A few minutes ago the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the Huffington Post released a story regarding finance, gambling, and sports involving investor Carl Icahn, Billy Walters, and Phil Mickelson.
From USA Today
…a major insider-trading probe involving finance, gambling and sports” that involves the trading of activist investor Carl Icahn, pro golfer Phil Mickelson and Las Vegas bettor William “Billy” Walters.
According to a story published on the Journal website late Friday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Securities and Exchange Commission are probing whether Mickelson and Walters illegally traded on nonpublic information they allegedly obtained from Icahn about his investments in public companies. The Journal story attributed the information to “people briefed on the probe.”
The feds are said to be investigating whether the past three years Icahn illegally provided Walters — well known in Vegas for his sports-betting abilities — about potentially market-moving investments by Icahn’s company, Icahn Enterprises, the Journal story said.
From Huffington Post
Federal investigators are looking into whether Mickelson and Walters may have traded illegally on private information provided by Icahn about his investments in public corporations, the source told Reuters, confirming a report by the Wall Street Journal on Friday.
About two years ago I posted a Polara Golf Ball review and video on YouTube of the Polara self-correcting golf balls. These are illegal balls which are designed in such a manner that they resist curving, correcting slices and hooks.
Yesterday an irate boneheaded YouTube viewer posted a comment, mad that he can’t work (curve) this golf ball!
these balls are like hitting rocks they are the worse balls in the world really horrible feeling off the club . . . no distance . . . you can not shape your shots ,,,, draw of fade
Wow. That’s like complaining that the Porsche you just bought is too fast. And we won’t go down the grammar and spelling road.
Congratulations James, you’re the bonehead of the week!
There are many amazing golf choices in Las Vegas and I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing quite a few. For non-residents the cost of a round of golf in Las Vegas can be quite painful, upwards of $300-$500. There are great values to be found in the area though. With great weather most of the year, conditioning is usually quite good even on courses which are not as expensive. Today’s review features one of the lesser known and better values in Vegas golf, Rhodes Ranch Golf Club.
Rhodes Ranch Golf Club – Aerial photo © by Tony Korologos – click to zoom
Rhodes Ranch Overview
Rhodes Ranch is roughly a 30 minute drive southwest (depending on crazy Vegas traffic) from the Las Vegas Strip. From the south end of the Strip it could even be as short as 15-20 minutes.
Rhodes Ranch opened in 1997. The course occupies over 160 acres which feature very undulating topography. Those undulations were masterfully used by course architect Ted Robinson Sr., to produce fun challenges and interesting shot options for the player.
The course measures 6,909 from the tips, not terribly long. Length is great, but the course plays better with a more strategic approach. There are many risk/reward opportunities and holes which one can take conservative approaches or opt for more aggressive play. Much of the course is lined by tall, mature palm trees.
First hole heads toward the Las Vegas Strip – click to zoom
Tee
Tee shots at Rhodes Ranch are visually pleasing and not extremely threatening, barring a few forced carries. Landing areas are usually obvious, some tempting the player to cut the corner of doglegs.
Errant tee shots will be rewarded with odd lies on the rolling hills which frame the fairways and may be stymied by adjacent palm trees. Poor tee shots will find the Nevada desert. In both errant tee shot cases, players are able to recover without sending their scorecards into oblivion.
Fairway
The fairways at Rhodes Ranch are wide and inviting, with undulations which can produce challenging lies. Some undulations require some strategy in shot placement for the player, who must pick a proper landing spot in order for the shot to finish in a flat area or a position with a good look at the green.
There are fairway bunkers, arroyos, and a few other challenges which can be penal to poor shots, but not scorecard busters.
One of the best parts about the fairways at Rhodes Ranch is the conditioning and maintenance. See in the photo below how perfect the grass is. Having walked the grounds for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club many times, I can say without hesitation that the fairways at Rhodes are a very close second. When I asked regulars who play the course often about the conditioning, they told me the course is perfectly maintained year-round.
Look at how perfect the fairways at Rhodes Ranch are!
Green
The green complexes are very scenic. Many feature beautiful landscaping, palm trees, and are framed by fine bunkering.
