Recently I had the opportunity to play Reflection Bay Golf Club at the Lake Las Vegas Resort.  This Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course has played host to the Wendy's Three Tour Challenge and is one of the most picturesque golf courses in Henderson, Nevada.  The lush green grass contrasts well with the stark desert landscape that surrounds Lake Las Vegas.  When other golf courses are wilting in the desert sun, Reflection Bay Golf Club is still an oasis in the desert. 

Playing golf in the hot desert sun can be a crap shoot at best.  It is always remarkable to me that the grass doesn't wither and die.  For the past month we have been getting nothing but 110+ degree heat.  As you may guess, this can be a nightmare for a golf course superintendent.

Reflection Bay has always prided itself on great course conditions and top quality service.  As I pulled my car into the lot I was greeted by a friendly cart attendant who took my clubs and directed me to the golf shop.  He indicated my clubs would be located directly outside the golf shop when I was ready to go.

After checking in with the golf shop, I headed out to the first tee.  I was playing in the heat of the day so I basically had the golf course to myself.  What a joy it is to play a world-class golf course at a comfortable pace!  The greens are always the biggest concern I have with any golf course and I was pleasantly surprised to see that these greens were in great condition.  They were running fast and true.  I like a firmer green and these were made-to-order.  The greens would hold a shot but allowed the ball to roll a bit, which helped me to find some of the back pin placements.

One of my favorite holes on the front nine is the par-5 fifth hole.  This medium-length hole gives the player the chance to hit the green in two shots.  There are risks, like desert on the left and a creek that runs down the right side.  The best part of this hole is the walkway to the green.  The cart path is located on the right side of the creek so players must cross the creek to get to the hole.  Rather than having a traditional bridge, this hole has stepping stones that lead to the green - the tops of large rocks sticking out of the water.  This is a classy feature and one of the nice details that makes Reflection Bay Golf Club so special.

As I was approaching the 7th hole, I noticed the course advisor approaching.  He asked me if I would like a cold towel for my face.  This was just one of the great amenities when the weather reaches over 110 degrees.  There is nothing like a cool towel on a hot day.  This is the type of attention to detail I have come to expect from Reflection Bay.

I asked Head Golf Professional Jon Spatz how they keep the golf course in such good condition.  He said they are constantly working on improving the golf course.  For example, this year they are replacing all the collars around the greens.  This will greatly enhance the playability of the golf course.  Jon comments, "Players will not even notice the interruption in play and the whole project should be finished by the first part of August."  Techniques in maintenance have become so refined that major projects such as this one can be accomplished with little effect to the condition of the golf course.

This is merely another example of how Reflection Bay is able to maintain excellent course conditions even during prolonged periods of heat. 

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