Canyon Gate in Las Vegas offers resort living

Driving along West Sahara Avenue, many Las Vegans might not have much of a mental picture of what is behind the walls of Canyon Gate Country Club. Ponderosa pines rising above the property's perimeter and a waterfall-lined grand entrance obviously signal that things are quite nice inside.

Actually, "nice" is a significant understatement. Filling an expansive wedge between South Durango Drive and South Fort Apache Road, Canyon Gate is easily one of the most lush and green spaces in the Las Vegas Valley. The 160-acre golf course is an immense, water feature-filled preserve surrounded by custom homes of varying sizes and styles. To the west, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area frame a horizon dotted with views of Red Rock Casino Resort and dual-towered One Queensridge Place on its bottom edge. Wildlife from songbirds and ducks to dragonflies and cottontail rabbits abound.

Driving a golf cart through Canyon Gate's lovely residential streets, which are brimming with flowering, evergreen bushes and mature, shade-giving trees, Jim Sherouse, Canyon Gate's membership director and a resident himself, remarks on the neighborhood's beauty, especially its shimmering ponds and gurgling cascades.

"We're from Florida, so we missed all the water," said Sherouse, who relocated to Las Vegas with his wife, Alyssa, a few years ago. He had retired but took on the new position with a local's enthusiasm nor his relatively aqueous Nevada surroundings. "That's one reason (why) we bought a home in Canyon Gate."

The 18-hole, Ted Robinson-designed golf course is certainly the marquee attraction at Canyon Gate.

The late Robinson was the architect of famed links including Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort in Palms Springs, Calif., and Sahalee Country Club outside of Seattle. Membership to Canyon Gate is open to non-residents of the neighborhood. Started in what was once the scraggly outskirts of town, it is noticeably not as xeriscaped as newer courses. Fed by recycled water, it has broad swaths of natural grass (with some artificial turf in nondescript areas) and spraying spouts that seem to defy the desert's dry grip.

Canyon Gate head golf pro Toby Meacham contends that the extensive greenery sets the course apart in Clark County's golfing realm.

"Canyon Gate is a unique, member-friendly golf course," he said, indicating that the grassy lanes are not unforgiving on the edges, unlike more desert-styled courses where hooked or sliced swings can lead to expensive balls easily lost in roughs of cacti and rocks.

And there's that H2O, again.

"People play it and can't believe how many holes you have to go over water," he said.

Meacham points out that Canyon Gate hosts many yearly corporate events for high-profile players such as those from the Las Vegas 51s, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines.

Of special note among Canyon Gate's more regular, member-focused golf programs, Wednesday mornings bring on ’The Swingers,’ a nine-hole get-together for women of all skill levels. It ends with a lunch in The Grill.

The clubhouse has a pro shop with retail golf wear and equipment available. Tee-time reservations can be made via phone for old-schoolers, or online via apps for the more technologically inclined. Coaching and lessons are available, too.

As a bonus, Canyon Gate golf membership includes playing privileges at Bear's Best Golf Club, the Jack Nicklaus-designed course in South Summerlin near The Ridges. Bear's Best, as compared to Canyon Gate's rolling hills of turf, is a more sere outlay that embraces natural desert terrain with much less sod.

In addition to golf, the club has a robust tennis program, including on-staff pros, weekly clinics, retail shop, United States Tennis Association league play and events like ’Tennis Margarita Mixers.’ There is also a youth tennis program and summer camp. Five night-lit courts provide ample opportunities for racket fun.

The clubhouse itself is large and packed with amenities, including a state-of-the-art gym with picture windows affording an outside view. The locker rooms are immense, and include steam rooms.

Outside, there’s a popular patio area with a large swimming area.

One of the most striking spots in the clubhouse is the west-facing veranda. From here, members and guests can take in the beauty of Calico Basin’s rusty-hued sandstone curves and Mount Charleston’s gray-toned limestone crags in the distance beyond the 9th and 18th holes.

