Awe-inspiring, spectacular and visually stunning are just a few of the superlatives that describe Wolf Creek Golf Club. Located about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas, it is a truly unforgettable golf course.

The course is carved from the natural terrain of the area and, because of the high elevations, provides vistas of red rock mountains, steep cliffs, desert, lakes and streams from almost every twist and turn. While basking in the magnificent beauty, you can’t help but marvel at how the course was built, from the vision of the design to the sheer manpower it took to create this work of art.

The course has five sets of tees, enabling golfers of any ability to have a chance at a good score. Selecting the correct tee boxes based on your ability is a must. The back tees are for those who play a caliber of game with which I am not familiar. On this day, sanity won over ego, and I played the course from one tee in. If you have the nerve to play the tips, the course rating is 154 — which makes it the third most difficult course in the United States.

Even the carts on this course are unique. They are equipped with fourwheel drive to ascend the steep grades you will encounter. This is the most difficult driving course I have ever played — not so much in getting the ball from tee to fairway as in negotiating the paths with my cart.

Every course has a signature hole. Wolf Creek has 18 of them, and they must be seen and played to be appreciated. Have fun and, by all means, keep your cart on the path.

Hole 1

(504 yards, par 5)

The first hole has an elevated tee shot, and the fairway is littered with bunkers down both sides. Big hitters can reach the green in two, but the water to the right near the green can swallow up a wayward shot. If laying up, make sure the third shot gets on the proper tier of the green, which also slopes from back to front.

Hole 2

(429 yards, par 4)

The tee is situated 110 feet above the fairway. The smart play is to hit a fairway wood or an iron to set up the second shot. If you choose to hit the driver, you must aim over the desert terrain to make sure you don’t run out of fairway. The second shot is uphill and plays longer than the posted yardage.

Hole 5

(469 yards, par 5)

Starting from another elevated tee, this hole has a dogleg left and can be reached in two. The first order of business is to clear the stream that meanders about 210 yards out from the tee. If you choose to lay up, on your second shot you will be left with a short shot into a deep green that is severely tiered. Being on the correct tier will enhance your chance at birdie or par.

Hole 8

(217 yards, par 3)

This green is buffeted by water in the front, back and left. There is an extremely small bail-out area to the right. Missing the green invariably means you’re looking at making a high score. After visually inspecting this hole, one of my playing partners muttered, “I’ll tell you right now that I won’t be finishing this one.”

Hole 10 (446 yards, par 4)
The tee shot plays long. A stream and rocks play havoc with a tee shot that doesn’t make the fairway. A good tee shot will leave you with a mediumto long-iron into the green that is guarded by a bunker on the right.

Hole 12

(544 yards, par 5)

This is a classic lay-up hole. The fairway slopes severely towards the water, which lies all along the left. If you hit left your ball will be above your feet. A good lay-up will leave you with a short third shot to a green that is over 100 feet deep. Choosing the right club for the third shot is imperative.

Hole 17

(527 yards, par 5)

A good drive will allow the big hitter to nervously navigate a second shot onto the green — that is on a peninsula. The only bail-out area is to the left. A lay-up will leave you with a short third shot on to the green that, along with the water, is guarded by a bunker on the right.

Hole 18 (295 yards, par 4)
This is a short uphill hole with a much wider fairway than is visible from the tee. A good tee shot will leave you with a short shot to a green with a backstop on the deep left. A misplayed second shot is likely to find the stream in front of the green.

Wolf Creek Golf Club
403 Paradise Parkway
Mesquite, NV 89027
tel 866 252 4653
http://www.golfwolfcreek.com