By Mike Bailey
For nearly a quarter century, Bali Hai Golf Club has been the hub of high quality golf on the Las Vegas Strip, and it continues to go strong with great conditions, atmosphere, and fun.
Billy Walters’ premium golf experience on theLas Vegas Strip really is an escape to the extraordinary
Most people live on a lonely island,Lost in the middle of a foggy sea.
Most people long for another island,
One where they know they would like to be.“
Bali Ha’i may call you, Any night, any day,
In your heart, you’ll hear it call you:
Come away… Come away.”
Those lyrics come when I think of Bali Hai Golf Club. Maybe it’s because I was part of a high school group that performed the song “Bali Ha’i” from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, South Pacific many decades ago, albeit many years after it came out in 1949. I still can’t get that out of my head.
The first time I played Bali Hai, which came in 2000 right after it opened, I did feel like I was transformed a bit into a South Pacific world.
After all, thousands of palm trees were imported as well as other tropical plants and black volcanic rock. There are seven acres of opulent water features, including waterfalls, and the turf is a deep green that goes wall to wall in contrast to massive amounts of bleached white sand on this once barren property. Located right on the Strip next to the South Pacific-themed Mandalay Bay casino resort hotel, Bali Hai Golf Club fits right into the theme of almost everything on the Strip –like the Paris or Venetian casino hotels, for example. It takes you out of the Mojave Desert and into the Indonesian tropics.
And since Day 1, Bali Hai remains one of the top conditioned courses in the area, known for its perfect undulating greens and lush fairways. And service is always first-rate.
At one time, Bali Hai was the flagship facility of the several courses owned by Billy Walters, the legendary sports gambler turned entrepreneur, who was convicted of insider trading in 2017, a charge of which Walter still maintains his innocence. The other courses, which included Royal Links and Desert Pines were sold, leaving the Walters Group with just Bali Hai, which hasn’t rested on its laurels.
While the course has always maintained a standard, it has evolved over the years. You can still get forecaddies, or Parmates, which are attractive female caddies, which can really enhance the experience. And you can play music through the speakers on the state-of-the-art golf carts, which also offers GPS.
There also are opportunities to bet on yourself on the signature island green par-3 16th. Hit the green there and you double your money in pro shop credit. If you don’t hit the green, you at least get golf shop credit for the amount you bet. So, in a manner of speaking, you can’t lose.
And speaking of the golf shop, it’s premium as well with not only plenty of quality logged merchandise, but some pretty unique gifts, too.
Bali Hai is also the perfect place for a corporate outing. Nearly half who play the course are corporate customers, many attending conventions in the city. Another 40 percent are from out of town, many of them part of wedding parties, perhaps members of a bachelor party, or simply friends who put together golf trips. And because Bali Hai is on the Strip, you certainly don’t need a car if you’re staying on the Strip, and you don’t even have to bring clubs, since Bali Hai has plenty of quality Callaway rental sets for anyone who wants to play. Speaking of, it’s not uncommon for a visitor to Las Vegas simply to notice the course, and just head over for a quick round.
As for the course, here’s what you can expect if you’ve never played it before. The fairways are generous, so you can basically hit your driver allday on this 7,000 yard plus layout. Water comes into play on almost half the holes, particularly on the par-3s like the aforementioned 16th, and the par-3 sixth, which is one of my favorite holes
The sixth is unique because it’s a dogleg right around a lake. If you can hit a pretty hard slice, you never have to go over water. But if you hit a draw, it’s all carry. When I played it, the pin was all the way on the right side of the green, which meantin order to get my right-to-left tee shot close, I had to take it over the water and a little bit right of the green, where there was plenty of trouble.
The par 5s at Bali Hai are certainly birdie opportunities because none of them are too long. And there’s the short par-4 fourth that long hitters may try to drive from the tee.
The finishing stretch, starting with the aforementioned island green 16th (nicknamed Pacific Rim) is most memorable. The 17th and 18th are both long par 4s. The 18th is a great finishing hole. After a good tee shot, you’re left with an intimidating approach over water to a very wide green. Leave it on the wrong side of the putting surface, and a three-putt is a real possibility because the green slopes pretty hard.Afterwards, you might want to stick around and check out the action at the Tiki Sports Bar and Grill, which offers plenty of South Pacific style cocktails, beer, and an excellent menu of appetizers like coconut shrimp as well as ahi tuna, fresh fish, and incredible desserts like coconut flan and berry cheesecake.
As for booking tee times for yourself or your groups, be sure to check out all the golf packages offered. Many include accommodations at nearby casino resorts, and there are special bachelor party and corporate rates. Just visit www.balihaigolfclub.com for more information.
