A lot of Utah golfers head south to play the Peppermill Palms Golf Course in Mesquite, Nevada. Only the course isn't actually in Nevada, it's in Arizona, although it keeps a Nevada address.
The resort-type golf course sits just across the Arizona border and is run by the Peppermill Resort Hotel, which is in Mesquite, although the hotel has recently changed its name to the Oasis. Confusing enough for you?An oasis might be best way to describe Peppermill Palms, because that's what it is - an island of lush green grass, palm trees and lakes surrounded by a dusty landscape of sagebrush and tumbleweeds.
It's almost like playing two different golf courses when you tour Peppermill Palms. The front nine, which can be seen from I-15, is fairly flat with a lot of water and sand coming into play on the majority of holes.
The back nine has a different feel altogether. Much of it is played down on a lower level with several holes featuring a change in elevation. The back nine is shorter by 400 yards, but it's the more memorable nine, even if it isn't any easier.
The 10th hole heads downhill and doglegs to the left. Then you hike or more likely ride your cart back up a hill to hit down to the par-3 11th hole. The next par-3 is the one to remember, however.
You hit across a deep chasm to a large green that is about the same level as the tee box. At 210 from the blue tees, its quite a long knock.
The next hole, a 507-yard par-5, has an elevated tee with a 114-foot drop to the fairway below. A sign warns you that the distance is deceiving, which I found out when I couldn't locate my ball after a pretty good drive. The final hole doglegs left back up toward the clubhouse, making for a blind approach shot to the green.
Head pro Dan Sommers says much of the course's clientele comes from northern Utah, but says a lot of golfers come from Colorado, Idaho and even Canada. The course is booked solid from January to June, but the rest of the year, except for October, it's possible to get on the course. In July and August, of course, you probably don't want to play unless you get some of the early morning tee times or unless you don't mind 110-degree heat.
When you play Peppermill Palms, you get the feel of a resort course. It's in excellent condition and has the amenities of a country club layout. You pay for it, however - $75 on weekends, unless you're staying at the hotel, which cuts the price to a more reasonable $45.
Within the next couple of years, the golfing options in Mesquite will be multiplied with two more golf courses built. One, an Arnold Palmer-designed layout called the Oasis (and it's actually in Nevada) should be ready by January with a grand opening later in the spring. Sommers calls it "unbeliveable" and claims it will be one of the premier courses in the West. The other 18, which won't be ready for a couple of years, will be easier and cater to the beginning and recreational golfers. Both will be run in conjunction with the Peppermill/Oasis Resort.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Peppermill Palms Golf Course
DIFFICULTY
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LAYOUT/SCENERY
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ENJOYABILITY INDEX
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(5=Highest Rating, 0=Lowest)
HOLE PAR YARDS*
1 4 405
2 5 561
3 3 180
4 5 489
5 4 350
6 4 373
7 3 157
8 4 409
9 4 408
OUT 36 3332
10 5 484
11 3 167
12 4 311
13 4 337
14 3 146
15 5 507
16 4 315
17 4 331
18 4 354
IN 36 2952
TOTAL 72 6284
*Middle tees
LOCATION:
1137 Mesquite, Blvd, Mesquite, Nev.
HEAD PROFESSIONAL:
Dan Sommers
COURSE DESIGNER/YEAR OPENED:
William Hull, 1989
COST:
$65 weekdays, $40, $45 for hotel guests, range $4
RESERVATIONS:
1-800-621-0187, 7 days in advance, 28 for hotel guests
EASIEST TIME TO GET ON:
Afternoons summer months
COURSE RECORD:
Jay Don Blake 65