Henderson’s Wildhorse Golf Club offers gift of a merry round

In the spirit of the holiday season, one of the valley's oldest golf courses is giving players ideal scoring conditions. Established more than half a century ago, the venerable Wildhorse Golf Club has changed hands more often than Aunt May's petrified fruitcake, but the most recent change of ownership -- to the city of Henderson as a municipal course -- has made it one of the area's best values. The city's commitment to improving conditions, particularly on the greens, has transformed Wildhorse from an also-ran to a solid track with a large stable of regulars.

Although it was a PGA tour stop decades ago, Wildhorse has since shed its pretense and focused on providing an enjoyable round of golf at an affordable price. The 2004 redesign, seemingly designed to lure mid-handicappers with a bevy of scoring chances interrupted by the occasional round-wrecker, was also a boon to the course.

The par-70 Wildhorse is not particularly long, spanning only 6,525 yards from the tips and playing dramatically shorter -- just over 6,000 yards -- from the more commonly played set of tees. Unlike many other Southern Nevada offerings, it is not strewn with sandboxes, nor is the desert much of a factor. However, there are a handful of holes, most notably No. 9, that demand golfers' undivided attention.

Wildhorse opens with a drivable par 4 that plays only 316 yards downhill but doglegs hard to the left near the green. A bunker set deep along the left edge of the fairway is designed to keep drives in check, but is no obstacle for big hitters. Everyone else can poke one to the bottom of the hill, from where only a short pitch remains. Staying below the hole would be advisable, as the green slopes significantly from back to front.

While not especially difficult, the par-3 fourth hole is certainly among Wildhorse's most intimidating challenges. Between the tee and green is nothing but an expanse of water, threatening a watery grave for any tee shot that lands short. While a pair of bunkers guards the back edge, that should not dissuade players from taking an extra club. This hole underscores the gap between tee boxes: It plays 205 yards from the back, but 50 yards shorter from the resort tees.

Heading into the turn, Wildhorse's toughest challenge -- for that matter, one of the most difficult par 4s in Southern Nevada -- stands ready to scar the scorecard. At only 398 yards, it doesn't look that difficult from the tee. However, a lake laps at the right edge of the landing zone, so anything that misses on that side of the fairway is wet. The left side is a safer target, but from that angle the approach to a peninsular green is even more treacherous. Those who lack confidence standing over the approach should aim for the bailout zone short and right of the green, take their bogey and get a drink at the turn.

The backside opens much like the front, with a downhill par 4, although this one plays straighter and significantly longer. There are no fairway bunkers, however, allowing players to fully vent any residual frustration from No. 9. However, the first few holes are just a warm-up for Wildhorse's version of Augusta's fabled "amen corner," a trio of daunting puzzles that in this case begins with No. 13.

After so many short par 4s, the 441-yard 13th is a shock to the system. What's more, a thin strip of reed-filled water borders the landing zone off the right edge of the narrow fairway. Even for those who safely find the short grass, the long approach is complicated by a front bunker that guards the green's right side.

The next hole has many players double-checking their scorecard. Indeed, the water-lined par 3 measures a monstrous 252 yards from the back and a still-challenging 222 yards from the next set forward. Wildhorse's greens are quite slow, although much smoother than in the past, making it difficult to hit putts hard enough on cool winter mornings.

No. 15 is another long par 4, this one stretching 434 yards and bending to the right around a small bunker. The ribbon-thin fairway makes the drive challenging, while a sand trap nuzzles the green's right front edge. Three straight pars on this stretch is cause for celebration.

After unusual back-to-back par 5s, Wildhorse closes with one last opportunity to put a circle on the scorecard. The 371-yard hole leans to the left around a small grove of palm trees but is relatively wide, and there is no greenside trouble to complicate the approach. One last solid iron to the deep putting surface provides a birdie opportunity.

While the Wildhorse Golf Club has a tumultuous history, it seems to have found its niche as a player-friendly municipal track. Good course conditions, a fair but challenging design and friendly staffers make a round on Wildhorse a gift worth giving -- or keeping.

For more information or to reserve a tee time, visit www.golfwildhorse.com or call 434-9000. Wildhorse Golf Club is located at 2100 W. Warm Springs Road, just east of Green Valley Parkway in Henderson.