|  Among
the fast-growing Las Vegas areas, featuring expansive new communities
and golf courses lies a classic: Las
Vegas National Golf Club. Here, tradition of the old Vegas is
captured, located on Desert Inn Road just off the famous Strip.
The clubhouse was once a modernistic look, but is now dated architecturally,
serving as a charming taste to the old school. Opened in 1960, this
Bert Stamps design has all the look and feel of the era.
Each hole's wide green look is a throwback to the feature every
course strived for, in hopes of matching Augusta National during
that time. The course still has just three sets of tees compared
to the common five seen today.
Conditions however are excellent, as the course has had decades
to mature. The grass is far softer and greener than most neighboring
newer courses. The tall trees which provide shade and tight fairways
are also unmatched and cannot be duplicated without a little time.
Las Vegas National plays 6,815 yards and opens and closes with
a par 5. The mix of par 3s is the courses' strongest design aspect.
While each is heavily guarded, they are unique length and greens
are designed and look completely different from the next. The 16th
is the longest and most difficult, playing 222 yards from the championship
tees.
A previous host of the Las Vegas Invitational, Tiger Woods won
his inaugural PGA event here in 1996, shooting a one-under par 70.
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