(June, 2009). The Canyons Course is part of the Oasis Golf Club in Mesquite, NV; Mesquite's only 36-hole golf facility. The course opened in late 2005 and plays 6408 from the back tees for a par-71. The rating is 71.3 with a slope of 129. There are four sets of tees, making the course enjoyable for golfers of all abilities.

The Canyons Course was designed to compliment the already challenging and scenic Palmer course next door. It makes the most of the rugged terrain and befriends the character and charm of its natural surroundings with dramatic elevation drops, ravines, and snakelike doglegs that wind through the desert canyons.

The Canyons course was created using the original nine holes called The Vistas and adding nine more holes, called the Arroyo. The original nine has very little bunkering, is very straightforward, and has basically round greens; it doesn't feature the canyon walls and hills that both the Palmer Course and the new nine possess. The back-nine cuts through the canyons that are prevalent in the area (as its name suggests). This nine requires a bit more shot placement and ends with a spectacular par-3 overlooking the entire Mesquite valley.

Memorable Holes:

Number 1: Par 4, 434 yards. Although this hole is a long par 4, one saving grace is that the landing area off the tee is very accommodating. You'll want to hit your drive as far and as straight as you can in order to make the approach shot a lot more manageable. The green is quite large and very flat. Par is a good start here.

Number 7: Par 5, 514 yards. Odds are that you will be playing into the wind on this par 5, making it just a little bit longer. A long tee shot off of these elevated tees is essential if you have any hope in getting home in two. Houses on the left and fairway bunkers on the right will find tee shots that don't find the fairway. Leave your layup shot out on the right side of the fairway to take a number of greenside bunkers out of play. The green is protected by deep, large bunkers all around.

Number 9: Par 4, 345 yards. As you drive down the first fairway and glance over at number nine, you think to yourself, man, that hole is tighter than a drunk at Oktoberfest; something to ponder the rest of the nine. Once you get to the 9th tee and peer down the hole, you realize how right you were. You will need a solid tee shot to carry the fairway bunkers off the tee. This will leave you a short approach shot to a small, elevated green with a large bunker on the left.

Number 11: Par 5, 538 yards. It will take about a 240 yard shot from the back tees on this hole to carry the canyons and desert; fairway bunkers await errant shots right. The fairway narrows incredibly and slopes left to right for your layup shot. Approach shot is to a relatively small green that features a crown in the middle and is well bunkered. Long ball hitters can probably get home in two if they keep their tee shots left and avoid the fairway bunkers.

Number 13: Par 3, 163 yards. Downhill par three that is all carry over the desert below. The green is long and narrow and features bunkers back right.

Number 15: Par 4, 394 yards. Fifteen is the hole you will always remember. It's a hole that is specifically addressed by the starter when you begin your round. He will say "you can shorten the hole quite a bit by going over the mountain off the tee, but we ask that you don't do this as a simple courtesy to the players in front of you." When is the last time you were told that you could "significantly shorten the hole by hitting your drive over a mountain?" If you are like me, the first thing you think about when someone tells you specifically NOT to do something is "how can I get away with it?" From about 100-feet up, the smart play is a fairway wood straight away to the visible fairway below, leaving a long to mid iron to the green. So there I was, standing on the tee with both a three wood and a driver in my hand, when someone in the foursome yelled out "go for it Roy." Not being one to back down from a dare (plus, I knew the guys in front of us and I am bigger than they are), I threw the three wood aside and went with the "forbidden shot." I hit it perfect and left a pitch shot of about 75 yards to the hole. I didn't make birdie, but I did conquer the mountain. Anything pushed right over the top of the mountain will find the lake. Anything way left and you are searching for your ball amongst the scorpions and rattlesnakes. Successful execution of this tee shot will accomplish several things to boost the male ego: about a 75 yard pitch shot to the green making birdie very possible; bragging rights about driving a golf ball over a mountain, and, the ability to boast to your friends that you hit a 320 yards drive (394-75=319 yards drive by my math). Definitely not an easy hole, but a smart play can give you an opportunity for a memorable birdie and much more.

The Canyons Course at Oasis Golf Club is in fabulous shape from tee to green; the yardage is marked on most of the sprinkler heads and there are yardage markers at 100, 150, and 200 yards to the center of the green. The Oasis Club also has a beautiful clubhouse with a well stocked pro shop, as well as locker rooms with showers. There is also a full service restaurant/lounge, plus meeting rooms and banquet & outing facilities. A very large driving range, multiple putting greens and two short game areas with sand bunkers are across the street from the pro shop.

The Canyons Course at Oasis Golf Club is currently offering some great rates; you can play on a weekend morning for as little as $45 + tax. Afternoon rates can be found for as low as $30 + tax. I would definitely put it on my list for my next visit to Mesquite.