Rio Secco or Paiute Sun Mountain?

makersmark4 · March 28, 2022

Heading to Vegas in the middle of June and having trouble deciding between Rio Secco (12 minutes from hotel and $70 more expensive) and Paiute-Sun Mountain (45 minutes out). The Wolf will be closed for venting so that is out of the question (since I know people will recommend it). Sun Mountain will be vented 2 weeks before I get there.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

puttnforthe8 · March 28, 2022

5 minutes ago, makersmark4 said:

Heading to Vegas in the middle of June and having trouble deciding between Rio Secco (12 minutes from hotel and $70 more expensive) and Paiute-Sun Mountain (45 minutes out). The Wolf will be closed for venting so that is out of the question (since I know people will recommend it). Sun Mountain will be vented 2 weeks before I get there.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

You mean aerated?

If Rio is not aerated or will have been out some time, then that is the choice. 2 weeks is too close imo for aeration.

makersmark4 · March 28, 2022

7 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

You mean aerated?

If Rio is not aerated or will have been out some time, then that is the choice. 2 weeks is too close imo for aeration.

According to the Paiute website, there is a spring and fall aerification on each course, and during the summer there is a "venting."

puttnforthe8 · March 28, 2022

4 minutes ago, makersmark4 said:

According to the Paiute website, there is a spring and fall aerification on each course, and during the summer there is a "venting."

Gotcha - actually never heard it called that. Just call it aerfication or tining. That is on the greens. I probably would still lean to Rio since only 2 weeks out for Paiute.

makersmark4 · April 1, 2022

On 3/28/2022 at 2:19 PM, puttnforthe8 said:

Gotcha - actually never heard it called that. Just call it aerfication or tining. That is on the greens. I probably would still lean to Rio since only 2 weeks out for Paiute.

Really appreciate the help. Just booked the round at Rio Secco.

Whisspy · November 9, 2022

On 4/1/2022 at 2:41 PM, makersmark4 said:

Really appreciate the help. Just booked the round at Rio Secco.

How was the round at Rio ?

makersmark4 · January 2, 2023

On 11/8/2022 at 9:12 PM, Whisspy said:

How was the round at Rio ?

Sorry to be so late on this, but I loved it. Course was in great shape despite 109 degree temps. I thought there were a lot of different ways to play it depending on your level of risk/reward. And every member of the staff that I interacted with was top notch.

Whisspy · January 3, 2023

Any other courses you played? Headed out there in Feb and trying to decide on Bears Best, Pauite, Rio or Reflection Bay. Have 2-3 rounds that I can play. I've played Pauite Wolf but not the other courses. Im a 10 handicap but my buddies are 15-20+.

Whisspy · January 19, 2023

On 1/1/2023 at 6:07 PM, makersmark4 said:

Sorry to be so late on this, but I loved it. Course was in great shape despite 109 degree temps. I thought there were a lot of different ways to play it depending on your level of risk/reward. And every member of the staff that I interacted with was top notch.

Any other courses you played? Headed out there in Feb and trying to decide on Bears Best, Pauite, Rio or Reflection Bay. Have 2-3 rounds that I can play. I've played Pauite Wolf but not the other courses. Im a 10 handicap but my buddies are 15-20+.

remlap13 · January 19, 2023

14 hours ago, Whisspy said:

Any other courses you played? Headed out there in Feb and trying to decide on Bears Best, Pauite, Rio or Reflection Bay. Have 2-3 rounds that I can play. I've played Pauite Wolf but not the other courses. Im a 10 handicap but my buddies are 15-20+.

I might be able to help... Me and some pals went to Vegas October 2021 and played:

Reflection Bay

Wolf Creek

TPC Vegas

Paiute - Snow

We got absolutely screwed by the weather at Reflection. Woke up that morning to a Clark County wind warning. It calmed down around hole 11 or 12, but we spent the front 9 barely being able to stand at times. I thought the course itself was very scenic. Some neat holes, especially around the lake. Not sure how it is in 2023, but without the wind I would have loved it.

Paiute Snow was solid. Was our last round of the trip, so a little fatigued. Course conditions were some of the best we had. Slick greens. Just more of a straightforward golf course compared to Wolf Creek and Reflection... And even TPC to an extent.

The same group is actually going down again at the end of February for:

Angel Park - Mountain

Paiute - Wolf

Bears Best

Whisspy · February 6, 2023

On 1/19/2023 at 2:09 PM, remlap13 said:

I might be able to help... Me and some pals went to Vegas October 2021 and played:

Reflection Bay

Wolf Creek

TPC Vegas

Paiute - Snow

We got absolutely screwed by the weather at Reflection. Woke up that morning to a Clark County wind warning. It calmed down around hole 11 or 12, but we spent the front 9 barely being able to stand at times. I thought the course itself was very scenic. Some neat holes, especially around the lake. Not sure how it is in 2023, but without the wind I would have loved it.

Paiute Snow was solid. Was our last round of the trip, so a little fatigued. Course conditions were some of the best we had. Slick greens. Just more of a straightforward golf course compared to Wolf Creek and Reflection... And even TPC to an extent.

The same group is actually going down again at the end of February for:

Angel Park - Mountain

Paiute - Wolf

Bears Best

Just got back from Vegas. What a sh** show for Pro Bowl weekend. Bear's Best fairways were in fantastic condition with dead / brown grass as the rough ( which was relatively easy to hit off of ). Tons of fairway bunkers which made it challenging ( and frustrating) The greens were a little rough and saw some patches and fungus on a bunch of them... but overall an enjoyable round. I wouldn't pay more than their afternoon rate of $149. Rio Secco was a lot of fun. The course was in great shape as well and the greens were fast! Lots of elevation changes and some blind shots which made it fun. Same rough conditions as Bear's ( brown / dead grass ) I would definitely play again but not for $189.

remlap13 · February 6, 2023

2 hours ago, Whisspy said:

Just got back from Vegas. What a sh** show for Pro Bowl weekend. Bear's Best fairways were in fantastic condition with dead / brown grass as the rough ( which was relatively easy to hit off of ). Tons of fairway bunkers which made it challenging ( and frustrating) The greens were a little rough and saw some patches and fungus on a bunch of them... but overall an enjoyable round. I wouldn't pay more than their afternoon rate of $149. Rio Secco was a lot of fun. The course was in great shape as well and the greens were fast! Lots of elevation changes and some blind shots which made it fun. Same rough conditions as Bear's ( brown / dead grass ) I would definitely play again but not for $189.

Thanks for summarizing. We got a decent rate at Bear's Best as we're playing on a Monday ($160 I think?). I assumed a lot of the rough would be brown due to the season, but it's good to have those expectations going in. Sounds like we'll be able to bomb and gouge without too much penalty!