Golfers In Las Vegas Need To Wake Up

"We plan our trip around the NCAA Tournament, but none of us are big basketball fans," says trip planner Don Anderson. "It makes for a greater scene, bigger crowd along with a lot far more excitement." Although the trip moves around the country, Anderson says his group likes Vegas since "no matter where you're coming from, absolutely everyone can arrive at 10 a.m." The buddies remain at Mandalay Bay since it is in the finish of the Strip and is less complicated to set up transportation. They remain up late-gambling and visiting the occasional gentlemen's club-then sleep in and play one round per day. "We usually do twilight rates, which begin early in March," Anderson says. "You save a lot of income that way." Their favorite course is Rhodes Ranch. "It's not top-tier, but it is good. The staff is amazing. And for $70 we got two free of charge drinks and lunch, and you can't beat that." They also like Tuscany ($90), and they occasionally make the drive to Boulder Creek. One year they treated themselves to Shadow Creek. "It was awesome," Anderson says. "We paid full fare [$500], and it was worth it, but when was adequate." They rent a mini-bus from Bell Transportation to get around. At $25 a man per day, "It's cheaper than taxis," Anderson says, "and it enables us to ride together and have a few cocktails." As for food, these guys do not like to spend a good deal of income. They prefer Mandalay Bay's Home of Blues for breakfast and Burger Bar for dinner and beers. Occasionally they'll splurge at Stripsteak. Though he makes use of Jeff Robinson at Las Vegas Golf Adventures to help secure preferred rooms and tee times, Anderson could be the sort of planner who double-checks all the rates. "I like being involved," he says, "but if you are not like me, it can be 1 call, and you are done."