Like many Minnesota golfers do each winter I traveled to the sun to get in some golf during the long, snowy Minnesota winter. I traveled with three golf buddies from my hometown on a snowy February morning from Twin Cities International Airport to the sun and flashing lights of the Laughlin, Nevada / Bullhead City, Arizona area. I guess we could call these two cities separated by the Colorado River and a time zone the "Twin Cites of the Southwest". Some forty years ago Minnesota native Don Laughlin staked his claim to a piece of the desert with a dream and determination. As they say, the rest is history.

The first stop for this group of Minnesota golfer's tour of four area golf courses in four days was the Mojave Resort Golf Club in Laughlin, NV. This is a par 72 18-hole course that we played from 5,959 yards with a course rating of 68.5 and a slope rating of 115. The strategic bunkering does not make this course as simple and straightforward as the numbers on the scorecard indicate. The undulating greens make this course even more challenging. The 20 MPH winds would be the calmest that we encountered during our trip, as storm systems were moving across several areas of the country during our visit to the desert.

The next stop for our Minnesota golfer's adventure was El Rio Country Club in Mohave Valley, AZ. This is a par 72 course that we played at 6,019 yards with a course rating of 67.7 and a slope rating of 113. With tough undulating greens along with strategic water hazards combined with 25 MPH winds made this a fun and challenging course to play.

Day 3 brought this group of Minnesota golfers to Laughlin Ranch Golf Club in Bullhead City, AZ. This is the first of several golf courses planned on the massive 10,000-acre golf and housing development just across the river from Laughlin, NV. This is also a par 72 course that we played from 6,091 yards with a course rating of 68.9 and a slope of 128. Keeping the ball in the fairway is an absolute must on this golf course as there is no playing from the rough, which is very rugged desert terrain. The pin placements on many of the greens bordered on sadistic. The course layout and the scenery were very beautiful. If you travel to the desert and plan to play Laughlin Ranch don't plan on posting your career best score. Also, remember to check your pride and ego at the door! We played Laughlin Ranch in winds of 25MPH with gusts up to 35 MPH, which contributed to the difficulty. I would venture to say that even on a calm day this golf course wins more times than not.

Our final stop on the journey brought this group of Minnesota golfers to The Refuge Golf Club near Lake Havasu, AZ. This Arnold Palmer designed course plays to a par of 72, which we played from 6,059 yards with a course rating of 68.3 with a slope of 119. The fairways are generous but the rough is quite unforgiving desert terrain. The greens were excellent! The greens putted true and were quite large, yet well bunkered. The greens at the Refuge were hands down the best we played on this trip. The wind again was a factor blowing at a steady 25 mph with occasional gusts over 30 MPH. All things considered the Refuge was the best golf course we played on our trip to the desert.

If you are looking for a place to play that has plenty of entertainment, yet not the over crowding of Las Vegas why not make your next trip to the desert a trip to Laughlin, Nevada.