Tuesday, April 18, 2000 | 10:37 a.m.
A look at the host course for the Las Vegas Senior Classic by TruGreen-ChemLawn, by course architect Robert Weed:
No. 1: 359-yard Par 4
Playing straightaway, the opening hole has a generous, wide fairway. The driver is optional as the fairway bunker on the left side is reachable. Keep the short approach shot right as the green has a falloff on the front and along the left side. With no greenside bunkers, the opening approach is deceptive.
No. 2: 196-yard Par 3
A dramatic, downhill hole playing to a green flanked by a barranca and protected on the right by a greenside bunker. The hole plays a bit shorter than its measured distance, so club selection is a premium.
No. 3: 466-yard Par 4
A long, slightly downhill par-4 with the barranca on the left. The tee shot should utilize the receptive right slope to avoid the fairway bunker. The green favors a left-to-right approach. Being short is better than being long.
No. 4: 544-yard Par 5
A tempting short, downhill 5-par with the prevailing wind assisting. The ideal tee shot is left-to-right down the right side for a view of the green. A narrow opening encourages the player to "go for it," although surrounding greenside bunkers will challenge even the best sand player.
No. 5: 378-yard Par 4
A medium-short par-4 that plays across a barranca to a wide fairway that narrows toward the green. The short approach is to a green that slopes severely on the front left and is protected by a long, deep bunker that should be avoided.
No. 6: 604-yard Par 5
A long, straightaway three-shot hole that is quite strategic is design. The tee shot favors a right-to-left drive avoiding the fairway bunkers. The second shot is most important as a plateaued landing area affords a full view of the green. Any shot short or long makes for a difficult approach to a green that falls off on three sides and is protected by a large bunker on the front right.
No. 7: 209-yard Par 3
A long hole playing more than the measured distance. A dry wash and bunkers protect the left side, requiring a right-to-left shot to a green sloping back-to-front. Bail-out is to the right.
No. 8: 458-yard Par 4
The longest par-4 playing uphill into the prevailing wind. A left-to-right tee shot near the bunkers affords the preferred approach. Bail-out is plentiful to the right, although beware of the small greenside bunker.
No. 9: 349-yard Par 4
Although a short hole, do not let up on this one. The landing area is generously wide if the left fairway bunker is challenged. Otherwise, numerous options exist, playing to a semi-blind green. The green is wide, but not deep and is best reached with a short iron.
Front Nine -- Par 36, 3,563 yards
No. 10: 419-yard Par 4
Another uphill par-4 with a barranca on the left and a generous, wide fairway void of any bunkers. Take an extra club, for the uphill approach shot is into the prevailing wind. The green slopes to the front and is open, receptive to a run-up shot.
No. 11: 444-yard Par 4
A testing straightaway par-4 that usually plays into a crosswind. Challenge the fairway bunker for an ideal approach. A greenside bunker on the right can be avoided with a run-up shot to the left or a left-to-right approach.
No. 12: 145-yard Par 3
The shortest of the 3-pars, playing to a peninsula green surrounded by desert. A ridge running through the middle separates the green into two levels.
No. 13: 423-yard Par 4
An exciting natural hole with a deep arroyo running up the entire right side. Avoid biting off too much as the fairway slopes toward the arroyo. The green is most receptive to a right-to-left approach and has two levels.
No. 14: 365-yard Par 4
Another true, natural desert hole challenging the player to bite off the native desert. Ideally, over the left fairway bunker is a good play, leaving a short approach to a green that is situated on a ledge, fronted by a unique cavernous arroyo.
No. 15: 612-yard Par 5
A wonderful three-shot hole playing downhill and with the prevailing wind, is shorter than the measured distance. Strategy is the key as the second shot must be left of the arroyo.
No. 16: 202-yard Par 3
The last of the par-3s, the green is situated on a ridge just beyond a natural barranca. Bunkers protect the right side of the green.
No. 17: 443-yard Par 4
An interesting 4-par with natural features abounding. The tee shot is assisted by a large ridge along the right side and protected by a cluster of bunkers on the left. Care should be taken not to carry the drive too far into the grassed barranca.
No. 18: 447-yard Par 4
This finishing hole is a dramatic, downhill par-4. The elevated tee shot shoots over the desert to a tight fairway flanked with bunkers. The approach is to a green protected by water and surrounded by bunkers. Anything can happen here.
Back Nine -- Par 35, 3,500 yards
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