Louie Traub/ViewKevin Powell, left, and Adam Metcalf of Las Vegas hit balls on the driving range at Aliante Golf Club, 3100 W. Elkhorn Road, April 1.
Louie Traub/ViewKevin Powell, left, and Adam Metcalf of Las Vegas hit balls on the driving range at Aliante Golf Club, 3100 W. Elkhorn Road, April 1.
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My take-away memory of Aliante Golf Club, after playing there in the spring of 2004, was standing on the second tee, bulldozers grading the adjacent golf course lots, wind blowing dust in my face and wondering if I could keep the drive in the fairway with the strong crosswinds.
So, I was really anticipating my return visit on a recent weekend. Would it be similar to the scene from the movie "Dan in Real Life," when Steve Carell gets set up on a blind date with his former high school mate Ruthie "Pig Face" Draper? I wondered. In the film, Ruthie blossomed into a beautiful, accomplished plastic surgeon, and, sure enough, Aliante turned out to have matured beautifully as a golf course. Now, all but finished, Aliante, surrounded by homes, is visually pleasing and presents challenges to all levels of golfers.
Upon arrival, I was greeted by a very attentive staff that took my bag and directed me to the clubhouse. There, Randy Weigman, general manager, welcomed me and wasted no time filling me in on the potential trouble spots of the course: "Watch for the creek on No. 3, you might want to lay up. Same on 16, be careful. OB on the left on No. 9."
The course is in great condition, and it features an abundance of traps and trees. The trees aren't fully mature yet, but when they are, the course will become even more inviting.
The course was designed by Gary Panks of Scottsdale, Ariz. Panks also designed the Angel Park putting course here in town, as well as the Sedona Golf Resort in Sedona, Ariz.
The course from the tips plays to more than 7,000 yards, so some holes you really have to bomb the driver. Despite Randy's warning, I found the creek on the par-5, 555-yard No. 3. Be aware that the fairways are firm and you get a lot of roll, which sometimes adds unwanted distance to your drives. No. 13 is a par-3, 233-yard shot with protective bunkers on the right. Somehow, it is ranked the 12th most difficult hole on the layout, according to the course handicap. The 17th is a beautiful hole and is considered the signature hole. It's a 420-yard par-4 with water bordering the left and backside of the green.
Aliante Golf Club is part of the Sun City Aliante community, and is run by OB Sports Golf Management. It offers a variety of programs to make golf more affordable. The Platinum Club offers unlimited golf for $200 a month; the holder needs only to pay cart fees. Aliante's sister courses, Angel Park Golf Club, 100 S. Rampart Blvd., and The Legacy Golf Club, 130 Par Excellence Drive, Henderson, are available to play, as well. Additional discounts are available for playing guests, as well as pro shop savings. Purchase the OB Sports Golf Card for $149 and you get discounted green fees, including guests, at all three courses along with a variety of golf perks that save you money.
Aliante Golf Club is a joy to play, featuring attentive staff, a challenging course and the new Aliante Station casino that's set to open in the fall right across the street. Doesn't get much better than that.
PGA TAKES A DOUBLE BOGEY
Bogey No. 1
Raise your hand if you have been a little confused by the PGA's new cut line policy for tournaments. If you, like I, read the finishes for tournaments in the newspaper, you've noticed that some players make the cut but are not eligible to play on the weekends.
The original cut line policy, developed in 1969, allowed the low 70 scores plus ties to compete for the money on the weekends. Citing large weekend fields, 51/2-hour rounds and tight TV times, the PGA this year changed the cut line policy to the low 70 scores plus ties unless that number included more than 78 players. If more than 78 players were eligible, the cut line was reduced by one stroke until only 70 players remained. Those players eliminated by this procedure received last-place prize money but could not play the weekend.
Of course, the players complained, so the PGA modified the new rule allowing the affected players to compete on Saturday before making another cut line based on the 70-player guideline. What next?
Bogey No. 2
First there was the confusion about the payoff connected to the FedEx Cup Tournament. The first-place prize is $10 million, but few players were aware that the prize money would be deferred, being deposited into the player's retirement account and accessible when the player turned 45. "I may be dead," remarked Tiger Woods.
But more scoring changes are in the works. This year, after the regular FedEx points determine standings, points will be reset, bunching the players more closely and eliminating any huge point leads for regular season success. Sounds like Tiger-proofing the FedEx to me. For this year's tournament, the points will be reset and the leader will have only a 500-point advantage going into the tournament. Last year, there were only six golfers with legitimate chances to win the FedEx. Under this year's rules, 12 would have had a chance. Let's lower the common denominator, shall we?
Anybody have anything on their minds out there? Let me know and we'll kick it around.
John Asay is a longtime golfer and local freelance writer. Contact him at jasay@reviewjournal.com.
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