Southern Highlands to make debut as host

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000 | 9:37 a.m.

The newly built Southern Highlands Golf Club will serve as one of three golf courses hosting the $4.25 Invensys Classic Oct. 11-15.

The 7,381-yard par 72 course co-designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr. will replace the Las Vegas Country Club in the rotation for at least this year, joining the Desert Inn and TPC Summerlin.

"The way the event is structured with the 144 pros and 432 amateurs, it needs to be played on three golf courses," tournament manager Charlie Baron said. "The Las Vegas Country Club has been a big supporter of the event.

"And through their support, we were able to get the event off the ground. The membership decided to pass on having the tournament this year and keep it as a private club."

The tournament will be played on all three courses Wednesday through Friday and only at the TPC Summerlin on Saturday and Sunday.

Jay Davis, director of golf at Southern Highlands, thinks the professionals will enjoy the challenge of the course.

"The pros are going to find a well-conditioned golf course, and one that builds all the way to a tremendous finish," Davis said. "It builds in difficulty as you go along.

"There are a lot of risk-reward holes, angles over bunkers and water hazards. The par 5s (holes 3, 9, 13 and 18) will be holes where they can make a birdie or a seven."

The 17th and 18th holes may provide the greatest challenge.

No. 17 is 214-yard par 3 with water fronting the green and a bunker to the right and behind the green. The green on this hole is angled differently depending on pin placement. No. 18 is an uphill 622-yards par 5 with bunkers and water hazards the length of the hole and an undulating green.

"It's definitely a 3-shot," Davis said of 18. "I think these two are as good as finishing holes as I've ever played."

If the winds are calm, the professionals have said that the tournament turns into a putting contest, especially at the LVCC. Davis warns that Southern Highlands will be more of a challenge.

"They have to definitely hit some shots here," he said. "It is definitely going to be a difficult test for them even if the wind is not blowing."