The original developer of the Cascata golf course was MGM, but when they acquired the Shadow Creek course they had no need for a second Vegas course so Caesar’s Palace group bought the property, later selling it to Harrah’s who now operate this track as a public facility open to any guest staying in Vegas and prepared to pay several hundred dollars for a game of golf.

Rees Jones designed Cascata, the layout lush, well grooming, visually appealing but with little substance behind it. Built within the rocky hills outside Boulder City and probably the most unsuitable site for golf in US desert areas, the routing itself is uninspired, holes either head straight uphill through valleys between the hills, or down around the hills. There are also long drives between 7 and 8 and 16 and 17, each trip at least 500 yards long. The holes themselves lack subtlety, plus the continual uphill/downhill nature gets boring. Uphill holes usually play to greens were base of pin is hidden, yardage sheets, therefore, essential, while downhill holes best recommended for the opportunity they give you to bomb the ball long from the tee.

If you want more than great grass, luxury carts and water features, however, you’ll need to look past the Cascata Golf Course and try to find something with more substance.