Just One Time / Wynn Golf Club

  Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Saturday, March 14, 2009

I left the blinds open last night, so I woke up as soon as the sun rose above the mountains.  As I am looking out the window across to the golf course, I was over whelmed with an urge to play.  The Wynn charges an outrages $500 to play on their golf course.  The course was originally part of the Desert Inn Golf Course, but was redesigned by Tom Fazio when Steve Wynn bought the property.  Before today I would have said that no course is worth spending that much money; however the temptation was too great with the course within a stone's throw.  The deal was clinched when I called the pro shop and found out they provided Callaway clubs for rentals.  In my bag I have X-18 irons, so I know I would be comfortable hitting the new X-22.  What the hell, you only live once.  I got a tee time after the dew delay and walked to the pro shop.

Wynn #2

While waiting for my tee time, I spent some time on the range getting use to the clubs.  I was paired up with another person but he/she never showed, so it will be me and my caddy Charlie sharing the cart.  I am sure Charlie would have preferred the extra player/tip vice being able to ride for 18 holes.  Charlie was an ex-golf pro from South Carolina who is spending his retirement in Las Vegas.  He was kind enough to look the other way, when I pulled out my camera...there is a course rule prohibiting cameras on the golf course.  As a matter of fact, he took some pictures of me throughout the round.  Hey for $500 I want more souvenirs than my memories and a bag tag!

The pre-round warm up was helping because I was striking the ball, well.  It prompted Charlie to guess that I was a 10-11 handicap golf and he was surprised when I told him I was a 22 handicapper.  I warned him he will see my dark side soon enough.  Mr. Hyde appeared on the 5th hole when I pulled two balls out of bounds to the left.  Coupled with a 3 putt performance on the green and I posted a whopping 9 for that hole.  I also lost balls on the 10th and 12th holes, but Charlie was kind enough to give me some replacement balls.  In addition to those errant shots, I gave away several strokes in the short game.  Part of the problem is that the rental clubs only come with a pitching wedge and a sand wedge, while my bag contains 5 wedges for the variety of short game shots.  The other problem I was having was with the putter where I 4-putted two of the Fazio greens...both times when I reached the green in regulation!

After the disastrous #5, my game calmed down a bit when I made the next three greens in regulation.  On the par 3, 149 yard, hole #6 I needed four putts when I hit the 8-iron to the back of the green while the pin was in the front.  On the next hole (516 yard par 5), I drilled the drive 260 yards and followed up with a lay up 6 iron short of the water.  An easy 9 iron pitch and again I was on the green in regulation; this time I 3 putted...getting better.  On the third hole (444 yard par 4), I teed off with a 3 wood and hit it about 210 onto the fairway.  I followed this with another splendid 3 wood, which found the green, but this time I made par on the number one handicap hole!  I finished the front nine with 52...not bad considering I carded a 9 on the 5th hole.

Ducks on #10

I had a shaky start to the back nine, when I pulled my drive across the creek on the left.  My provisional was safely on the fairway, but I had Charlie search the brush on the other side for the first ball.  I took a picture of the ducks sleeping in the shade, while Charlie searched in vain.  Charlie earned his tip on the 11th hole (157 yard par 3) when he gave me a right-left read.  I swear I thought the ball was going to break left-right, but I trusted Charlie's advice.  I sank the putt for an up & down par save.  I parred one other hole on the back nine, #13 (428 yard par 4). 

Approach on Wynn #18

Charlie made the observation that I would be a good player in a scramble format because I could contribute to the team when I nail some of my shots and discard my horrible shots.  My best shot came on the signature #18 hole (425 yard par 4).  I drove the ball 220 yards onto the fairway with the trusty 3 wood.  Now, I am faced with a daunting approach shot with water all along the left side and the green tucked into the left in front of a beautiful waterfall.  I pushed the 2 hybrid out to the right and drew the ball back towards the green; just like I pictured it in my head.  The putt was a scary uphill putt to a hole placed on top of the mount in the upper right hand corner of the green.  Just one time, can I make this birdie putt?  I did mention that I 4-putted two greens, right?  That was the most disappointing 6 in my life...oh, well.

Wilbur Clark Bridge

It was an enjoyable round but I do not think it was worth $500, perhaps if I made that birdie putt.  For this price, I am expecting a sea side view and some history to the course.  The closest thing to history, came when I walked over the Wilbur Clark (owner of the old Desert Inn and original founding father of Vegas) Bridge on the 17th hole, but it was no Swilcan Bridge.  I felt bad that Charlie got the unlucky draw on getting assigned to a single.  I tried to help things by finishing my round in 3.5 hours, so he could potential make an extra loop for the day.  Plus I gave him a little more than the customary $50 tip for the encouraging words and that terrific read.