ocean, tumbling property that dropped from the clubhouse, then rose again to the ocean’ s edge. It was enough to stop a man in his tracks and say, think this one out well, for a chance like this doesn’ t come along that often.
William F. Bell made sure that the Pacific would enter the minds of each golfer that played his course. Seven holes touch the coastline in one form or fashion. The run from 10 to 14, to open the back nine, is bathed in ocean views and cliffside daliances. On the front, you rise to the water’ s edge at the fifth green, play along it on the sixth, then return inland until you begin the inward nine.
Many cliff edges on courses like Cypress Point( California) or Cabot Cliffs( Nova Scotia) are irregular, allowing for the placement of a tee or a green on an outcropping; the mile-long edge at Sandpiper is incredibly straight, denying any opportunity for such an arrangement. While the 6th hole might be a bit tame in appearance, given the neighborhood in which it resides, it stimulates the senses for what comes later.
The three-hole stretch from 10 through 12 may be impossible to top for its grandeur and challenge. Ten is a medium-length par four that, under enviable circumstances, could be driven. Woe to the golfer who attempts such a feat, as the green sits out on a promontory, dropping off on both sides and the rear. The view is breathtaking along the entire length of the hole, matched only by the challenge and the reward. Eleven plays downhill to the beach beyond, a long par three mitigated a bit by the severe descent. Many days, you’ ll see locals walking their dogs beyond the palms that back the green, or a boat moving with the tide. Take in these sites, as the most intimidating drive on the course awaits on the twelfth hole. At 350 yards, it’ s not a long hole. The entire right side of the hole is underbrush-covered cliff, forcing the golfer uphill and out to the left. Unless, of course, you’ re the gambling sort that takes aim into the unknown. A ball played directly at the green and struck well, will end up inside 50 yards from the putting surface … or lost forever. A caution: judge the merits of the inland holes not against the ocean run, but on the land they occupy. The reachable first hole( a short par five), the tricky second and third( that dance amid eucalyptus trees) and the long, par three fourth( 258 from the tips?) are very fine holes whose character cannot be questioned. Sandpiper is a driver’ s golf course, as evidenced by two inland holes: the 7th and the 15th. Both offer a chance to cut corners and reach greater lengths, but each presents danger along those avenues. The 7th is a mediumlength par four that bends left, while the 15th is a lengthy par five that bends right. What each offers is a high-side kick slope, to be utilized by the savvy golfer to avoid temptation and bring the golf ball back to fairway center.
Las Vegas and Primm Valley
Old MacDonald GC
While it’ s true that Las Vegas is in Nevada, the reach of Sin City extends about thirty miles west, just across the California border. In Nevada, the town is Primm, and consists of a few hotels, gas stations and an outlet mall. On the California side, you’ ll find a huge solar farm and a 36-hole golf complex called Primm Valley. Both courses were designed by Tom Fazio, fresh off his successes at Shadow Creek and Wynn, a half-hour up the road. Like their Las Vegas brethren, both Primm Valley courses would seem to be a mirage in as deserted an area as one could imagine.
Volume 3 • Issue 33 63