Page 50 - LVGL Winter 2021 FLIPBOOK_Neat

HISTORY

Quaint. Historic. Scenic. Straight-forward. And a joy to play. individual character. I strive to provide solid, traditionally
Those are just a few ways to describe this course, which was oriented designs that preserve and enhance natural envi-
created in 1973 as nine holes by architect David Rainville ronmental features, build upon the essential character of
and World Golf Hall of Famer Billy Casper, then later the terrain where possible, and demonstrate variety within
expanded to 18 holes. a round of golf. This is where a design sets itself apart from
other courses with its own unique qualities.”
“I think at the time it was really great that the city manager
and the people in Boulder City and on the council wanted to The course is also a major part of the Boulder City commu-
bring golf to the area,” Rainville says. “That's to be admired nity and many grew up playing the course or have spent
that they would make the effort to do that. I know the money much of their adult lives enjoying early mornings or late
was tight and the land wasn’t ideal, but I was happy with the afternoons on BC’s fairways and greens. “It was a labor
end result. It is nice to hear that the course has become such of love and everybody was there,” longtime Boulder City
an important part of the fabric of the community.” employee and local historian Denny Hayes remembers
about when the course was built. “Even some people that
Longtime resident Andy Schaper oversees both Boulder didn’t like golf were down there picking the rocks and leve-
City and the adjacent, and more modern, Boulder Creek ling things out. Everybody was just really looking forward
Golf Club, and appreciates the original layout, one of the to having a golf course in Boulder City. I think what really
few remaining classic oasis-style courses within 50 miles. made it special was the fact that when it was first built, it
“Boulder City Golf Course has an old-school charm and is stayed true to the clean green, Boulder City mission and
a fun, classic, parkland design with lots of grass and trees motto. All of the parks in Boulder City—Wilbur Square and
throughout, plus challenging putting surfaces,” he says. all those parks—were always kept and maintained beau-
“Lots of mature trees provide natural shade throughout the tifully green. So, when this course was built, their whole
course, especially in the hot summer months.” premise was, ‘let's keep this green 365 days per year like we

The trees also provide intrigue and a defense to the holes do all the parks.’ I think everybody appreciated that and all
that lack modern length. But don’t let the scorecard yardage of the people that built homes around it were impressed.”
fool you. Many a golfer has stepped to the first tee thinking There’s a certain feeling one gets when teeing it up in
Boulder City was a pushover, only to exit the 18th mutter- Boulder City and Schaper agrees. “Playing golf in Boulder
ing under their breath about why their score wasn’t several City is a perfect getaway and a chance to take a drive down
shots better. memory lane,” says Schaper. “We want people to remem-

Rainville is a San Diego native and learned the golf course ber us in Boulder City and come out and play golf here if
design process from his father. Rainville has designed they haven’t in a while. We hear from people all of the time
more than 50 golf courses in the Western United States and about the memories they have at Boulder City, and then
Asia, and he and Casper also redesigned the 36 holes of there are so many new memories and stories being created
Torrey Pines, where the PGA Tour annually plays and the at Boulder Creek.”
U.S. Open has been played (including in 2008 when Tiger
Woods won in dramatic fashion).

But he continues to have a soft spot for little ole Boulder Boulder City Golf Course
City muni. “My philosophy is that I always wanted to stand 1 Clubhouse Dr, Boulder City, NV
702-293-9236 | www.bouldercreekgc.com
on the tee and have a visual impact of what the hole looks
like and how it's going to play,” says Rainville, a member
of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. “Golf
should be an enjoyable and gratifying experience. The
design for which it is intended should provide an opportu-
nity for the golfer to achieve that experience. It's important
for the designer to recognize and fully utilize each site's

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