Angel Park Golf Club - Palm (Las Vegas, NV)

Angel Park is exactly what you’d expect in a place like Las Vegas. It has something for everyone including a nine hole short course and an eighteen hole putt-putt course. Both can be played under the lights, making for a cool experience that extends well past dark. Of course a restaurant and bar is there to keep you satisfied and relaxed. For more serious golfers, two eighteen hole courses provide a traditional challenge in a desert setting.

 

(The putt-putt course and this dramatic waterfall greet you when you arrive at Angel Park. In the background is the par three course called Cloud 9.) 

Arnold Palmer designed the Palm in 1989. It’s a few hundred yards shorter than the Mountain but it has plenty of character. The holes move across the property with several arroyos coming into play. The desert wash plays alongside most fairways. The land moves up and down, creating some exciting shots both off the tees and into the greens. The view of the Red Rock Mountains is the best feature though. They backdrop several of the shots and will etch themselves into your memory far longer than the holes. 

(The 180 yard par three fifth has a two tiered green. Today’s pin is on the lower section.)

(The tee shot on the 523 yard par five sixth plays over the desert. The fairway in pic is for the second shot as the hole zigzags back to the right.) 

My biggest criticism are the water features used to defend some of the holes. This is a desert so they look very much out of place. The fact you can see the liner makes them even more gaudy. The fountain on the ninth is the worst. I feel the desert is plenty enough to protect the course, and the best holes mingle with the arroyos, making for some really cool shots. I also thought the shaping around the greens is too blasé. Granted there’s a lot of new players and high handicappers here, but more defined playing areas would up the enjoyment level. 

(The 404 yard par four seventh is possibly the best hole on the front. With desert wash both left and right off the tee, the player must hit a long straight tee shot followed by a long second to this elevated green.) 

(This is a great view looking back towards the tee on the 456 yard par four tenth. Notice how tenacious the desert terrain can be with the scrawny trees and bushes prohibiting any significant advancement.) 

The routing on the Palm is divided by a long drive under the East Summerlin Pkwy. Holes 1-3 and 14-18 play on the clubhouse side while 4-13 play on the away side. The holes away are crammed into an area that made Palmer come up with poor solution. Both the par three fifth and eighth hole play side by side, making them carbon copies, while the fourth and ninth are not very imaginative short par fours. Together these four holes are forgettable. The only upside is the quality of the other six, including my personal favorite, the par three twelth. 

(The 214 yard par three twelth plays over an arroyo to a green on the other side. A large boulder on the right sets the shot, making a fade the desired ball flight. The putting surface slopes hard towards the rock so those who bailed out will need to judge the weight of their downhill putts.) 
(The view from the 367 yard par four fifteenth shows off the handsome qualities of the desert look.) 

The Palm plays a modest 6,432 yards from the back tees but it’s only a par 70. It’s well suited for most amateur golfers and the mountain air combined with the firm conditions will make it play shorter. I must comment on the turf. There’s a lot of little stones and few times when I took a divot you can see they’re not far below the ground. All the bunkers are filled with them and you have to make sure one is not between your ball and the face of your club. This is not a criticism but rather a pointed commentary on the terrain. None of these things stop the facility from being packed, and with all the amenities, it’s busy day and night. My only regret was not playing Cloud9 at night. It just got ranked as one of the best par three courses in the country. Angel Park is a fun place and the Palm is a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play). It’s 15 minutes from the airport. 

(The 204 yard par three seventeenth is another one of my favorites. The arroyo encircles the green and any shot that misses the putting surface will roll back into the desert. If this happens, then it’s hit or miss if you have a shot.) 

(A stone wall elevates the green above the bunker on the 373 yard par four eighteenth. The putting surface is two tiered with the rear being the higher level. Today’s back pin requires a fearless shot over the bunker.) 

(The putt-putt course is on real grass with big slopes or mounds. The cups are double the width of a regular one. It’s lit up at night and hosts plenty of families or couples on a date. What a great idea that could be brought to any city! A course looking to increase its business should really consider this, especially if it already has a bar or restaurant attached.)

[My round was played with three gents from New York City. Man did these guys talk! Often times there was more chatting than playing! We played the blue tees at 5,741 yards. I really thought I’d tear it up but my game was off and I shot a very mediocre 77. That’s +7 for a course under 6,000 yards. It was Super Bowl Sunday and I was very pleased to get on without having a tee time.]