After a good mix of courses, we ended our time in the Mesquite/St George area with a visit to Wolf Creek Golf Club. Wolf Creek is a course that has been a bucket list course for years for me, and I’m happy to say that I’ve now played it!
We got there a little early in hopes of loosening up and as it turns out we had our third frost delay of the trip. Just that time of year I guess! Our trip package included a $30 gift card so we had time to spend our way around the proshop, get some breakfast, and hit some range balls.
What I found crazy, is that the course is almost in the middle of town! From the pictures I had seen I expected Wolf Creek to be more out in the boonies, like Coyote Springs. But, Wolf Creek is tucked between the airport and town. There aren’t any homes around but the range is irons only because of the limited space.
Wolf Creek (designed by Dennis and John Rider) is not only one of the top public courses in Nevada, it is also one of the top public courses in the country. It is a clever layout with massive elevation changes, although at times the golf felt a bit “fake”. Still, Wolf Creek was one of the most memorable courses I’ve ever played and a bucket list experience.
If you’ve read my blog you’ll know that one of the things I like about a course are the views it offers. Well, Wolf Creek has endless views. It isn’t difficult to get good scenery in the desert, but Wolf Creek takes the scenery to a whole new level!
The course is carved through and on top of the area’s sandstone hillsides. And, seemingly every hole has a spot that allows you to pause and take in all the views of the nearby mountains and desert landscape! Some of the best vantage points are the 2nd tee, 3rd green, 12th tee and 14th tee so make sure to bring your camera when you get to those holes.
I played the champions tees which are 70.9/138/6309 and outside of a couple holes I didn’t think Wolf Creek was all that difficult. I ended up shooting my handicap thanks to some shorter holes and favorable sideboards to use around the greens. I found that there was some width off the tee and not as much slope in the landing areas when compared to Falcon Ridge.
There are plenty of signature holes at Wolf Creek, but the 2nd and the 8th were my favorites. The 2nd is a dogleg left par-4 (429 yards) where you fire an elevated tee shot out over the desert and hope there is grass on the other side! The 8th is a 217 yard par-3 that is one of the toughest holes on the course. It is all carry to the green, which is surrounded by water and a sandstone hillside.
The conditions were great and matched the premium price ($150+). Everything was overseeded and lush. The greens were firm, speedy and rolled well. There was a good amount of sand in the bunkers.
Wolf Creek is the clear winner for golf in Mesquite and worthy of its bucket list status! If you are in Southern Nevada then you owe yourself a round here, which will be a wild ride. I’d put Wolf Creek somewhere in my top 10 personal favorites, although I do prefer the more natural look of Sand Hollow’s Championship Course.
Course Pictures (click any picture to scroll through the gallery):