Remember Tiger Woods’ first PGA Tour victory? It happened right here at TPC Summerlin. This private golf club offers a challenging and visually stunning experience.
TPC Summerlin opened in 1991. Bobby Weed designed the course with Fuzzy Zoeller. It quickly became a centerpiece of the Summerlin community. This community is about 15 miles northwest of the Las Vegas Strip.
Summerlin got its name from Jean Amelia Summerlin. She was the grandmother of Howard Hughes. Hughes was a billionaire land developer and aviator. The Howard Hughes Corporation still owns the community. The winner of the Shriners Children’s Open even takes home the Howard Hughes Cup.
The TPC Summerlin course winds through arroyos and canyons. Its bent grass greens are known for being flawless and fast. The course features striking flora and water features. Honey mesquite and pine trees contrast with the native desert landscape. This creates one of the most visually stunning golf experiences in Nevada.
The member layout at TPC Summerlin stretches to 7,255 yards. It plays to a par of 72. During the Shriners Children’s Open, it becomes a par 71. This happens when the third hole changes from a par 5 to a par 4.
TPC Summerlin presents drastic elevation changes. It also has tough putting surfaces with wild undulations. Playing here lets you relive moments from PGA Tour broadcasts. The course design aims for drama. The finishing holes create excitement, especially on Sundays.
The front nine challenges players to stay out of the native desert areas. The second hole is a 469-yard par-4. Desert borders the right side. A bunker threatens on the left. The approach is to a small green.
The third hole plays at 496 yards for the pros. It has trouble on both sides. PGA Tour players aim at a wide green. Bunkers guard both the front and rear.
The eighth hole is a beastly 239-yard par-3. Three bunkers sit below the elevated green. Another bunker hides behind. This hole consistently scores the highest above par during PGA Tour events at TPC Summerlin.
The twelfth hole measures 442 yards. Water is reachable from the tee. Players can lay up short or thread the needle. The green is close to the water with tricky segments near the pond.
TPC Summerlin has four outstanding closing holes. These holes offer varied playability. The 15th is a drivable 341-yard par-4. A waste area and bunker sit in the fairway’s middle. Players must choose between high and low ground. Bunkers surround the severely elevated green.
The 16th is a risk-reward par-5. A large pond must be carried on the approach. Golfers risk bunkers behind the shallow, wide green. This leaves a tough sand shot back towards the water.
The 17th is a 196-yard par-3. Jonathan Byrd made it famous with a hole-in-one. He won a three-man playoff in 2010. Water is on the left. Bunkers are on the right. The elevated tee box enhances the experience.
TPC Summerlin concludes with a challenging 444-yard par-4. A hazardous canyon lurks on the left. Mountains are in the distance. A lake guards the long green.
Remember, TPC Summerlin hosted Tiger Woods’ first PGA Tour title in 1996. This course offers a challenging and memorable experience with picturesque mountain ranges and the Vegas skyline.