Nevada, Las Vegas Golf Course Reviews
Cascata Golf Course ReviewBoulder City, NV
73.8 rating; 150 slope |
Cascata Scorecard as of the date of last review
Cascata Golf Course Overview: One of the better regarded (it's in the Top 100 public golf courses in the US official list since opening over a decade ago) and one of the most expensive course in the Las Vegas area, this Rees Jones design does not disappoint, even if the wallet is substantially lighter after playing it (but that's par for the course in Vegas, right?). From the reception and service one receives at the clubhouse to the desert vistas still mostly unspoiled by ever-sprawling Vegas housing tracks, this golf course really does shine. Forgiving off the tee in most places due to wide fairways, the very errant shot will still pay the price and there are a few spots on the course, where it gets a bit nasty, especially if the wind is blowing. The best holes are described below:
Cascata Hole 1: The first hole is not long, but it is uphill. There is a creek down the left and a well-placed bunker to the right. Laying up off the tee leaves a wider fairway, but the green also has a false front, so a shorter iron is preferred. |
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Cascata Hole 3 (left): The view from this tee box is great in an expansive desert sort of way. The golf hole is a relatively short par five, given the elevate tee and there isn't an overwhelming amount of trouble for the relatively straight play, making this one of the easier holes on the golf course.
Cascata Hole 4 (below): This par three is fairly long, but downhill. The lake to the left makes pins to that side much more difficult but any shot that carries onto the front of the green will clear the water. The green is very wide, so distance control for most relatively straight shots will leave a birdie putt, even if a long one.
Cascata Hole 4 (below): This par three is fairly long, but downhill. The lake to the left makes pins to that side much more difficult but any shot that carries onto the front of the green will clear the water. The green is very wide, so distance control for most relatively straight shots will leave a birdie putt, even if a long one.
Cascata Hole 6: Sometimes evaluating good golf design is easier when a normally "bad" type of hole, is turned good by the architect. Such is the 6th at Cascata. The author does not like sharply uphill tee shots where there is a "summit" distance that must be attained to avoid the blind, uphill (again blind) shot to the well-guarded green. Here, Rees Jones has that type of hole but he sets the "summit" so far back that only the worst shot can't attain it. Thus, the player is still afforded the choice of hitting driver to leave a wedge in from a tighter fairway spot, or the layup tee shot to leave a longer approach, to a well-guarded green, but from a relatively flat and fair lie. Well done Rees for being on the very few to actually master the type of hole the author normally hates the most often. As an aside, the views from this hole near the top of the property also enhance the experience.
Cascata Hole 7: This short par three is in a sort of "bowl" set against the desert hills. The green is almost square shaped and features severe undulations. The bunkers short and long are not great to be in, but that's better than the creek way short or way left.
Cascata Hole 9: This long par four is downhill and has an angled green with very strategic bunkers short-right and long-left. The views of the distant deset against the green grass are a cool, stark contrast.
Cascata Hole 11: The short par four here is slightly uphill to a green with a big slope in front of the green that might kick balls back into the creek. The putting surface is blind but there are bunkers behind it as well.
Cascata Hole 12: This par three has a waterfall (the reader can guess if it is natural or not) behind the green that empties into a creek that runs just left of the green. Thus, left pins are close to the water, but the right pin is tucked over a bunker and just short of the desert, so this is a good test of accuracy. The green is fairly flat to putt.
Cascata Hole 13: Another downhill par four, this one has a fairly wide fairway, but the approach really shines with a round green featuring a reddish colored hill behind it. The bunker left is not a great spot and most shot hit towards the right of the green should funnel back onto the surface.
Cascata Hole 14: This golf hole is bar none the most difficult on the golf course, and arguably one of the best desert golf holes around. This picture is taken from above and behind the back tee box, for better perspective. The tee shot has to fit between the creek on the right and where the fairway cuts in. The fairway is also the tightest on the course to pretty much any distance and flying the corner of the creek is extremely difficult. The creek then runs into a lake that is short and right of the green, leaving a daunting second from pretty much anywhere, but especially from a long way out and if the pin is cut to the right side. Bunkers behind will gobble up the shot that is too afraid of the water.
Cascata Hole 15: This longer par three has a classic desert feel to it and a big, nasty bunker to avoid at all cost. The mountain vistas are great but also going long has a hidden, "bonus" stee drop off to also beware.
Cascata Hole 16: This par five is one where more attempts may yield more success. Played conservatively, hitting a fairway wood from the tee straight out is the best play and then the golfer can hit it up the hill to reach the green eventually. The more learned player will figure out how much dogleg can be cut and then execute it, leaving a fairly short par five second shot. However, bite off too much or hit the driver and push it and hazard strokes await.
Cascata Hole 18: The final golf hole is a really unique par five with all sorts of options (for a big hitter). The normal golfer should hit the drive straight, staying right of the creek and short of the end of the fairway. From there, the hole turns about 75 degrees to the left, leaving a shot over the creek and that must stay left of hte lake, behind which sits the green. The big hitter can challenge the creek by flying a small hill around which it curves. However, too short is hazard via hill or creek and the landing area is blind with the creek dissecting it. If negotiated successfully, the green can be reached in two, but still has to clear the lake.