Putting the greens at Rhodes Ranch was just as fun as playing the perfectly groomed fairways. The conditioning was fantastic and they rolled true, albeit slower than the mountainside greens I’m accustomed to.
The greens were smooth, yet completely receptive to golf shots from even long irons.
Rhodes Ranch Scenic 3rd Hole – click to zoom – © Tony Korologos
Facilities
The clubhouse at Rhodes Ranch is impressive. On one side is a fully stocked pro shop with lots of great gear and apparel. On the other side is the restaurant, a great place to have a beer or other cold beverage after the round. In my case, make that two.
The practice facilities are top notch, with a large desert driving range and a very large practice green which could accommodate dozens of players.
Value
For a non-resident player during a primetime slot, rates at Rhodes Ranch hover around $100. That’s very reasonable for Vegas. If players are willing to brave the heat, twilight rates can cut that cost in half. Resident rates hover around $60 with twilight rates in the $30’s.
Rhodes Ranch Golf Club Las Vegas
Staff
From the moment I pulled up to the bag drop to the time I finished off my 2nd frosty beverage in the restaurant, the service level at Rhodes Ranch was excellent. All staff courteous, attentive, and helpful. A special mention goes to the great service of assistant pro Jeff Bricker in the pro shop.
Conclusion
Before booking a round of Vegas golf at the Wynn Golf Club, Bali Hai, Rio Secco, or Cascata, consider Rhodes Ranch. The course is fun to play, manicured brilliantly, and will not beat you up. Plus, you could play this fun course several times for the cost of playing the expensive Vegas courses once.
So many golf accessories are worthless junk which nobody will use. My house is full of such things. Once in a while (not often enough) a new accessory pops up which is actually useful, designed well, and solidly manufactured. Here is one of those rare few, the Snap-Hookz.
Snap-Hookz in action…
What is this thing? No, not a fancy garter belt. This is a golf “accessory accessory.” It is mounted on any golf bag via the rain hood snaps and it provides more hooks, loops, rings, straps to hang or mount all the million other accessories a golfer might have.
Snap-Hookz Golf Accessory
In the case of my Snap-Hookz, I’ve mounted a GPS watch, Frogger BrushPro, and a golf towel to the unit (first photo). Depending on if I’m carrying my bag, pushing a push-cart, or riding in a golf cart, I can mount the Snap-Hooks on a different side of my bag.
Conclusion
Finally a USEFUL golf accessory! Snap-Hookz has made the gamer bag. I guess you could say I’m “hooked on Snap-Hookz.”
At about $15, this would make a very affordable and well received Father’s Day golf gift.
Related Links
Snap-Hookz images.
Snap-Hookz website.
Following yesterday’s FIVE birdie round I felt I’d have enough experience in the new Kentwool KW Series Men’s Sport Socks to post my review. Obviously such great golf play was not a result of having great golf clubs, a great golf ball, or executing shots. It was all attributable to the socks. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.
Kentwool KW Series Men’s Sport Socks
About the KW Men’s Sport Socks
Kentwool as one might deduce, makes wool socks. I’ve been wearing Kentwools for several years now. I will NOT wear cotton socks again after wearing Kentwools! The KW Men’s Sport Socks are a slight departure. They’re part wool and part bamboo. The great thing about bamboo is that it is probably one of the most eco-friendly and replenishable materials in the world. It grows seriously fast.
The bamboo allows the same performance and moisture wicking, but in a thinner and lighter sock.
Colors
This sock is currently available in two colors: black/blue (pictured) and natural grey.
Sizes
The KW Sport comes in medium, large, and extra-large sizes.
On The Course
The KW Sport is extremely comfortable. The last two rounds I’ve played with them the temperatures were 94 and 92 degrees. No sweat, literally. Feet dry and comfy.
Conclusion
$20.95 is not cheap for a pair of socks. As the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” This show is well worth the price of admission. Great performance, moisture reduction, comfort. Fabulous.
These would make a great Father’s Day golf gift! Snag a pair of these for dad. If I’m your dad (or even if you want me to be), snag me another pair!
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