Matt WardLas Vegas Paiute Golf Resort
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Wolf Course
17th hole / 486 Yards / Par-4
Architect: Pete Dye (2001)
by Matt Ward
Those coming to Las Vegas will be enticed with the various entertainment options — with gaming front and center. For those searching for a guaranteed experience with a golf intersection it pays to head to Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort. The facility is easily accessible from The Strip and is roughly 20 miles away.
The 54-hole complex provides a fine array of holes via three distinct layouts. The most notable being the Wolf. Aptly named — the Wolf is a rigorous test enhanced by demanding challenges through varying hole types and impacted by varying wind velocities which can quite intense at various times.
The 17th hole is often forgotten given the fanfare paid to such other notable closing holes including the par-3 island green 15th hole and the memorably long par-4 18th — ably defended by a water penalty area along the right side of the fairway.
The penultimate hole is smartly crafted through the involvement of serpentine arroyo. Players have to decide the specific line of attack when arriving at the tee. Players can opt with a lay-up prior to the arroyo but doing results in a far longer approach to the distant green.
The curving nature of the arroyo mandates a precise game plan — there is a shorter carry over the right side and a far longer one over the right. Those failing to execute properly will be severely penalized by the impact caused by the arroyo.
The approach to the 6,000 square foot green is quite testing. The green is slightly elevated above the fairway and internal contours are quite vexing to decipher. Those finishing far from the daily pin location will be tested thoroughly.
Credit renowned architect Pete Dye for a superbly crafted hole which like an honest judge metes out justice fairly — no bribes accepted.
“The 17th at the Wolf is a great test for any golfer. The big key is hitting the fairway,” said Jeff Reid, General Manager. “Playing from any other location other than the short grass will make this hole even longer as well as bring on many challenges.”
With that in mind —
Choose wisely — and execute accordingly.
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Photo Courtesy of Brian Oar.
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