Chimera Golf Club Part 2

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Hole 10 Par 4

410 | 387 | 361 | 336 yards

The par 4 10th is straight ahead but fairly narrow.  The main feature to catch your eye off the tee are the 2 large bunkers carved into the hill in the right center of the hole.  All down both sides is OB with the range to your right and houses down the left.

The hole drops downhill past the hill with the bunkers.

If you can hit a straight drive 260 yards from the tips you will find the slope that runs down towards the green.  You can easily gain another 40 yards here.  Even from atop the hill you are left with less than 150 yards into the green.

This green is well protected down the right- a side you surely want to avoid.  There is room to miss to the left, provided you don't go long and find the large bunker behind the green.  This is a large green at about 100 feet from front to back and nearly that from side to side.  It does tend to all slope left and back to front.

Hole 11 Par 5

538 | 524 | 505 | 463 yards

Another narrow hole that curves slightly to the right as you play.  Off the tee your first concern is to carry the desert area in front of the tees.  That should not be a problem as it is only 180 yards to reach the fairway.  Still it does pinch the hole down visually for your tee shot.

There is actually a lot of room over the top of the desert down the right side so swing away.  Down the left there is a small bunker at around 250 yards from the tips.

The approach in is wide and inviting encouraging you to go for it in two.  There is a large bunker down the left 50 yards from the green.  Another large bunker wraps the right side of the green.  This green is not elevated at all making for a roll-up onto the putting surface possible.

Hole 12 Par 4

408 | 387 | 367 | 338 yards

This par 4 occupies the north western corner of the property and is a more typical desert style target hole.  Off the tee you must locate the island fairway which is an island surrounded on all sides by sand.  This landing zone turns to the right, as this hole doglegs around to eh right as you play it.

The fairway is fairly large to hit off the tee.  There is a large bunker down the left side of the fairway (though it plays straight on from the tee).  Down the right of this hole the desert is fairly open but a drainage ditch runs down this side making it an area to stay away from.  That bunker plays 250 yards from the back tees so it is reachable.  The fairway actually also runs out less than 300 yards from the back tee so a driver here may not be needed on this shorter par 4.

From the fairway you must clear another swath of desert that traverses across the width of the hole at around 100 yards from the green.

The green is fairly flat but is fronted by a large bunker hugging the right corner and also protected behind with another large bunker that extends almost the entirety of the green.

Hole 13 Par 3

183 | 165 | 149 | 121 yards

Turning opposite the way you just played 12 is the longer par 3 13th.  This hole requires carrying part of the same desert sands that you encountered on the last hole.

This green is 100 feet deep so account for that in your club selection.  Avoid the right side of the green and the 80 foot bunker that lies there.  Another bunker sits back left between the green and the hillside that makes the backdrop of this hole.

Hole 14 Par 4

426 | 408 | 390 | 355 yards

A tough par 4 where the desert in the distance can come into play off the tee.  Hitting down the right side can find the desert and also lead to one of the harder approaches on the course.  The desert area there is actually a pretty large mound making for an awkward stance if you hit into that area.   Aim down the left side on this tee shot.

From here you can see that the mound on the left which is about 280 yards marks the point where the hole falls downhill before rising again near the green.

Over the top of the mound on the right is more trouble with small trees lining the entire approach to the green.

A well placed drive can catch the down slope and lead to an approach that must play from the low spot in the fairway to a huge green that is elevated and guarded by a trio of bunkers short right.

Hole 15 Par 3

200 | 181 | 152 | 130 yards

A pretty par 3 with mountains in the background and a string of palms lining the back of the hole make for a great view.

A straight forward longer hole just avoid the sand left.  A right side pin is the most accessible on another deep green.

Hole 16 Par 4

299 | 281 | 266 | 248 yards

One of the cool things at Chimera are all the little things they do to make a unique experience.  I already showed the Chimera crossing signs.  Similarly, the hole signs are also unique.  Large barrels are used for the signs.  Well done.

The 16th is a short, potentially driveable hole.  The hole does play uphill towards the green so it does have a little protection there.  More worrisome are the two large bunkers that sit on the right side.  The green is tucked behind these two traps making a greened drive one that must carry the length of the hole.

Down the right is the driving range, and down the left is OB with houses nearby.  It is probably best to be conservative here and try for a tight approach.

Aside from the bunkers down the right side in front of the green, another pair of bunkers occupy the corners behind the green.

Hole 17 Par 5

526 | 510 | 411 | 380 | 345 yards

Maybe the prettiest tee shot on the course, you have a slightly elevated vantage point.  You must carry water and avoid the large bunker down the left side.

There is plenty of room for your drive but the left side offers the best angle into the green which is tucked down the right side of the hole.

The green is reachable on your second shot with a good drive, or another generous landing zone awaits.  A large bunker lies on the right about 80 yards from the green.  Another pair of bunkers await short right by the green.  Again, best to stick down the left side of the hole where you can take this sand out of play.

Hole 18 Par 4

440 | 411 | 380 | 345 yards

We were fighting the sun on the last hole which is one of the best holes on the course.  While 17 might be the best tee shot, 18 is the best finish.  Aim your tee shot again down the left.  A ridge runs along the right side and anything hit over there can have a blind approach shot to the undulating green protected by water.

From the right edge of the fairway, your second shot is a real test.  Water up front, palms along the right, and a waterfall cascading along side the left side of the green.  It is pretty much green or bust here!

Another view of the green taken from the 17th hole.

And one last look at the green as you approach from the cart path.  The green is very deep at over 110 feet and has some serious undulations as it slopes from back to front.

Conclusion

Of the courses I played on my Vegas trip, Chimera may have been the biggest surprise.
Wolf Creek was jaw dropping roller coaster fantasyland golf
Conestoga was pure isolated desert golf
Rio Secco has the name cache and the glitz and glam to back it up
Yet while the other courses were memorable each in their own way, Chimera had 2 big things going for it:
1) The green fees are a downright steal compared to other options in the area.  We got the twilight rate but were able to finish 18 before the sun set (just barely).  The course was in great shape, the rental clubs were very nice, and I felt for what we paid we got much more value than I had expected.
2) The course is just plain fun to play.  Sure, it is not the hardest course.  Most of the holes are pretty straightforward.  But if you want to get out and just have fun playing golf on a really well maintained course I would highly recommend trying out!

Chimera Golf Club
901 Olivia Parkway
Henderson, NV 89011  
(702) 951-1500