Arizona Golf Authority AZGA Golf Course Buzz: Desert Lakes is one of four courses in the immediate vicinity of Fort Mohave, Bullhead City, and Laughlin, Nevada. The area has a rich territorial history and has undergone significant growth in recent years, due largely to the expansion of the casino hotels in Laughlin, located on the Nevada side of the Colorado river. The river flows through the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation, a parcel that covers 42,000 acres in Arizona, Nevada and California where the three states intersect.
Desert Lakes, which opened in 1989, was designed by the father-son team of Bob E. Baldock and Robert L. Baldock, who were prominent course architects in the Southwest. The layout is characterized by narrow, undulating fairways, medium-sized greens, three lakes and some nice views of surrounding mountains. It has three sets of tees at 6,569, 6,267 and 5,440 yards.
The par-72 layout is rated at 70.5 with a slope of 119, which suggests plenty of birdie opportunities and that is the case. All of the par-5s are reachable in two shots, with the third hole, at 525 yards from the back tee, being the longest on the course.
The par 3s offer varying distances of 190, 163, 169 and 210 yards. One unusual feature is that the first hole, a par 4 of 421 yards, is the No. 1 handicap hole.
Highlights of the course are the ninth and 18th holes, with water coming into play on both. No. 9 is a 410-yard par 4 with a lake guarding the left side of the green and end of the fairway. The 18th is a good finishing hole, a 510-yard par 5 with lakes squeezing both sides of the fairway on a dogleg left.
Other amenities at Desert Lakes, which is managed by Eagle Golf, include a driving range, practice green and snack shop. Its relatively flat terrain makes this an easily walkable course. There are two casinos on the reservation and plenty more in nearby Laughlin.
Significant history in this locale includes – the surrounding area was established as Camp Colorado in 1859, abandoned by the Union Army two years later for fear of Confederate forces in the area, and subsequently re-garrisoned in 1863 to protect travelers and cultivate friendly relations with Indian tribes. The fort was turned over to the Indian Service in 1890 and later became part of the reservation.