The Reflection Bay at Lake Las Vegas golf setting is unlike any other in Las Vegas—or more accurately, Henderson: a lakeside course set within a resort and residential community. The course and community have experienced a resurgence over the past decade following the recession and recent accolades spotlight that evolution.
Add in that Reflection Bay Golf Club is a Jack Nicklaus–designed gem overseen and operated by Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame inductee Eric Dutt, and it all adds up to a quality golf experience. That experience has now been recognized with “Best of” honors, as Reflection Bay was named the top golf course in Henderson in the Best of Henderson awards and also earned a Gold Honor in the Best of Las Vegas awards. The Best of Henderson awards are newer awards, while Best of Las Vegas—operated by the Las Vegas Review-Journal—has been a community staple for decades.
Dutt deflected the accolades with a dose of humility, while acknowledging that the recognition reflects the progress made by his team.
“It’s a testament to what we try to do and what we’ve been working toward since about 2017, when I started here and we retooled the operation after it had been open for a couple of years following a closure due to the poor economy,” Dutt said. “There were some really difficult times here, but now the golf course is much better than it was back then. Our recent greens renovation project has also proven successful, even though it was a bit of a risk to go with Paspalum grass. That decision has turned out to be a good investment.”
Paspalum, commonly used in coastal and high-salinity environments, has proven to be a better long-term fit for the property. The grass tolerates heat and saline water more effectively, is more resistant to ball marks, and requires fewer disruptive maintenance periods than traditional Bentgrass. Since reopening after the greens project in September 2023, the greens have continued to mature, with multiple growing seasons contributing to improved consistency and playability. The decision was driven by both necessity and a long-term vision for high-quality putting surfaces.
“As a reminder, the course was closed for about five years starting in 2009, and when it reopened, the lack of proper maintenance over time became evident,” Dutt said. “When we took over, we were already seeing a lot of Bermuda grass coming up into the green cavities, which is a huge problem for Bentgrass greens. We knew we would eventually need a solution, and that’s when we moved to Paspalum. The current water situation and drought in this area, combined with Paspalum’s tolerance, really fueled our decision for a variety of reasons.”
Increased visibility also played a role in the recent “Best of” recognition. Over the past year, Reflection Bay brought its social media and marketing efforts in-house, which has had a positive impact. The club plans to continue promoting the golf course, while expanding marketing efforts to include the High-Performance Golf Institute, dining programs, and other facility offerings.
Looking ahead to 2026, club leadership expects continued refinement rather than major changes.
“As always, our goal moving forward is to continue refining what we’ve built—maintaining strong course conditions, solid service, and a reliable experience for both local and visiting golfers,” Dutt said.