Other Nevada Golf Course Reviews
Emerald River Golf Course (deceased) Review
Laughlin, NV
73.6 rating; 144 slope |
Emerald River Golf Course Obituary: This true desert course outside of “beautiful” Laughlin, NV was one of the most treacherous courses under 6,800 yards anywhere. The past tense is used because in 2005 the course was demolished in favor of a large hotel-resort (not built yet as far as i know). This is unfortunate because as a pure test of target golf, this track had real potential. Additionally, there aren’t a lot of courses where the mighty Colorado River can claim an errant golf shot, but this one qualified for that too. The best ex-holes are mentioned below:
Emerald River Golf Course Hole 1: Standing on the tee at the first hole, the golfer could have been excited about a 332 yard par 4, until they looked up. The first fairway, while fairly generous, was surrounded on all four sides by a huge waste bunker. However, the true nightmare was the first approach of the day, which was to a slightly elevated green protected by a rock wall short of the green and a large hillside long. Any shot one yard short of the green was stymied and anything errant in any other direction left a tough chip that funneled towards the precipice at the front of the green. This hole was a perfect forerunner for the rest of the course. (not pictured)
Emerald River Golf Course Hole 1: Standing on the tee at the first hole, the golfer could have been excited about a 332 yard par 4, until they looked up. The first fairway, while fairly generous, was surrounded on all four sides by a huge waste bunker. However, the true nightmare was the first approach of the day, which was to a slightly elevated green protected by a rock wall short of the green and a large hillside long. Any shot one yard short of the green was stymied and anything errant in any other direction left a tough chip that funneled towards the precipice at the front of the green. This hole was a perfect forerunner for the rest of the course. (not pictured)
Emerald River Golf Course Hole 2: If the first hole was tough, this hole was ridiculous in its cruelty. Standing on the tee of this 393 yard par four, the golfer would most likely panic. There was only a sliver of fairway surrounded by desert on every side. Should this challenge be bested, the second shot was over a 60-yard wide natural desert wash to another tricky green. (not pictured)
Emerald River Golf Course Hole 5: This relatively short par four brought the Colorado River into plain sight. However, from the tee, a really bad push would be needed to find the mighty river. However, on the approach (and very subtly) the Colorado River sneaked within a few yards of the back-right side of the green. Since the hole was a slight dog-leg right, most shots were approached from an angle where a little too much distance caught the careless with a one-stroke penalty. (not pictured)
Emerald River Golf Course Hole 6: The sixth was a classic, medium distance par 5 with an almost island green. The drive was fairly wide-open, so the golfer was set up for the difficult decision facing him on the second or third shot to the obvious hazard-laden green. (not pictured)
Emerald River Golf Course Hole 8: This hole was strange, if for no other reason than the fact that the player had to hit around a mountain. However, it was memorable for the same reason. The “mountain” was a large hill at best, but it was formidable enough to not be carried. So, the golfer had to hit a long enough drive on this 400+ yard hole to give a clearance around it for the second shot, to an uphill green. (not pictured)
Emerald River Golf Course Hole 10: This hole boasts what had to have been the tightest tee shot ever without trees. At 420 yards, it had to be long and straight to avoid OB left or desert right. The approach was to a large, flat green, but was surrounded by five bunkers, so this hole was tough from start to finish. (not pictured)
Emerald River Golf Course Hole 13: This par three was the signature hole for views offered from the elevated tee, which overlooked the kidney shaped green, the Colorado River and the desert beyond. (not pictured)
Emerald River Golf Course Hole 15: This great hole was also very quirky. At only 314 yards and the Colorado River lurking down the left side, the lay-up shot appeared to be the correct decision. However, if the drive didn’t make it about 210 yards down the left to center of the fairway, the approach to the green was blind or hampered severely, as the putting surface was elevated and tucked behind a mountain. The green was also the most undulated of any putting surface, short of mini-golf. (not pictured)