas experience.
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THE ULTIMATE THREESOME . . .
What are they saying?
"4 ½ Stars"
All 3 Courses
Golf Digest 2006
"Best Overall
Experience"
3 years running VegasGolfer Magazine
