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Featured Golf Course
April 2008
By: Shane Jensen

The desert is not a typical climate for a bear, but the Golden Bear has felt very comfortable building golf courses in the desert environment of Las Vegas. Bear's Best Golf Club is a unique golf course built with replicas of holes Jack Nicklaus has previously designed. This is one of two such golf courses currently located in the United States.

Bear's Best was opened in 2001 and plays to well over 7,200 yards from the back tee. The wide fairways and fast greens have made this golf course one of the most popular among both locals and visitors to Las Vegas. There are a wide variety of holes on this golf course taken from 12 of his most popular desert golf courses. Jack Nicklaus has designed more than 200 golf courses worldwide.

Some of the golf courses you will experience on this layout include; PGA West, Cabo Del Sol, Old Works Golf Club, Desert Highlands, Bear Creek Country Club, La Paloma, Palmilla Golf Club and Castle Pines.

It is quite remarkable to see a hole that is normally played in the mountains of Colorado recreated in the desert. Surprisingly there are a number of dramatic elevation changes at Bear's Best and you will need to bring your "A" game to shoot a good score here.

What makes Bear's Best golf course so challenging are the fast, undulating putting greens. Jack Nicklaus was always known as a great putter and the designs of his greens reflect this. It is always good to know where the pin is located in order to avoid the dreaded three-putt.

Have you ever wanted to have Jack Nicklaus caddy for you? Well now, in a sense, you will experience just that at Bear's Best. In addition to a yardage book and accurately marked sprinkler heads, Bear's Best is in the process of adding a state of the art GPS system to their carts. Built by GPS Industries, this GPS system features a Wi-Fi connection and an introduction of each hole by Jack Nicklaus. Jack will be telling you how to play each hole and where to place the ball. Once completed, toward the middle of April, this will further enhance the quality of customer service offered to the golfers.

Bear's Best Golf Club is located in the western side of the Las Vegas Valley, very close to Summerlin. Located around this golf course you will find the Red Rock Hotel and Casino, The JW Marriott Resort and a host of fine restaurants to choose from. After your round I would recommend trying T-Bones Chophouse at Red Rock Casino for a great steak dinner.

Visit the Following Las Vegas Golf Courses for more information:

• Bear's Best Golf Club