Aliante Golf Club

Aliante Golf Club, a par-72, 7,022-yard layout, which opened in cecember is designed by renowned architect Gary Panks and managed by OB Sports Golf Management, the 18-hole course is the centerpiece of the latest master-planned Del Webb community, Aliante (Italian for soaring) opened in December 2003, and Panks landscaped it for immediate impact. The front nine meanders through hundreds of pear trees and shrubs that frame many holes, while the back nine traverses numerous plantings of Mondale pines and purple locust trees with their bright color splashes. A running theme for the mostly-level course is a groomed arroyo on virtually every hole. An arroyo often runs along or across the Bermuda fairways, and sometimes cuts in front of or behind the tee boxes or Tiffeagle greens, which are small to medium - in the 6,000-square-foot range - with moderate to fairly severe undulation.

At Aliante Golf Club, great care was taken in planning golf strategy and shot values that allow many options to the golfer. The result is a golf course that is fair, challenging, and truly enjoyable. Aliante Golf Club is the perfect venue for your next Las Vegas golf vacation, group outing, tournament or leisurely round of golf.

The course is further highlighted by numerous water features, generous landing areas, and strategic use of trees – such as pear and purple locust –not commonly found on desert. True to his design philosophy, Panks has fashioned a golf course that requires players to utilize every club in the bag while providing an enjoyable experience.

Besides the layout, Aliante boasts a practice facility with an expansive driving range, putting green, chipping green and practice bunker. Aliante’s clubhouse features a golf shop, grill, bar and an event pavilion with views of the golf course and surrounding mountains.

Course rating/description

The course, which covers 65 acres, features a meandering, rock-lined arroyo which crosses the fairway on 14 holes, giving golfers a slightly elevated feel and leaving them with unique lies and angles.

Another design feature on many of the mostly generous fairways is Panks' use of minimal hazards for maximum effect. Most of the holes look pretty accessible from the tee, but closer inspection reveals both subtle and overtly clear challenges. Many fairways on the 7,022-yard course slope gently toward the arroyo that often runs their length, and there's plenty of greenside trouble in the form of swales, hollows and bunkers with high flash faces.

A 386-yard par 4 kicks off the round in friendly warm-up fashion; then the course takes wing. No. 2 (the No. 1 handicap hole) is a 472-yard par 4 notable for flowing contours and an absence of bunkers."

Aliante's fairway bunkers are penal, and shots caught by its greenside bunkers will often require a full blast to carry an overhead lip. The first strong example is No. 4, a superb 155-yard par 3 with three distinctly sculpted Panks' bunkers bracing a strongly undulating green.

The 550-yard, par- 5 11th is a knockout. The tee box sits next to a waterfall splashing into a multi-level pond. From the back two tees (Eagle and Falcon), the drive must carry at least 175 yards to clear water, while the two forward tees (Hawk and Dove) mercifully take water out of play. An arroyo runs down the right side opposite one fairway bunker left. There's another deep bunker 50 yards shy of the green, which is further guarded by bunkers in front and an arroyo behind.

Aliante's closing holes are memorable. No. 15 is a 135-yard par 3 that plays over a lovely grove of Regal Mist to an undulating green surrounded by five deep bunkers.

No. 16 is a demanding 358-yard par 4. The tee shot must avoid a bunker right, 200 yards out, and another left about 250 yards. An arroyo crosses the fairway both in front of the tee and 80 yards from the green, which is well guarded by three deep bunkers in front and a small pot bunker in back.

The 420-yard, par-4 17th doglegs left to a green essentially surrounded by water and bunkers. Nearby waterfalls offer soothing sounds to lift the spirits.

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Aliante Golf Club