Golf

Desert Pines Golf Club Details

• Opened:
  1996.
• Course designed by:
  Dye Designs International.
• Course Management:
  Walters Golf.
• General Manager / Director of Golf:
  Jim Anderson.
• Head golf professional:
  Johnny “Utah” Sugawara.
• Course Record:
  Jim Strickland, 62.
• Tee Time Policy:
  Desert Pines Golf Club is a daily fee facility. Reservations are accepted six months in advance. Rates vary from $35-$160. Green Fee includes golf cart and range balls.
  
  Dress code: Golf course strictly enforces proper attire including collared shirts and shorts or slacks. Clothing that is not appropriate includes: denim shorts, denim jeans, t-shirts, swimming attire, gym shorts, halter-tops, tank tops or cut-offs. Shoes with spikes must have non-metal spikes while on the course. Any participant who does not comply with the dress code policy will need to change into the proper attire or not be able to participate in the day's play.
  
  Note: Desert Pines Golf Club will close for overseeding on Sept. 12 and reopen Sept. 24.
• Course Map:
  Click here.

Desert Pines Golf Club Review

Nearly 4,000 mature pine trees, imported white sand and abundant water features make Desert Pines feel like a course cut right out of the Carolinas. The Dye Designs layout plays 6,810 yards from the back tees. Pine trees shade the roughs on virtually every fairway, water comes into play on half the holes and more than 60 bunkers -- many framed with Pete Dye's trademark railroad ties -- really tighten up the course. Greens are further protected by their smaller size and severe greenside undulations.

The four par 3's measure 156 to 252 yards. The green on the 180-yard eighth hole is half surrounded by a lake right and bunkers front and left; so there's little room for bailout. The three par 5's are not lengthy, but they're all tight. The 535-yard third hole plays slightly downhill, so it's reachable in two; but there's a white sand waste area all along the left side on the drive, and from 150 yards out, a pond on the right stretches all the way to the green, where a bunker left can swallow bailouts.

The par-4 holes offer the full gamut of tee shot options. Three of the par 4's measure 341 yards or less, while six play more than 425 yards. The closing holes on each nine are ranked as the course's toughest.

The par-4, 467-yard ninth hole is handicapped No. 1. Two large bunkers left challenge the tee shot on the slight dogleg right, while a lake on the right runs from 140 yards out all the way to the long but narrow two-tiered green, which the water half surrounds. The approach shot also must avoid a long greenside bunker left. Tough par!

On the par-4, 466-yard 18th, a long bunker right is in play on the tee shot, while a lake runs along the left side the rest of the way to the two-tiered green, which is further guarded by large bunkers left and right.

A fully automated, two-tiered practice and teaching facility features 58 covered stalls with individually controlled heaters for winter and misters for summer. For sustenance before or after play or practice, Duffer's Bar & Grill offers a nice variety in an expansive clubhouse with great mountain views.

Course statistics: