Angel Park Golf Club

By Ron Reece, The Internet Golf Guy

Angel Park Golf Club provides players with two unique, Arnold Palmer designed courses that have been a centerpiece in Las Vegas since 1989. From an elevation of 2,800 feet, the facility offers fantastic views of the Red Rock Mountains and the famous Las Vegas skyline. Most golfers who visit Southern Nevada have heard of the Mountain and Palm courses at this facility, however if you have not yet had the pleasure of playing there, now is the time.

The Mountain course was one of the original desert-style layouts in the valley, and is still considered by many to be one of the finest in town. From the back tees this course measures 6,722 yards and, while not overwhelming, is challenging due to the dense vegetation that surrounds the fairways. Players are forced to be accurate and relatively long from off of the tee. However, the wide fairways and lack of bunkering do offer players the ability to land on green grass, which is always a good thing when playing golf in Vegas.

The putting surfaces on the Mountain course are pretty standard, with few undulations and no real surprises. Typically, the ball tends to go where you hit it most of the time, however there is the occasional break toward the mountains that might be hard to pick up. The real difficulty on the greens comes from the approach shot, which can be tricky due to the elevated putting surfaces. You might want to use one more club to attack the green so that you are sitting pin-high for your birdie putt.

The Palm course is an entirely different golf experience, one made easier by the relatively short length and flat landscape. Measuring only 6,500 yards from the back tees, this par-70 is a great track for the beginning or intermediate player. The fairways are wide and receptive, which make for an easy target off the tee-box. There is some natural desert surrounding, however most holes run adjacent to each other; and landing on the short grass is a relatively easy task.

Similar to the Mountain course, the Palm's greens are somewhat flat, lacking the severe undulations that the beginning player might find inviting. Most putts will go where you want them to, and as long as you can hit it straight, you should have no problems trying to read the surface.

While no longer considered to be a "premier" facility in Las Vegas, the Angel Park Golf Club still offers very good golf and outstanding value. As green fees skyrocket in the valley, this course has remained a local favorite due to the friendly staff, good rates, and favorable course conditions.

Mountain

Palm

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