Lovely Laughlin Ranch
Few golfers know who David Druzisky is. Heck, the first time I heard his name, I thought Druzisky pitched for the San Francisco Giants back in the 1980s. But more golfers should know his name. And definitely more golfers should know about Laughlin Ranch Golf Club, which Druzisky designed just up the hill on the Arizona side of the Colorado River opposite Laughlin, Nevada.
Because Laughlin Ranch is everything a golfer should want in a course — it’s fun, it’s tricky and it has desert views as far as the eye can see, plus glimpses of the famed Colorado River and Casino Row. And now that I’ve played it a few times, I’m hooked — it’s a must-stop on any trip that takes me anywhere close to Laughlin (usually on the road from Las Vegas to Phoenix). And I’m not the only one. Take a look at what fellow scribe Ken Van Vechten had to say about the course not long after it opened:
“The handiwork of one-time Morrish protégé David Druzinsky, Laughlin Ranch is a stunning example of what can happen when Team Caterpillar is given the occasional nod over the Minimalism Brigade. Soooooooo much dirt was moved here that the constant swoops and banks and freefalls down the elevator shaft look au naturel. The course is a bombers’ dream of do-or-die shortcuts, blind shots and as much tumble as any course south of the Wolf Creek moonscape.” – Ken Van Vechten – Golf Writer
What some see as quirky, we see as pure genius — a desert rollercoaster ride that rewards great shots and punishes poor decisions, one that allows creativity and love of the great outdoors to shine over powerful drives. Of course, if you’re driving your car and lugging your clubs all the way out to the Nevada-Arizona border, be sure to enjoy the many other pursuits that draw non-golfers to this unique nexus of gaming and waterlife. Get a river-view room at the beautiful Aquarius Casino Resort, where you can watch the powerful waters flow — a particularly beautiful site in the early morning hours and around sunset. Immerse yourself in the dining,shopping and nightlife of the Laughlin Riverwalk. And make sure you stop at the Hoover Dam on your way back northward it’s only about a 30 minute detour.
Fishing, skiing, river tours and dinner cruises are just a few of the memorable activities you can experience here when you’re not golfing Laughlin Ranch or gambling among the Aquarius’ 57,000 square feet of slots and table games, plus everything else the other establishments along Casino Row have to offer as well. And if we can offer one final piece of advice, let it be this: Find time for at least one more round at Laughlin Ranch. Not only is it that good, but it’s also the kind of course where the more you play it, the more you understand its charm and strategy. And if nothing else, don’t forget your camera — because even during the worst of rounds, beauty abounds at lovely Laughlin Ranch Golf Club.
By Darin Bunch / GolfGetaways
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