Rio Secco

Yes, the weather was hot but the course was in excellent shape. New alterations to the course made it that much more chalk. Great day but the heat

Had not played here in a couple years, mainly because felt the course was a little over rated and not the best value in town. However, decided to give another try on advice of friend who plays here a lot. Glad I did. Course was in better shape than I remember, except for the greens, which hadn't healed up completely from punching. In a couple weeks, they should be 100%. At $80, not a bad deal, not great. But would play again for sure.

There are a lot of positives about Rio Secco from the views to the conditions to the variety of holes. But all of that was overshadowed by the lack of decision making. Hit the fairway then aim for the middle of the green, repeat. Missing a fairway was almost certainly a lost ball, so challenging one side or the other was not an option, and wouldn’t have created an advantage.

The round never had a relaxing escape feel to it (see Shadow Creek). It was a stern test of consistent ball striking.

Rio Secco is the right answer for certain players, but not for me.

I love this course just a great solid layout greens were a little slower than I remember but I highly recommend it.

Staff was awesome. GPS would be helpful to indicate lines off of the tee but otherwise everything was top notch.

After a renovation lat year, Rio Secco certainly retains its spot as one of the Las Vegas area's best golf courses. There's nothing about this Rees Jones layout that's boring, from the elevated tees to the sometimes tricky greens and bunkering to the great views of the Las Vegas valley below. And while this is a premium golf experience through and through, you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't arrive early and stay late to enjoy the amenities, which include a terrific clubhouse locker room, exceptional dining (which isn't overpriced at all) and nicely stocked golf shop. Practice facilities are also well above average.

The course is very good, but they have not kept up with expected amenities. First, the course. The front nine is beautiful and challenging, with big elevation changes and very interesting holes. The back nine is more forgiving, but still a good layout. Second, the amenities. My group's main complaint is the lack of GPS in the cart. This is 2018 and the course costs over $200 to play. In this day and age, nice courses have quality GPS systems. Rio Secco falls down here -- not having one at all. The clubhouse is fine. The food service on the course is adequate. The woman serving food on the course was very friendly.

I was excited about my first round at Rio Secco...I had heard a lot about the course, particularly as it is the home to Butch Harmon. While the course is in great shape, there were enough cons to make me think twice before playing here again:

Pros:

- Fun course, challenging layout
- Excellent conditions
- Friendly staff

Cons:

- There was no sand in any of the bunkers whatsoever. Staff said all bunkers (and greens) will be redone in upcoming renovation. But there is no excuse for a course that charges $120 at twilight to have bunkers filled with nothing but pebbles

- Pace of play was poor. 5 hour round on a Thursday afternoon is simply not acceptable, and there was not a marshal in sight

- Practice facilities are sub-par. For a high-end public course w/ $100+ greens fees, having to hit off a mat was disappointing, not to mention the lack of a dedicated short-game area / practice bunker.

I wanted to like Rio Secco, but the poor pace of play, abysmal condition of the bunkers, and below average practice area would make it hard for me to justify teeing it up here again in the future.

The weather this day was too good not be on the golf course. Clear skies, warmer than usual temps and barely a breeze made for perfect conditions. The pro shop staff was friendly & accomodating and if you're looking to add another logoed shirt or hat to your collection their selection is large. Player services had me loaded up on Club Car cart with no GPS or pin locations, however the scorecard provides details on each of the greens.

Headed off to the first tee and the range is right on the way, but first a stop at an insanely huge practice green. The green was in excellent condition and closely mirrored those on the course. Head up the hill to the range & a snackbar. This day we were hitting decent range balls off pretty worn mats.

Just about 8 weeks out of overseed the teeboxes, fairways and greens were the on course conditions were exceptional. Greens were somewhat firm but held, rolled true and the speed was decent. The layout is pretty solid and is fun to play. Three of the par 4's on the back really rely on position and may call for something other than driver from the tee. The back to back par 5's closing it out is a pretty sweet finishing stretch. A lot elevation changes make for dramatic views of the valley and add to the difficulty as well.

Pace of play was not issue and the drink cart always around. Travel time from the strip resorts & airport is pretty reasonable and the experience is better than most. Definitely looking to playing here again.

Great experience from the beginning to the end. The staff was extremely helpful with all the luggage we had since we were flying home right after our round. The course was in fantastic shape especially compared to some of the other high priced clubs in the area. The fairways are wide and the greens are big and fast. I would play here again in a heartbeat.

We played this course on a blazing hot June day. The pro shop staff was very friendly and advised me of the Total Rewards discount since we were staying at a Caesars property. Grabbed a couple pre game drinks from the friendly bar staff and off to the oven we went.

