Lake Las Vegas was wrong time wrong time on both fronts, real estate and high-end travel. In some regards, it is amazing anything is still standing. At a time when crap courses like Bali Hai were charging nearly four bills at peak, when that crappatch known as LVGC was ripping folks for north of a Ben for horrid conditioning and five-hour rounds, Reflection Bay was effectively a steal. A few concessions within the routing had to be made for housing, but overall, it was one of the best designs in town; my god, look what The Falls had to give up with that first re-design even after it had ceded a bit in the first place. That The Falls was so good out the chute says something about the x holes that we so wonderfully solid.
For the absurdity of golf prices in general in Vegas at the peak, Vegas had somehow maneuvered itself into a position as one of the better golf destinations on the planet, so of course pricing was going to follow. Shit, lotsa stuff is/was ridiculously overpriced up there. But the place at one point easily eclipsed Greater Palm Springs at the high end, and could nearly match Scottsdale at the peak, if not in breadth and depth from the mid-market up. In the American West, that mid-part of AZ always will kick Vegas' ass as a golf destination. But Vegas always will have something that no other area can offer.
I miss the Ritz, when the village had a true top-tier resort in it. And the various brands affixed to the other resort hotel have done a great job with a beautiful if not handicapped property. Will it ever be what it once nearly achieved? Doubtful. But they can get it back to some degree to notability.
And don't forget to play SouthShore!
