Whether you've experienced what it’s like to golf in desert heat on golf course or not, not to worry, I'm here to give every detail i experienced on my most recent trip.  I was in Las Vegas, NV for a week competing in a Cactus Tour event at Legacy Golf Club. While I was planning my trip, I thought of a course I've always dreamed of playing, Wolf Creek Golf Club in Mesquite, NV. Fortunately, the course was only an hour and 15 minutes away from where we were staying. Unfortunately, due to the weather conditions of the desert life, morning alarms are underway at 4:00am on a daily bases to beat the rising heat. 

During the third and final day of my tournament, I wasn't feeling so good. I was throwing up all day. I must have eaten something the previous night to have gotten food poisoning on the course. Attempting to get thru my pre-shot routine and hitting the ball before rushing behind the golf cart to throw up is particularly unpleasant. This was definitely in my top ten worst feelings to have while competing. Luckily, my sister, Patty, was caddying and helping me out.  We even had to pull the car over on the road a couple times as well. I couldn't hold anything down, so Pedialyte, chicken broth, and plain crackers were my antidotes (or prescriptions?) for the next 12 hours along with sleep. Actually I couldn't hold down the crackers, those just got thrown back up looking like a blob of wet clay; I know, good visual eh :) 

We had a 6:30am tee time set up at Wolf Creek GC the day following my golf tournament in Las Vegas, NV. After a full week waking up at 4am, I really just wanted a morning to sleep in, especially after the previous day. I had my 4:15am alarm set (okay, I had 3 alarms set) so we can head over to Mesquite, NV for some golf. I still couldn't hold any food down but that wasn't going to stop me from playing Wolf Creek GC.

After blindly driving toward the sunrise, with flat desert landscaping views to Mesquite, NV, I was ready for a 15-minute nap in the car followed by a nice long stretch. We went to check-in and I was surprised to have the whole tee to myself. Which means, I get to hit extra shots ;) 

I didn't warm-up my swing at the range, I needed to save my energy since my stomach still felt grummy. We set up our golf cart with the essentials and headed to the first tee box. A magnificent view.

Indeed this is a destination golf course. The crisp morning air, as the sun is beginning its shine on the course, creating soft shadows within the canyons. The grass on the first tee was surprisingly wet to the touch as I put my ball on a tee.  I couldn't tell if my stomach was unsettled from food poisoning or just first-tee jitters, and yes, I do get first-tee jitters when playing a bucket list golf course. 
 

Man it felt good to stripe one down the fairway, as I finished my swing, posing, eyes following the ball as it takes a hard bounce down the fairway, admiring all of what I'm about to experience. Gratitude takes over my body from my shoulders to my hips, to my toes, and I am at ease again. Just rushing back to sip on my Pedialyte :) . 

This course is epic. As I climbed to every elevated tee box, a breath-taking sight was awaiting. Literally breath-taking, through every tee shot, gravity pulling me forward and sinking me down toward the bottom of the deep canyon floors. There is not one flat stance found in these undulated, rolling fairways. Not to mention the dangerous, winding cart path which I advise you to drive slow. If you drive passed your tee box, you are playing the next tee box you see due to steep, drastic cart path conditions preventing you from wanting to even try and turn around or reverse. We did this about 3 times throughout the round. We also managed to skip a hole without even realizing it. Driving cautiously at this course is a must! These quick greens can also sneak up on you if you're not paying attention while putting, you can easily find yourself with a 20ft chip back up to the hole.

Wolf Creek Golf Club is a sight for sore eyes, known for its contrast from red rock canyon desert to its deep, emerald green fairways,  l’m glad I can cross this course off of my bucket list.

FYI: I later learned through fan feedback that Wolf Creek GC is in EA Sports Tiger Woods and the new Rory McIlroy PGA Tour video game. I'm not surprised, the course has incredible characteristics.