SOUTHLAND FOCUS
A weekly look at golf courses open to the public in Southern California.
PRIMM VALLEY G. C., DESERT COURSE
Address: I-15 at California-Nevada border.
Phone: (702) 679-5510.
Green fees: $70 to $150.
Tee times: Week in advance for Las Vegas residents, 21 days for others.
The facility: The Desert course, which opened in April, is the newer of two Tom Fazio-designed courses just across the California border from the Nevada gambling resort of Primm Valley, 35 miles south of Las Vegas. It is longer than the Lakes course, but has a totally different look. Where the Lakes features lots of water and a green look more reminiscent of North Carolina, the Desert is just what the name implies--wide open spaces with brown coloring of the Southwest.
The good: Summer rates start June 1 and are cheaper, but it’s advisable to play before the 100-plus temperatures scorch the course. Four sets of tees give players of varying abilities an opportunity to enjoy themselves. (The black tees stretch the course to an intimidating 7,131 yards.) No. 9 is a gorgeous waterfall that ranges from 127 yards to 222.
The bad: When the wind is blowing, play becomes tortuous. From the black tees, it plays to 74.6 rating with a 138 slope, made even more difficult by swirling sandstorms fed by large waste areas.
The score: If you catch a calm day, especially after a hot night at Buffalo Bill’s crap tables, you can leave the course with a happy feeling.
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Overall rating: 3 1/2 balls
* One ball: No-frills golf.
** Two balls: Worth an occasional round.
*** Three balls: Like shooting four strokes under your handicap.
**** Four balls: Where the golf gods play.
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Hole Back Tees Middle Tees Par Front Tees 1 407 372 4 340 2 414 385 4 321 3 324 313 4 272 4 160 150 3 129 5 345 330 4 306 6 338 314 4 294 7 506 487 5 409 8 545 506 5 422 9 181 158 3 127 Out 3,218 3,015 36 2,620 10 432 395 4 363 11 185 161 3 143 12 409 383 4 353 13 520 492 5 463 14 368 329 4 291 15 170 150 3 128 16 406 377 4 336 17 340 320 4 284 18 492 463 5 416 In 3,322 3,070 36 2,777 Total 6,540 6,085 72 5,397
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Rating/Slope: Back--71.7/130; Middle--69.5/124; Front--Not rated