On the links: Southern Highlands preps for PGA event

The Southern Highlands Golf Club is a host course for next month's Invensys Classic at Las Vegas. The private course will co-host the first three rounds of the PGA tournament, as well as the pro-am tourney Oct. 9, 10 and 11.

"For the third consecutive year, we are deeply honored to be one of the host courses for the Invensys Classic," Garry Goett, president of Southern Highlands Golf Club, said. "It is a wonderful event that allows us to contribute to the golf community, while at the same time providing us with an opportunity to showcase our world-class facilities."

This year also marks the end of a three-year agreement for Southern Highlands to host the tourney.

"Garry Goett and the principals at Southern Highlands have been very supportive of the local golf community," tournament manager Charlie Baron said. "If you had to put a dollar figure on the value of donating the course, it would probably be about $100,000."

Last year, 18 nonprofit organizations received $1.5 million from the Las Vegas Founders' Club Golf Foundation, most of which was generated from the pro-am entry fee of $7,500.

With a purse of $5 million, many of the world's best players are expected to compete. Baron said 2002 PGA champion Rich Beem, defending champion Bob Estes and former champions John Cook and Jim Furyk, as well as Justin Leonard have committed to the event. In addition, the pro-am tourney will offer amateur golfers the opportunity to play with PGA Tour professionals such as Rich Beem, John Daly and Tom Lehman.

The Southern Highlands course is one of four designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Robert Trent Jones Jr. It measures 7,440 yards and is a par-72. Last year, Golf Digest magazine named the club the "Best New Private Golf Club in the Western United States."

Complementing the facility is a 42,000-square-foot, Tuscan-themed clubhouse. A 13,000-square-foot spa and fitness center is planned. Nearly 200 of the 360 available golf memberships have been sold.

Residential options at Southern Highlands include The Estates, a guard-gated development with custom lots ranging from one-half acre to 2 acres, many with city, mountain and golf course views. These lots are priced from $300,000 to more than $1 million, while custom homes are priced from $1.5 million.

Southern Highlands is located in the southwestern valley and planned to include more than 50 acres of parks, private and public schools, bicycle and jogging paths, nature and hiking trails, sports fields, volleyball and tennis courts, and landscaped medians. Retail, dining and medical facilities are also planned. Fiber-optic communications are available throughout the community.

To visit, take Interstate 15 to Lake Mead Drive and exit west, following the signs.

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