Canyon Gate has an extensive culinary program including banquet service and a restaurant, The Grill, which has seating in the light-filled, wrap-around northern side of the structure. There is full bar and coffee service.

Executive chef Ciro Cucciniello remarks that the Canyon Gate kitchen offers fresh, regional cuisine.

"We change the menu seasonally," he said.

Cucciniello says that Wednesdays bring themed menus, such as design-your-own hamburger and seafood nights.

"We do a sea bass. We do a Dover sole. We do crab legs and frutti di mare," he said, noting gourmet touches like lemon-caper-beurre blanc saucing on the Milanese-style pan-fried sole. John Dory, a somewhat rare and expensive swimmer, is also imported to Canyon Gate's galley for maritime-forward gourmands. Lunch-styled service from sandwiches to salads is also on the menu.

The clubhouse offers private wine lockers. In addition, for a more private feel than the main floor lounge area, there is what Sherouse calls ’the man cave.’ It is filled with comfortable furniture,

including a large couch perfect for watching Monday Night Football and other sporting events, plus tables for playing friendly games of Texas hold 'em or blackjack. The club’s food service staff will deliver burgers and other grub to members enjoying the lowly lit downstairs nook.

There is an active social program at Canyon Gate, including pastimes geared toward children and their parents. The community has many families that reside behind the security of its protecting walls. Activities include disc golf competitions, pool parties complete with easy-to-eat finger food, Friday movie nights with showings of hits like ’Frozen’ and evening Sunday invent-your own-pizza parties.

There is also a comprehensive summer camp with arts and crafts classes, tennis, swimming, Wii-playing and cooking classes. Held on weekdays, it includes lunch and has both weekly and daily drop- in rates. Aftercare is offered into the late afternoon.

Adults do not get left out of the social scene at the Canyon Gate community. A monthly ’Bunco Night’ provides drinks, snacks and mingling for fans of the dice-based parlor game. Fitting for a food-centric city like Las Vegas, Chef Cucciniello conducts periodic hands-on cooking classes. They include a glass of wine in the attendance price.

"Member Appreciation Day" happens every Tuesday, which includes half-off golf guest greens fees.

The end of the work week brings obligatory and welcome ’T.G.I.F Night Out’ parties, with food and beverage specials in The Grill set to live music. Special child care is available for parents looking for a brief breather. Next up are ’OlÃ© Saturdays,’ which not only feature specials on beer, margaritas and tacos, but have free golf clinics in the morning.

Canyon Gate is a true community, where networks of neighbors have developed over the years.

In 1989, Bill Friedman and his wife, Jeanette, moved into the second home sold in the then new development. The couple has lived in five Canyon Gate homes since, upgrading along the way.

"We love the community,’ Bill Friedman said. ’The friends that we have keep us there."

Many Las Vegans first become acquainted with Canyon Gate Country Club during special events. Beyond golf tournaments, it is the setting for many gala dinners and gorgeous weddings.

"It's a very special place to have a wedding, because the space is really unique," said Dawn Ulrey, Canyon Gate's private events director. She singles out the veranda view as a wedding scene highlight. Canyon Gate Country Club is part of ClubCorp, a New York Stock Exchange-traded business that owns or operates more than 300 golf courses across the U.S. This affiliation provides Canyon

Gate's members access to reciprocal benefits at other golf clubs and some 1,000 resorts, hotels and restaurants through the optional ’ONE’ program. Of special note for Nevadans, this includes unlimited, complimentary access to the Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay. For members who venture frequently to Carson City and Reno, Somersett Country Club is part of the network.

As a final 'amenity,' while Canyon Gate was on the distant edge of Las Vegas 25 years ago, it is now almost in the center of the west side of the valley. Shopping, dining and services from the everyday to the upscale are handily available at nearby Tivoli Village, Boca Park, Village Square and Downtown Summerlin.

"You're around everything," Friedman said.