Practice area is very nice and close to #1 tee. There is also a snack bar right at the practice area and close to 1 and 10 tees so the layout is perfect.

Course was in great shape. No dry areas and fairways were consistent. Greens rolled well.

We played the back 9 first so we got to see some of the amazing closing holes first. Some amazing views, especially 11, 14 and 18. Good mix of easy and hard holes, which is how it should be. This is a resort course and you are supposed to enjoy the round, not get punished hole after hole.

Would highly recommend especially if you are a total rewards member.

Loved it. Every second of it. Great course. Great shape n great layout. Holes were hard but extremely fun. Group behind was a little rude hitting into us but that was because we were grouped with some older folks. No problem but I could tell the other group was locals and needs to realize this is a tourist course. So locals, please remember most of us haven't played before and want to enjoy out vacation!! Besides that everything was amazing. I will wear your courses hat proudly around LA! Make sure you get a total rewards card before playing for diacounts!

Played during a buddy trip. This course is challenging and can play long. But, the course keeps your interest with carry shots, skinny fairway between waste area, and mild elevation changes. There is some water on the course, but only comes into play on few holes. I'd say this course is worth a visit, but probably go with other courses as they are just as nice or nicer at more palatable prices.

I was tempted to give Rio Secco a five-star rating to push its overall rating closer to 4 1/2 stars, which is where it belongs. The Rees Jones design wanders through rugged and beautiful box canyons and stark desert terrain. Elevation changes provide excellent views of the Strip. The four par 3s are as good a collection as any west of the Mississippi. The third hole flies over a deep ravine. The seventh is called the "million dollar hole", where you can double any money you bet by hitting the green. An ace affords the opportunity to come back and sink another one for a million bucks. The 215-yard 12th climbs uphill and the 189-yard 15th hole plunges to a green surrounded by canyon walls. Other scary holes require serious target golf - the par-5 eighth and the par-4 16th hole. I've never seen Butch Harmon during my visits to Rio Secco, home to his original golf school, but maybe your luck will be better than mine. This is Vegas, after all.

Real nice conditions all around, but def tight to land the ball on quite a few tee shots. Elevation changes were amazing, especially not being used to real mountain golf. Staff was super nice all around. Decent practice facilities. If you're hitting it very straight and fairly long, you'll like this course. Pace of play can be tough because of people looking for balls in the desert/hazard areas. Had a great day, but trouble is all around. Forced carries can be tough for seniors/short hitters.

The Pro Shop staff were exceptionally friendly and well informed. The gentleman at the driving range (Randy) was very insightful after I told him this was my first time here. He gave me the "Readers DIgest Condensed version" of the course and he was spot on. They had just overseeded the course so it was cart path only which led to a few logistical issues, but nothing that couldn't be dealt with #I'm a below knee amputee#. The condition of the course was immaculate. The greens were a little quick but very receptive and well maintained. I believe this is a course that will challenge any and all handicaps. In the for what its worth category- On the 11th Hole- if you happen to have a cut/light fade in your repertoire take aim at the right hand edge of the right most bunker and you'll be pleasantly surprised. This course has been on my "bucket list" and I'm really glad it was. It's a blast and you owe it to yourself to play it- you won't be sorry

The risk/reward holes…as well as the always-present desert terrain…make for an unbelievable round of golf on this Rees Jones layout. Play smart and you'll enjoy the course. The staff is very accommodating, the clubhouse and restaurant are warm and friendly and if you’re on the practice range, take a look across the way--you might even seen world-renowned instructor Butch Harmon working with his students. Or better yet, sign up for one of his sessions. If you’re going to play demanding courses like Rio Secco, a few pointers will certainly help

The home of the 2012 and 2013 Wendy's 3Tour Challenge roams the scenic foothills of the Black Mountain Range, offering views of the Strip. It's my favorite course in Las Vegas not named Wynn, Cascata or Shadow Creek.
The 7,313-yard course opened in 1997. Box canyons and cliffs make this Rees Jones design quite a chore to score upon.
Golfers can buy into the Million Dollar Hole-in-One Challenge at the tough par-3 seventh hole. An ace in qualifying affords three shots for the grand prize every year.
Butch Harmon's original golf school calls Rio Secco home.

The home of the 2012 and 2013 Wendy's 3Tour Challenge roams the scenic foothills of the Black Mountain Range, offering views of the Strip. It's my favorite course in Las Vegas not named Wynn, Cascata or Shadow Creek.
The 7,313-yard course opened in 1997. Box canyons and cliffs make this Rees Jones design quite a chore to score upon.
Golfers can buy into the Million Dollar Hole-in-One Challenge at the tough par-3 seventh hole. An ace in qualifying affords three shots for the grand prize every year.
Butch Harmon's original golf school calls Rio Secco home.