New course at Sun City caters to all

Dean Juipe

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Las Vegas has added several golf courses in the last few years, and one demand was recently met with the opening of the par-60 Desert Willow Golf Course at the Sun City MacDonald Ranch.

The executive-length course caters to players of all ages who are satisfied with traversing 18 holes in 3,811 yards, as opposed to the conventional par-72 course of 7,000 yards.

Attractive and moderately challenging given its design, Desert Willow opened June 1. Its summer rates are in effect until Sept. 15.

"It's challenging but fun," said Zack Armijo of the Desert Willow staff. "We get more retirees than anything else, but anyone can enjoy the course because you can play 18 holes without feeling exhausted. It's lighter on you physically."

Designed by Hall of Fame professional Billy Casper, along with Greg Nash, Desert Willow is only the third executive-length course in Southern Nevada. Calvada has an executive-length course in Pahrump, as does Summerlin with Eagle Crest.

"Even now, people are just becoming aware that we're out here," Armijo said of Desert Willow, which is located near the intersection of Green Valley Parkway and Lake Mead Boulevard. "The volume of play has grown each month."

The course offers 12 par-3 holes and six par-4 holes from three tees, ranging from 3,811 yards from the blues to 3,108 from the reds.

Greens fees are $35 with carts and $25 to walk until Sept. 15, when they'll increase to $45 and $35, respectively, en route to $55 and $45, respectively, during the October to May months.

Despite its youth, the course is already mature and the greens are in great condition.

"The greens are the best part of the course," Armijo said. "You can read them, but they have a lot of subtle breaks and they can be rather quick."